קוּר
𐤒𐤅𐤓
qûwr
H6979 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To dig or bore through, with primary reference to puncturing, boring, or making a hole—especially with the intent to break through or penetrate a physical barrier. The verb can also refer to making a trench or an opening in a wall, as part of construction, destruction, or siege action. In denominative uses from קִיר ('wall'), it acquires the sense of walling up, building a wall, or, conversely, breaking down or breaching a wall. The verb can further imply the act of casting out or causing something to be expelled through such a breach, depending on the context.
Semantic Range
to dig through (wall, ground), to bore or make an opening, to wall up, to break down or breach (usually a wall), to cast out or expel through a breach
Root / Etymology
Root: קו״ר (q-w-r). Likely derived from the core meaning 'to bore, pierce, dig, trench.' The denominative form derives directly from קִיר (qîr, 'wall'), indicating an action performed upon or related to a wall (e.g., walling up, breaching).
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb קוּר is rare in the Hebrew Bible and appears with a primary physical meaning of digging or piercing through, often as a technical term connected to siegecraft or destruction of city walls. It may be used literally (to make an opening in a wall or ground) or figuratively (to expel or cast out, by analogy to breaching a boundary). In post-biblical Hebrew, the sense of boring or making holes persists. The denominative use from קִיר ('wall') means it is sometimes closely associated contextually and semantically with construction or destruction activities involving walls. English translations sometimes conflate it with more general verbs for breaking down or casting out, but the term is more technically focused on penetrating a barrier. The semantic sphere overlaps in part with חָפַר ('to dig'), especially when referring to making a hole or trench, but קוּר is more specific with respect to walls or boundaries. The later English usage of 'wall up' or 'destroy' tends to generalize the term beyond its primary technical scope.
Translation Consistency
“Break” is a natural, versatile verb that covers the primary semantic range of קוּר — making or forcing an opening, breaching or breaking through a wall or barrier, and by extension causing expulsion through that opening. It is more idiomatic in English than alternatives like “bore” or “pierce,” and it easily supports both destructive (breach, break down) and resultant senses (cast out through an opening) while remaining consistent across all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; also denominative from קִיר; to trench; by implication, to throw forth; to wall up, whether literal (to build a wall) or figurative (to estop); break down, cast out, destroy, dig.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קור (q-w-r) — to bore, dig, penetrate, make a hole
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4726 | מָקוֹר | wellspring |
| H6980 | קוּר | their spider-webs |
| H6982 | קוֹרָה | the roof-beam |
| H7023 | קִיר | in the boundary-wall |
| H7024 | קִיר | wall of |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6979-04 |
קַ֔רְתִּי | qareti | HVqp1cs |
have dug | I bored through | I have dug | 2 |
H6979-02 |
כְּ/הָקִ֥יר | kehaqir | HR/Vhc |
as-a-well | as causing to breach | as causing to breach | 1 |
H6979-03 |
מְקַרְקַ֥ר | meqareqar | HVlrmsc |
breaking down | the breaching one | the breaching one | 1 |
H6979-05 |
וְ/קַרְקַ֖ר | veqareqar | HC/Vlp3ms |
and break down | and he thoroughly bored through | and will break down | 1 |
H6979-01 |
הֵקֵ֣רָה | heqerah | HVhp3fs |
she-cools | she made a breach | she made a breach | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6979-05 |
Numbers 24:17 | וְ/קַרְקַ֖ר | veqareqar | HC/Vlp3ms |
and break down | and he thoroughly bored through | and will break down |
H6979-04 |
2 Kings 19:24 | קַ֔רְתִּי | qareti | HVqp1cs |
have dug | I bored through | I have dug |
H6979-03 |
Isaiah 22:5 | מְקַרְקַ֥ר | meqareqar | HVlrmsc |
breaking down | the breaching one | the breaching one |
H6979-04 |
Isaiah 37:25 | קַ֖רְתִּי | qareti | HVqp1cs |
have dug | I bored through | I have dug |
H6979-02 |
Jeremiah 6:7 | כְּ/הָקִ֥יר | kehaqir | HR/Vhc |
as-a-well | as causing to breach | as causing to breach |
H6979-01 |
Jeremiah 6:7 | הֵקֵ֣רָה | heqerah | HVhp3fs |
she-cools | she made a breach | she made a breach |