◄ 4379. mikreh ►
Lexical Summary
mikreh: Chance, accident, event, occurrence

Original Word: מִכְרֶה
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: mikreh
Pronunciation: mik-reh'
Phonetic Spelling: (mik-reh')
KJV: (salt-)pit
NASB: pits
Word Origin: [from H3738 (כָּרָה - To dig)]

1. a pit (for salt)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
salt pit

From karah; a pit (for salt) -- (salt-)pit.

see HEBREW karah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from karah
Definition
a pit
NASB Translation
pits (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[מִכְרֶה] noun masculine pit (?) only construct מִכְרֵדהמֶֿלַךְ Zephaniah 2:9 salt-pit (but not certain).

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Scope

מִכְרֶה expresses the idea of something that happens without human planning―an occurrence that appears accidental, fortuitous, or coincidental. Although this exact spelling does not surface in the canonical text, it is a recognized orthographic variant of the more familiar מִקְרֶה, the word translated “chance,” “event,” or “occurrence.” Because the concept is the same, every Old Testament passage that treats the mystery of unexpected events illumines the theological weight carried by מִכְרֶה.

Scriptural Background

Ruth 2:3 is paradigmatic: “She happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz”. The narrative invites the reader to see what looks like mere happenstance as the invisible hand of divine providence guiding Ruth toward redemption and, ultimately, the messianic line (Matthew 1:5–6).

Ecclesiastes 9:11 broadens the horizon: “Time and chance happen to them all”. Human strengths and strategies are real, yet unpredictable events overturn calculations, compelling trust beyond self-reliance.

1 Samuel 6:9 records the Philistines’ test: “If not, then we will know that it was not His hand that struck us; it happened to us by chance”. Ironically, the cows’ beeline to Beth-shemesh demonstrates that what pagans call “chance” is, in truth, Yahweh’s direct action.

Theology of Providence

1. Divine Sovereignty and Human Contingency

Scripture never treats “chance” as an autonomous force. Rather, apparently random events unveil God’s meticulous rule (Proverbs 16:33). מִכְרֶה therefore becomes a literary foil: the very word that signals unpredictability magnifies the certainty of divine governance.

2. Comfort in Unplanned Circumstances

Believers who encounter unforeseen trials (James 1:2) or providential doors of ministry (Acts 16:6-10) can interpret their own מִכְרֶה moments through the lens of Romans 8:28. What seems accidental is enfolded into the wise, covenantal purpose of God.

3. Moral Responsibility

Because God works through contingencies, His people remain alert and obedient. Ruth’s diligence, Jonathan’s initiative (1 Samuel 14:6), and Esther’s courage (Esther 4:14) show that faith responds proactively to unexpected openings.

Historical and Rabbinic Reflection

Second-Temple and rabbinic literature frequently juxtaposed מִכְרֶה-like incidents with the doctrine of hashgachah (divine oversight). While some Hellenistic philosophies elevated blind fate, Jewish and later Christian commentators insisted that “the Most High rules the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:17). Early church fathers echoed the conviction: what pagans attribute to Fortuna is the providence of the Creator.

Pastoral and Missional Implications

• Counseling: When tragedy strikes “out of the blue,” pastors can anchor grieving hearts in Psalm 31:15, “My times are in Your hands,” reminding them that unexplained events are not ungoverned events.

• Evangelism: Testimonies often hinge on surprising encounters—a conversation on a plane, a misplaced phone call, an unplanned detour. Presenting these as מִכְרֶה under God’s orchestration invites hearers to discern grace in their own lives.

• Discipleship: Teaching believers to journal “divine appointments” cultivates expectancy and gratitude, transforming random happenings into opportunities for worship and service.

Conclusion

Though מִכְרֶה never appears in the Masoretic Text, the concept it embodies permeates biblical history, theology, and daily Christian experience. What looks like sheer accident is, in the biblical worldview, the stage upon which God’s sovereign wisdom, covenant love, and redemptive power are displayed. Recognizing His hand in every “chance” occurrence liberates the heart from fear, energizes practical obedience, and fuels confident hope in the God “who works out everything by the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11).

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