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כֹּר

𐤊𐤓

kôr

H3734 noun

SILEX Entry

Root כור to dig, excavate, bore

Definition

A large dry measure used for grains or other bulk goods, typically corresponding to about 10 ephahs or approximately 220 liters in later periods. The term refers both to the physical container—usually a deep, round vessel—and also to the standardized measure of capacity it represents.

Semantic Range

deep round vessel, large container for dry goods, a dry measure (ca. 10 ephahs, approx. 220 liters), unit of capacity for grain and bulk commodities, standard measure in taxation and ceremonial usage

Root / Etymology

From the root כּוּר (kūr), meaning 'to dig out, excavate, or bore,' originally denoting something hollow or excavated, such as a furnace or vessel. The word כֹּר (kôr) emerges as a noun abstracted from this root, emphasizing the idea of a large, deep receptacle used for measuring bulk quantities. The physical shape implied (deep, round) is directly related to the sense of a container for measuring dry goods.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, כֹּר (kôr) predominantly appears in administrative or transactional lists, especially in contexts referencing taxation, tribute, offerings, or records involving large quantities of agricultural production. Used as an official standard of measurement, the kôr was integral to temple, royal, and economic management in monarchic and post-monarchic Israelite society. The Septuagint often translates כֹּר as 'koros' (κόρος), indicating its retention as a technical measurement in Hellenistic contexts. Its use is strictly as a measure of volume for dry goods and should not be confused with weights or liquid measures. Later rabbinic tradition standardizes the kôr as equal to 10 ephahs or approximately 220 liters, but in earlier periods, the exact capacity may have varied. The Aramaic cognate shares the same meaning. English translations typically use the transliteration 'cor' or paraphrase as 'measure,' which may obscure the specific technical and social function of the term in ancient administration.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as כּוּר; properly, a deep round vessel, i.e. (specifically) a cor or measure for things dry; cor, measure. Aramaic the same.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כור (k-w-r) — to dig, excavate, bore; hollow out

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1615 גִּר burned lime
H3564 כּוּר in smelting-furnace of
H3565 כּוֹר עָשָׁן in Furnace-of-Smoke
H3595 כִּיּוֹר the hollowed basin
H3600 כִּיר pair of cooking-stones

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3734-02 כֹּר֙ kor HNcmsc cors large dry-measure of 4
H3734-03 כֹּרִים֙ korim HNcmpa cors large dry-measures 3
H3734-04 כֹּרִ֣ין korin ANcmpa cors large dry-measure vessels 1
H3734-01 הַ/כֹּ֔ר hakor HTd/Ncmsa the cor the large dry-measure vessel 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3734-02 1 Kings 5:2 כֹּר֙ kor HNcmsc cors large dry-measure of
H3734-02 1 Kings 5:2 כֹּ֖ר kor-2 HNcmsc cors large dry-measure of
H3734-02 1 Kings 5:25 כֹּ֤ר kor HNcmsc cors large dry-measure of
H3734-02 1 Kings 5:25 כֹּ֖ר kor-2 HNcmsc cors large dry-measure of
H3734-01 Ezekiel 45:14 הַ/כֹּ֔ר hakor HTd/Ncmsa the cor the large dry-measure vessel
H3734-04 Ezra 7:22 כֹּרִ֣ין korin ANcmpa cors large dry-measure vessels
H3734-03 2 Chronicles 2:9 כֹּרִים֙ korim HNcmpa cors large dry-measures
H3734-03 2 Chronicles 2:9 כֹּרִ֖ים korim-2 HNcmpa cors large dry-measures
H3734-03 2 Chronicles 27:5 כֹּרִים֙ korim HNcmpa kors large dry-measures
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