כֵּרָה
𐤊𐤓𐤄
kêrâh
H3740 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A portion or share received or acquired, often through purchase or provision; can refer to a supply of food, a banquet, acquisition of property, or an apportioned allotment depending on context. The term is used for tangible things acquired, such as supplies for a journey, a festive meal, or a purchased field.
Semantic Range
share, portion, provision, meal, feast, acquired goods, purchase, supply
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root כרה meaning 'to dig, to excavate, to acquire by effort.' כֵּרָה (kêrâh) is a feminine noun formation likely connected to the notion of preparing or acquiring something, whether through digging, trade, or purchase.
Historical & Contextual Notes
כֵּרָה appears infrequently and with variable nuance depending on context. In Genesis 25:29, for example, it refers to food prepared for eating, often interpreted as a stew or meal provisioned for an occasion or traveler. In 2 Kings 6:23, its meaning extends to a prepared feast given to Aramean captives. The semantic range can stretch from a specific purchase or acquisition (especially within property or resource contexts), to the broader notion of provision or supply. English renderings often read 'meal,' 'portion,' or 'purchase,' but these can oversimplify a word that in biblical Hebrew connotes both the act of acquisition and the resulting provision. Distinct from related terms like מִשְׁתֶּה (mishteh, 'banquet'), כֵּרָה emphasizes the acquisition or provision aspect. Later translation traditions sometimes interpret כֵּרָה narrowly as 'purchase,' though the original contexts in the Hebrew scriptures suggest a broader sense of tangible provision, whether purchased, allocated, or specially prepared.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from כָּרָה; a purchase; provision.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כרה (k-r-h) — to dig, excavate, acquire, prepare
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3738 | כָּרָה | digger |
| H3739 | כָּרָה | you will purchase |
| H3741 | כָּרָה | to dig |
| H4379 | מִכְרֶה | and excavated pit of |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3740-01 |
כֵּרָ֣ה | kerah | HNcfsa |
a feast | acquired portion | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3740-01 |
2 Kings 6:23 | כֵּרָ֣ה | kerah | HNcfsa |
a feast | acquired portion |