מַכָּר
𐤌𐤊𐤓
makkâr
H4378 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A person who is known to another; an individual recognized or familiar, typically not a relative or close associate. The term reflects the status of being someone acknowledged or recognized, but not necessarily with deep or close ties. In biblical usage, it designates a person known to another, often contrasted with strangers or foreigners, but also distinct from intimates, kin, or close companions.
Semantic Range
acquaintance, recognized person, someone known but not closely related, familiar individual (not intimate friend or kin)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root נכר (n-k-r), which carries the core meaning 'to recognize, acknowledge, distinguish.' The noun מַכָּר (makkâr) emerges as a substantive indicating one who is recognized – i.e., an acquaintance. The word formation employs the nominal pattern yielding a person associated with the verbal action of the root (i.e., someone recognized or known).
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term מַכָּר appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, notably in contexts contrasting 'acquaintance' with 'friend' (רֵעַ) or 'kinsman' (יָדַע, אָח). It underscores a level of familiarity without implying intimacy or close relationship. It is distinct from terms denoting friendship, kinship, or covenantal relationships (such as חָבֵר or אֹהֵב). In poetic and wisdom literature, the acquaintance is sometimes set in parallel with, and distinguished from, other categories of relationship. The meaning remains stable from the monarchic through post-exilic eras, though later Hebrew tends to use other terms for 'acquaintance.' Standard English translations as 'acquaintance' reflect the sense adequately, though the precise range—someone who is known, but not close—may not always be evident to contemporary readers. In later literature or translations postdating the biblical period, related terms sometimes develop connotations of 'neighbor' or even 'associate.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נָכַר; an acquaintance; acquaintance.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נכר (n-k-r) — recognize, distinguish, acknowledge by sight
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1971 | הַכָּרָה | partiality of |
| H5234 | נָכַר | I will acknowledge |
| H5235 | נֶכֶר | his foreignness |
| H5236 | נֵכָר | the foreign one |
| H5237 | נׇכְרִי | the outsider |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4378-01 |
מַכָּֽרֵי/כֶ֔ם | makareykhem | HNcmpc/Sp2mp |
your donors | your acquaintances | your acquaintances | 1 |
H4378-02 |
מַכָּר֑/וֹ | makaro | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his acquaintance | his recognized acquaintance | his recognized acquaintance | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4378-02 |
2 Kings 12:6 | מַכָּר֑/וֹ | makaro | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his acquaintance | his recognized acquaintance | his recognized acquaintance |
H4378-01 |
2 Kings 12:8 | מַכָּֽרֵי/כֶ֔ם | makareykhem | HNcmpc/Sp2mp |
your donors | your acquaintances | your acquaintances |