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 pit can be related to Greek words like "σκάπτω" (skapto), meaning to dig, or "βόθυνος" (bothynos), meaning a pit or hole. Usage: The Hebrew verb "karah" primarily means to dig or 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 Israel, digging was a significant activity due to the arid climate and the need for water. Wells were essential for survival, providing water for drinking, agriculture, and livestock. Additionally, pits were sometimes 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 times. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom karah Definition a cistern, well NASB Translation caves (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [כָּרָה] noun feminine cistern (or well), only plural construct In נְוֺת כְּרֹת רֹעִים Zephaniah 2:6 pastures of (= with) wells of shepherds, but text dubious; ׳כ a gloss according to Köii. 176, (§ 94 a) Anm.; ᵐ5. κρήτὴ We (כֶרת נות רעים והיתה as ᵐ5. kereth = Philistia; see further כְּרֵתִי; BöhmeZAW vii. 1887, 212 views כְּרֹת, plausibly, as erroneous variant of preceding נְוֺת, so Schwib. x. 1890, 185, 186; Rosthstein in KauAT. כְּרֹת Zephaniah 2:6 see [ כָּרָה] below I. כרה. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cottage Feminine of kar; a meadow -- cottage. see HEBREW kar Forms and Transliterations כְּרֹ֥ת כרת kə·rōṯ keRot kərōṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Zephaniah 2:6 HEB: הַיָּ֗ם נְוֹ֛ת כְּרֹ֥ת רֹעִ֖ים וְגִדְר֥וֹת NAS: will be pastures, [With] caves for shepherds KJV: shall be dwellings [and] cottages for shepherds, INT: and the sea will be pastures caves shepherds and folds |