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

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.

[כאר] see II. כור.

II. [כוּר] verb meaning dubious, perhaps bore, or dig, or hew (Dl^{Prol. 121} compare Assyrian kâru, fell trees (Dl^{HWB 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 Arabic (with and especially Dozy^{ii. 461}); Syriac is be short, cut off (i.e. rounded off ?), Arabic ball; ᵑ7. כְּרֵי heap Dalm^{Gr. 109}; Syriac Mishna כרי id.; Assyrian karê large vessels for holding corn, etc., Dl^{HWB 353}, compare kirû (dubious) Wkl^{Tel Am. Vocab}.; Ba^{ZMG 1887, 615} conjectures be round as orig √ meaning, and compare Arabic the leg is round); —

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.

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G1334 (διηγέομαι, diegeomai): To describe, to narrate
• G2998 (λατομέω, latomeo): To quarry, to hew stones
• G3409 (μυκάομαι, mykaomai): To bellow, to roar
• G3736 (ὀρύσσω, orusso): To dig, to excavate
• G3908 (παρατίθημι, paratithemi): To set before, to present

These Greek entries provide a range of meanings that align with the Hebrew concept of digging or preparing, whether in a literal or metaphorical sense. The connection between these terms highlights the continuity of certain themes and actions across the biblical texts.

Usage: The verb כָּרָה (karah) is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe the action of digging or making a hole, often in the context of preparing a pit or trap. It can also imply the act of plotting or scheming, particularly in a negative sense, such as setting a trap for someone.

Context: • The Hebrew verb כָּרָה (karah) appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often associated with the physical act of digging. This can refer to digging wells, as seen in Genesis 26:25, where Isaac's servants dig a well. It is also used metaphorically to describe the act of plotting or scheming against someone, as in Psalm 7:15: "He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making."
• The term is frequently used in poetic and prophetic literature to convey the idea of preparing a trap or pitfall, often with the implication that the one who digs the pit will ultimately fall into it themselves. This reflects a common biblical theme of divine justice and retribution.
• In Job 6:27, the term is used in a figurative sense to describe the act of casting lots or making a decision, indicating the broader semantic range of the word beyond its literal meaning.
• The usage of כָּרָה in the Hebrew Bible underscores the cultural and historical significance of digging as a necessary activity for survival, such as digging wells for water, as well as its metaphorical application in moral and ethical teachings.

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 yiḵrūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts