3739. karah
Strong's Lexicon
karah: To dig, to make a pit, to prepare

Original Word: כָּרָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: karah
Pronunciation: kah-RAH
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-raw')
Definition: To dig, to make a pit, to prepare
Meaning: to purchase

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Greek equivalent for "karah," the concept of digging or preparing can be related to Greek words like "σκάπτω" (skapto - to dig) or "ἑτοιμάζω" (hetoimazo - to prepare).

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 term can also imply preparing or making something ready, often with a connotation of setting a trap or preparing a place for a specific purpose.

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 people, livestock, and agriculture. Pits were also used for trapping animals or as defensive measures in warfare. The act of digging could symbolize preparation, effort, and sometimes deceit, as in the setting of traps.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to trade, get by trade
NASB Translation
bargain (1), barter (1), bought (1), purchase (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. [כָּרָה] verb get by trade, trade (Late Hebrew כִּירָה act of buying, purchase (so 'in den Küstenländern,' LevyNWB ii. 323 f.); Arabic let for hire); — only

Qal Imperfect1singular suffix וָאֶכְּרֶהָ Hosea 3:2 (dagesh forte dirimens, si vera punctat., Ges§ 20. 2, b; but compare We); 3 masculine plural יִכְרוּ Job 40:30; 2masculine plural תִּכְרוּ Deuteronomy 2:6; Job 6:27; — get by trade, buy, with accusative Hosea 3:2; Deuteronomy 2:6; followed by -עַל trade in, make trade of Job 6:27; Job 40:30.

III. [כָּרָה] verb give a feast (literally perhaps bring (guests), invite; compare Assyrian karû, bring, kirêtu, feast, kireti iškun, he gave a feast, Dl :HWB 352); — only

Qal Imperfect. with accusative of congnate meaning with verb, לָהֶם כֵּרָה גְדוֺלָהוַיִּכְרֶה 2 Kings 6:23 and he gave a great feast for them (the context requires this sense, but text dubious, NöZMG 1886, 724, compare Klo).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
buy, prepare

Usually assigned as a primitive root, but probably only a special application of karah (through the common idea of planning implied in a bargain); to purchase -- buy, prepare.

see HEBREW karah

Forms and Transliterations
וַיִּכְרֶ֨ה וָאֶכְּרֶ֣הָ ואכרה ויכרה תִּכְר֧וּ תכרו tichRu tiḵ·rū tiḵrū vaekkeReha vaiyichReh wā’ekkərehā wā·’ek·kə·re·hā way·yiḵ·reh wayyiḵreh
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Deuteronomy 2:6
HEB: וְגַם־ מַ֜יִם תִּכְר֧וּ מֵאִתָּ֛ם בַּכֶּ֖סֶף
NAS: and you shall also purchase water
KJV: that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water
INT: shall also water purchase money you may drink

2 Kings 6:23
HEB: וַיִּכְרֶ֨ה לָהֶ֜ם כֵּרָ֣ה
KJV: And he prepared great provision
INT: prepared like feast

Hosea 3:2
HEB: וָאֶכְּרֶ֣הָ לִּ֔י בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֥ה
NAS: So I bought her for myself for fifteen
KJV: So I bought her to me for fifteen
INT: bought fif teen

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3739
3 Occurrences


tiḵ·rū — 1 Occ.
wā·’ek·kə·re·hā — 1 Occ.
way·yiḵ·reh — 1 Occ.















3738b
Top of Page
Top of Page