3774. Kerethi

Lexicon

Kerethi: Kerethites

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

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

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, ᵐ5^L 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.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root כָּרַת (karath), meaning "to cut off" or "to destroy."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There are no direct corresponding Strong's Greek entries for the Hebrew term כְּרֵתִי (Kerethi), as it is a specific proper noun referring to a group within the historical context of the Hebrew Bible. However, the concept of royal guards or elite soldiers can be found in various Greek terms related to military and protective roles.

Usage: The term "Kerethite" is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to a specific group of people who were part of King David's personal guard. They are often mentioned alongside the Pelethites, another group of elite soldiers.

Context: The Kerethites were a group of warriors who served as part of King David's elite military forces. They are frequently mentioned in the context of David's reign, particularly in relation to their role as his personal bodyguards. The Kerethites, along with the Pelethites, formed a crucial part of David's military structure, providing protection and ensuring the security of the king.

The origin of the Kerethites is often linked to the Philistines, as they are believed to have been a subgroup or mercenaries from the Philistine region. This connection is supported by their mention in passages that associate them with the Philistines, such as in 1 Samuel 30:14, where they are listed among the groups raided by David.

In 2 Samuel 8:18, the Kerethites are mentioned as part of the official court of King David: "Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites, and David’s sons were priests." This highlights their significant role within the royal administration and their trusted position in the king's service.

The Kerethites are also noted in 2 Samuel 20:23, where they are again listed as part of the military forces under Benaiah's command: "Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites."

Their presence in the biblical narrative underscores the diverse and multicultural nature of David's kingdom, as well as the strategic alliances and military arrangements that characterized his reign.

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

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.