Strong's Lexicon karah: To dig, to excavate, to make a pit Original Word: כָּרָה Word Origin: A primitive root Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Greek equivalent for "karah," the concept of digging or preparing a trap can be related to Greek words like σκάπτω (skapto - to dig) or παγίς (pagis - a trap). Usage: The Hebrew verb "karah" primarily means to dig or to excavate. It is often used in the context of digging a pit or a well. The action of digging can be literal, as in the physical act of creating a hole in the ground, or metaphorical, as in setting a trap or preparing a snare for someone. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, digging was a significant activity, especially in arid regions where water was scarce. Wells were essential for survival, providing water for drinking, agriculture, and livestock. Pits were also used for trapping animals or as defensive measures in warfare. The metaphorical use of "karah" to describe setting traps reflects the strategic and sometimes deceitful practices in ancient conflicts and personal disputes. Brown-Driver-Briggs [כאר] see II. כור. II. [כוּר] verb meaning dubious, perhaps bore, or dig, or hew (DlProl. 121 compare Assyrian kâru, fell trees (DlHWB 324)) — only Qal Perfect3plural כארו = כָּארוּ for כָּרוּ Psalm 22:17 (ᵑ0 כָּאֲרִי, see אֲרִי) they have bored (digged, hewn) my hands and my feet (si vera lectio; compare Vrss De Pe Che Bae and others; some, however, deriving from כרה in this sense); hence perhaps following. I. כָּרָה verb dig (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic כְּרָא, Ethiopic Qal Perfect3masculine singular כָּרָה2Chronicles 16:14; Psalm 7:16; 2masculine singular כָּרִיתָ Psalm 40:7; 1singular בָּרִיתִי Genesis 50:5; 3plural כָּרוּ Jeremiah 18:20 3t.; sf כָּרוּהָ Numbers 21:18; Imperfect3masculine singular יִכְרֶה Exodus 21:33; 3masculine plural וַיִּכְרוּ Genesis 26:25; Participle כֹּרֶה Proverbs 16:27; Proverbs 26:27; — dig a grave, קֶבֶר Genesis 50:5 (J), compare 2 Chronicles 16:14; a well, בְּאֵר Genesis 26:25 (J), Numbers 21:18 (song in J E); a pit, בּוֺר Exodus 21:33; figurative of plotting against others Psalm 7:16; so followed by שׁוּחָה Jeremiah 18:20,22, followed by שִׁיחָה Jer 57:7; Jer 119:85; followed by שַׁחַת Proverbs 26:27; hence כֹּרֶה רָעָה Proverbs 16:27 one digging a calamity; לִי ׳אָזְנַיִם כ Psalm 40:7 ears hast thou dug (with allusion to the cavity of the ear) for me, thou hast given me the means of hearing and obeying thy will. — On Psalm 22:17 verse. II.כּוּר. Niph`al Imperfect3masculine singular עַד יִכָּרֶה שַׁהַּת Psalm 94:13 until the pit be digged for the wicked, figurative of judgment. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance dig, make a banquet, open A primitive root; properly, to dig; figuratively, to plot; generally, to bore or open -- dig, X make (a banquet), open. Forms and Transliterations וְ֝תִכְר֗וּ וַיִּכְרוּ־ ויכרו־ ותכרו יִכְר֣וּ יִכְרֶ֥ה יִכָּרֶ֖ה יכרה יכרו כָּ֝אֲרִ֗י כָּ֭רָֽה כָּֽרָה־ כָּֽרוּ־ כָּר֙וּהָ֙ כָּר֣וּ כָּרִ֣יתָ כָּרִ֤יתִי כָר֤וּ כָר֥וּ כֹּֽרֶה־ כֹּרֶ֣ה כארי כרה כרה־ כרהש־ כרו כרו־ כרוה כרית כריתי chaRu kā’ărî kā·’ă·rî kā·rāh kā·rāh- kā·rî·ṯā kā·rî·ṯî kā·rū ḵā·rū kā·rū- kā·rū·hā kaaRi karah kārāh kārāh- kaRita kārîṯā kaRiti kārîṯî kaRu kārū ḵārū kārū- kaRuha kārūhā kō·re·hō·ša- kō·reh koReh kōreh kōrehōša- korehoSha vaiyichru vetichRu way·yiḵ·rū- wayyiḵrū- wə·ṯiḵ·rū wəṯiḵrū yichReh yichRu yik·kā·reh yiḵ·reh yiḵ·rū yikkaReh yikkāreh yiḵreh yiḵrūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 26:25 HEB: שָׁ֖ם אָהֳל֑וֹ וַיִּכְרוּ־ שָׁ֥ם עַבְדֵי־ NAS: Isaac's servants dug a well. KJV: servants digged a well. INT: there his tent dug and there servants Genesis 50:5 Exodus 21:33 Numbers 21:18 2 Chronicles 16:14 Job 6:27 Job 41:6 Psalm 7:15 Psalm 22:16 Psalm 40:6 Psalm 57:6 Psalm 94:13 Psalm 119:85 Proverbs 16:27 Proverbs 26:27 Jeremiah 18:20 Jeremiah 18:22 17 Occurrences |
|
Arabic 
(with 
and especially 
Dozyii. 461); Syriac 
is be short, cut off (i.e. rounded off ?), Arabic 
ball; ᵑ7. כְּרֵי heap DalmGr. 109; Syriac 
Mishna כרי id.; Assyrian karê large vessels for holding corn, etc., DlHWB 353, compare kirû (dubious) WklTel Am. Vocab.; BaZMG 1887, 615 conjectures be round as orig √ meaning, and compare Arabic 
the leg is round); — 
