Lexical Summary Kerith: Kerith Original Word: כְּרִית Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Kerith, a brook of Palestine From karath; a cut; Kerith, a brook of Palestine: see HEBREW karath NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom karath Definition a brook where Elijah was hidden NASB Translation Cherith (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs כְּרִית proper name, of a location and כְּרִיתוּת see below כרת. כרך (√ of following; compare Aramaic כְּרַךְ כְּרִית proper name the brook where Eliajah was hidden 1 Kings 17:3,5, identify. dubious; accusative RobBR ii. P. 288 wady el-Kelt, near Jericho; accusative BuhlHandw 12 Wady `Ajlun, east of Jordan, yet see BuhlG. 121. Topical Lexicon Identity and Location “Cherith” designates a wadi or seasonal brook into which Elijah withdrew at the LORD’s command during the early phase of the three-and-a-half-year drought. The text twice situates the brook “east of the Jordan” (1 Kings 17:3, 1 Kings 17:5). Its precise site is uncertain; suggested wadis include Wadi al-Yabis and Wadi Kelt, both of which form steep ravines consistent with the narrative. The physical geography—sheer cliffs, intermittent water, and isolation—creates the backdrop for a narrative of judgment upon Israel and personal formation for the prophet. Biblical Occurrences 1 Kings 17:3 “Depart from here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook Cherith, east of the Jordan.” 1 Kings 17:5 “So Elijah did what the LORD had commanded; he went and lived by the Brook Cherith, east of the Jordan.” Historical Setting The northern kingdom under Ahab had plunged into syncretistic worship centered on Baal, the Canaanite storm-deity. Through Elijah, the LORD declared that neither dew nor rain would fall until Elijah spoke again. The brook becomes the first theater of this national trial. While the land begins to parch, Elijah is removed from public view, foreshadowing both the severity of the coming famine and the dramatic re-entry of the prophet on Mount Carmel. Divine Provision and Discipline At Cherith, God sustains Elijah by two means: a trickling brook and twice-daily deliveries of bread and meat by ravens (1 Kings 17:4). In a period of covenant judgment, the covenant Lord simultaneously disciplines His servant and displays His capacity to provide independently of ordinary means. This dual theme—judgment mingled with provision—reverberates throughout Scripture, reminding readers that the righteousness of God never eclipses His faithfulness. Solitude as Prophetic Preparation Cherith serves as a crucible for spiritual formation. Removed from public ministry, Elijah experiences: The pattern anticipates subsequent biblical moments where isolation precedes public mission (for example, Moses in Midian, John the Baptist in the wilderness, and Jesus’ forty days of temptation). Symbolic Themes 1. Separation and Holiness: The act of “hiding” reinforces the prophetic stance of standing apart from an idolatrous culture. Ministry Applications • Trust in Provision: Ministers may be called into seasons where visible resources dry up; Cherith certifies that obedience precedes supply. Intertextual Echoes The New Testament alludes to this episode in James 5:17-18, underscoring Elijah’s humanity and the effectiveness of fervent prayer. The brook episode forms the starting point of that prayer narrative. The principle that “the prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail” is anchored in a prophet who first learned dependence beside an obscure stream. Conclusion Cherith, though mentioned only twice, holds enduring significance. It embodies the paradox of a hidden life that shapes public impact, demonstrates the LORD’s sovereignty in both judgment and mercy, and offers a perennial lesson on the sufficiency of divine provision for all who heed His word. Forms and Transliterations כְּרִ֔ית כרית kə·rîṯ keRit kərîṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 17:3 HEB: וְנִסְתַּרְתָּ֙ בְּנַ֣חַל כְּרִ֔ית אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־ NAS: yourself by the brook Cherith, which KJV: thyself by the brook Cherith, that [is] before INT: and hide the brook Cherith which that 1 Kings 17:5 2 Occurrences |
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enwrap, surround, כְּרִיכָא, 
bundle, כַּרְכָּא, 
city (+ many other derivatives ); כְּרִיכָא, 
Late Hebrew כֶּרֶךְ, scroll, etc.)