Lexical Summary kathar: To crown, to surround, to encircle Original Word: כָּתַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance beset round, compass about, be crowne, suffer A primitive root; to enclose; hence (in a friendly sense) to crown, (in a hostile one) to besiege; also to wait (as restraining oneself) -- beset round, compass about, be crowned inclose round, suffer. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to surround NASB Translation crowned (1), encircled (1), surround (2), surrounded (1), wait (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [כָּתַר] verb surround (in Pi`el), (Aramaic כַּתַּר Pa`el, wait, hope for; Pi`el Perfect3plural כִּתְּרוּ Judges 20:43 of surrounding an enemy; suffix כִּתְּרוּנִי Psalm 22:13 (in figurative; "" סְבָבוּנִי); Imperative כַּתַּרלִֿי Job 36:2 wait, I pray (as in Aramaic) Hiph`il Imperfect3masculine plural בִּי יַכְּתִּרוּ צַדִּיקִים Psalm 142:8 dubious, throw out crowns (Ges§ 53g), i.e. appear with crowns (denominative from כֶּתֶר; but this very late — only in Esther); figurative for triumph, because of me; but Gr Che יִתְמָּֽאֲרוּ (see I. פאר); יַכְתִּרוּ דָ֑עַת Proverbs 14:18 dubious, Thes De and others throw out knowledge as a crown, make knowledge their crown (denominative from כֶּתֶר; but see above), Now, encompass knowledge, i.e. possess it ("" נָָֽחֲלוּ); sense good, but meaning of ׳כ without "". Participle מַכְתִּיר surrounding (as Pi`el) Habakkuk 1:4 (with accusative of enemy). Topical Lexicon OverviewThe verb כָּתַר depicts the act of surrounding something or someone so completely that the object is either besieged or ornamented. The same motion that presses in on an enemy can also place a crown on a friend. Scripture therefore uses the term in contexts of warfare, lament, wisdom, and prophetic rebuke, creating a rich tapestry of physical and spiritual imagery. Patterns of Usage 1. Encirclement in Battle Judges 20:43 recounts Israel’s disciplined tactics against Benjamin: “They surrounded the Benjamites, pursued them, and easily overtook them in the vicinity of Gibeah toward the east.” The verb evokes a tightening military ring that leaves no avenue of escape. The totality of the encirclement underscores both the seriousness of civil sin (Judges 19–21) and the completeness of divine judgment executed through Israel’s armies. 2. Oppressive Hemming-In Habakkuk 1:4 laments societal injustice: “For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.” Here the righteous are pressed on every side, their ability to act stifled. The prophet’s complaint highlights the moral inversion that results when God’s law is ignored, foreshadowing the Babylonian judgment that will break the wicked circle. 3. Surrounding Threats in Lament Psalm 22:12 places כָּתַר inside a Messianic psalm: “Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.” David, and ultimately the suffering Messiah, experiences hostile forces closing in. The surrounding hostility magnifies the anguish of the cross while guaranteeing that divine deliverance will be all the more glorious. 4. Gathering of the Righteous Psalm 142:7 looks ahead to deliverance: “Free my soul from prison, that I may praise Your name. Then the righteous will gather around me because of Your goodness to me.” The same verb that once suffocated now describes fellowship. When God redeems, His people encircle the rescued singer in worship and testimony. 5. Crowning with Knowledge Proverbs 14:18 shifts the imagery from surrounding to adorning: “The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.” Wisdom encircles the prudent like a royal diadem. The encompassing blessing contrasts sharply with the constricting oppression experienced by the wicked and the suffering psalmist. 6. An Appeal for Patient Attention Job 36:2: “Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is yet more to be said on God’s behalf.” Elihu asks Job to let his words “surround” the discussion a bit further. Even in debate, כָּתַר portrays speech that envelops an argument until the hearer fully grasps God’s dealings. Theological Themes • Divine Sovereignty in Judgment and Deliverance In every setting, the surrounding action is ultimately under God’s control. He permits enemies to encircle, but He also commands deliverance that turns the circle into a crown of blessing. • Reversal Through Redemption Scripture moves from oppressive encirclement (Habakkuk, Psalm 22) to protective or celebratory encirclement (Psalm 142, Proverbs 14). The trajectory anticipates the gospel’s power to transform every curse into blessing through Christ’s atoning work. • Messianic Expectation Psalm 22’s use of כָּתַר places the verb in direct connection with the crucifixion narrative, where hostile forces literally and figuratively surrounded Jesus. His victory converts the encirclement of death into a crown of life for His people (Revelation 2:10). Historical and Cultural Background Ancient Near-Eastern warfare relied on the tactic of completely surrounding a city or army to cut off supplies and hope. Crowns, by contrast, were cast or woven to encircle a king’s head as a sign of honor. Both realities were familiar to Israel, making כָּתַר a vivid and versatile word. Ministry Implications • Spiritual Warfare Believers often feel besieged by sin or cultural pressures. Judges 20:43 and Habakkuk 1:4 remind congregations that the Lord both sees and restrains hostile encirclement, calling them to steadfast prayer and righteous action. • Pastoral Care Psalm 142:7 guides ministry to the suffering: pray for release, anticipate worship, and then intentionally “gather around” the delivered brother or sister in tangible fellowship. • Discipleship and Wisdom Proverbs 14:18 encourages leaders to cultivate knowledge that will “crown” the prudent. Teaching that surrounds a disciple with scriptural truth equips them to navigate life’s assaults. • Preaching Christ When Psalm 22:12 is expounded, the preacher can trace the encirclement motif from the cross to the resurrection crown, assuring hearers that every oppressive ring will ultimately break before the reigning Christ. Summary כָּתַר moves effortlessly between battlefield, courtroom, prayer closet, and throne room. Whether surrounding in hostility or crowning in honor, the verb serves as a reminder that God rules over every circle drawn in human history, and that in Christ the faithful will find themselves crowned rather than confined. Forms and Transliterations יַכְתִּ֣רוּ יַכְתִּ֥רוּ יכתרו כִּתְּר֤וּ כִּתְּרֽוּנִי׃ כַּתַּר־ כתר־ כתרו כתרוני׃ מַכְתִּ֣יר מכתיר kat·tar- kattar kattar- kit·tə·rū kit·tə·rū·nî kitteRu kittərū kitteRuni kittərūnî machTir maḵ·tîr maḵtîr yachTiru yaḵ·ti·rū yaḵtirūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 20:43 HEB: כִּתְּר֤וּ אֶת־ בִּנְיָמִן֙ NAS: They surrounded Benjamin, pursued KJV: [Thus] they inclosed the Benjamites INT: surrounded Benjamin pursued Job 36:2 Psalm 22:12 Psalm 142:7 Proverbs 14:18 Habakkuk 1:4 6 Occurrences |
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Pa`el wait, await, remain: i.e. perhaps surrounded expectantly, see