כָּרָא
𐤊𐤓𐤀
Kârâʼ
H3735 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be distressed or grieved, to experience sorrow or pain; in the given context, the term refers to a state of internal turmoil or emotional affliction, especially in response to calamity or adversity.
Semantic Range
to be distressed, to be grieved, to be afflicted, to experience emotional turmoil or anxiety
Root / Etymology
Aramaic כָּרָא is likely related to the Hebrew root כָּרָה (k-r-h), which in its primary verbal senses means 'to dig, to pierce.' In this Aramaic form, the semantic development is from the physical notion of 'piercing' to the metaphorical sense of being 'pierced through' emotionally, i.e., to be stricken with grief or sorrow. The term is not found outside Aramaic portions of the Tanakh.
Historical & Contextual Notes
כָּרָא appears in the Aramaic section of Daniel (specifically Dan 6:24) with a meaning of being 'afflicted' or 'grieved.' The word reflects a metaphorical extension of its root, applying the imagery of piercing or digging to the realm of emotion—thus conveying a deep, wounding sorrow or distress. Unlike the more common Hebrew verbs for grief or mourning (such as אָבַל or תָּאַב), כָּרָא is rare and appears only in Aramaic passages, indicating both a dialectical and semantic distinction. Its emotional sense is best captured as to be 'distressed' or 'wounded in spirit.' Typical English translations render it as 'grieved,' but contextually it may denote intense agitation or anxiety, rather than ritualized mourning. The term has no clear later development in post-biblical Hebrew or Aramaic literature, and does not carry connotations of ritual lament or mourning custom. In the only biblical occurrence, it describes anxiety caused by external calamity rather than voluntary sadness or repentance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) probably corresponding to כָּרָה in the sense of piercing(figuratively); to grieve; be grieved.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כרת (k-r-h) — to dig, to pierce
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3747 | כְּרִית | Kerith, the Cut-Ravine |
| H3748 | כְּרִיתוּת | marital cutting-off |
| H3772 | כָּרַת | I will cause to cut off |
| H3773 | כָּרֻתָה | hewn timbers |
| H3774 | כְּרֵתִי | the Kerethite guardsman |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3735-01 |
אֶתְכְּרִיַּ֥ת | etekeriyat | AVip3fs |
was distressed | she pierced herself in grief | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3735-01 |
Daniel 7:15 | אֶתְכְּרִיַּ֥ת | etekeriyat | AVip3fs |
was distressed | she pierced herself in grief |