3774. Kerethi
Berean Strong's Lexicon
Kerethi: Kerethites

Original Word: כְּרֵתִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: Kerethi
Pronunciation: keh-reh-TEE
Phonetic Spelling: (ker-ay-thee')
Definition: Kerethites
Meaning: a Kerethite, life-guardsman

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to excise or to cut off.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct Greek equivalent for "Kerethi" in the Strong's Greek Dictionary, as it is a specific term related to a group within the Hebrew context.

Usage: The term "Kerethi" refers to a group of people known as the Kerethites. They are often mentioned alongside the Pelethites and are recognized as part of King David's elite guard. The Kerethites were likely a foreign group, possibly of Philistine origin, who served as mercenaries or royal bodyguards in Israel.

Cultural and Historical Background: The Kerethites, along with the Pelethites, were integral to the military and security apparatus of King David's reign. Their presence highlights the practice of employing foreign mercenaries in ancient Near Eastern royal courts. This practice was not uncommon, as foreign troops were often seen as more loyal to the king, having no local allegiances. The Kerethites' possible Philistine origin suggests a complex relationship between Israel and its neighbors, where former enemies could become trusted allies.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from karath
Definition
the foreign bodyguard of King David
NASB Translation
Cherethites (10).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
כְרֵתִי adjective, of a people, always with article, or plural, as substantive, Kerethites, a name for Philistines or a part of them (perhaps = Cretans, compare ᵐ5 Zephaniah 2:5; Ezekiel 25:15; on Crete as original home of Philistines, see כַּפְתֹּר, מְּלִשְׁתִּי); — הַכְּרֵתִי = substantive collective; — ׳נֶגֶב הַכּ 1 Samuel 30:14 (compare Dr; ᵐ5 B Ξολθει, ᵐ5L Ξορρι A Ξερηθει); of soldiers of David's guard, וְהַמְּלֵתִי ׳הַכּ 2 Samuel 8:18 (read ׳עַלהַֿכּ Th We Dr and others) = 1 Chronicles 18:17; 2 Samuel 15:18; 2 Samuel 20:7 + 2 Samuel 20:23 Qr ( > Kt הכרי), 1 Kings 1:38,44 (ᵐ5 Ξελεθθει, Ξερεθθει, etc.); plural כְּרֵתִים Ezekiel 25:16 ("" מְּלִשְׁתִּים; ᵐ5. Κρῆτας); גּוֺי כְּרֵתִים Zephaniah 2:5 (ᵐ5 Κρητῶν; "" ארץ פלשׁתים): in Zephaniah 2:6 We reads כֶּרֶת = Philistia (see [כָרָה], below I. כרה).

כֶּשֶׂב, כִּשְׂבָּה see כֶבֶשׂ etc.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Cherethims, Cherethites

Probably from karath in the sense of executioner; a Kerethite or life-guardsman (compare tabbach) (only collectively in the singular as plural) -- Cherethims, Cherethites.

see HEBREW karath

see HEBREW tabbach

Forms and Transliterations
הַכְּרֵתִ֖י הַכְּרֵתִ֛י הכרתי וְהַכְּרֵתִ֖י וְהַכְּרֵתִ֥י והכרתי כְּרֵתִ֑ים כרתים hak·kə·rê·ṯî hakkereTi hakkərêṯî kə·rê·ṯîm kereTim kərêṯîm vehakkereTi wə·hak·kə·rê·ṯî wəhakkərêṯî
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Samuel 30:14
HEB: פָּשַׁ֜טְנוּ נֶ֧גֶב הַכְּרֵתִ֛י וְעַל־ אֲשֶׁ֥ר
NAS: on the Negev of the Cherethites, and on that which
KJV: [upon] the south of the Cherethites, and upon [the coast] which [belongeth] to Judah,
INT: made the Negev of the Cherethites that which

2 Samuel 8:18
HEB: בֶּן־ יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע וְהַכְּרֵתִ֖י וְהַפְּלֵתִ֑י וּבְנֵ֥י
NAS: of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites;
KJV: of Jehoiada [was over] both the Cherethites and the Pelethites;
INT: the son of Jehoiada the Cherethites and the Pelethites sons

2 Samuel 15:18
HEB: יָד֔וֹ וְכָל־ הַכְּרֵתִ֖י וְכָל־ הַפְּלֵתִ֑י
NAS: him, all the Cherethites, all
KJV: beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites,
INT: beside all the Cherethites all the Pelethites

2 Samuel 20:7
HEB: אַנְשֵׁ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב וְהַכְּרֵתִ֥י וְהַפְּלֵתִ֖י וְכָל־
NAS: out after him, along with the Cherethites and the Pelethites
KJV: men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites,
INT: men Joab's the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all

1 Kings 1:44
HEB: בֶּן־ יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע וְהַכְּרֵתִ֖י וְהַפְּלֵתִ֑י וַיַּרְכִּ֣בוּ
NAS: of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites;
KJV: of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites,
INT: the son of Jehoiada the Cherethites and the Pelethites ride

1 Chronicles 18:17
HEB: יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע עַל־ הַכְּרֵתִ֖י וְהַפְּלֵתִ֑י וּבְנֵי־
NAS: [was] over the Cherethites and the Pelethites,
KJV: of Jehoiada [was] over the Cherethites and the Pelethites;
INT: of Jehoiada over the Cherethites and the Pelethites and the sons

Ezekiel 25:16
HEB: וְהִכְרַתִּ֖י אֶת־ כְּרֵתִ֑ים וְהַ֣אֲבַדְתִּ֔י אֶת־
NAS: even cut off the Cherethites and destroy
KJV: and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy
INT: the Philistines cut the Cherethites and destroy the remnant

Zephaniah 2:5
HEB: הַיָּ֖ם גּ֣וֹי כְּרֵתִ֑ים דְּבַר־ יְהוָ֣ה
NAS: The nation of the Cherethites! The word
KJV: the nation of the Cherethites! the word
INT: of the sea the nation of the Cherethites the word of the LORD

8 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3774
8 Occurrences


hak·kə·rê·ṯî — 3 Occ.
kə·rê·ṯîm — 2 Occ.
wə·hak·kə·rê·ṯî — 3 Occ.
















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