7139. qarach

Lexicon

qarach: To make bald, to be bald

Original Word: קָרַח
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: qarach
Pronunciation: kah-rahkh
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-rakh')
Definition: To make bald, to be bald
Meaning: to depilate

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

make self bald

A primitive root; to depilate -- make (self) bald.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to make bald
NASB Translation
bald* (1), baldness* (1), made bald (1), make (2), make yourself bald (1), shave his head (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. [קָרַח] verb make bald, or a baldness, usually (by mourners) for the dead, compare Rs^{Semitic i. 306, 2nd ed. 324} (Arabic parallels) (Late Hebrew id. Hiph`il shew baldness; Arabic wound, make sores, whiteness in face of horse (but be bald, bald); Ethiopic make bald (rare); Aramaic קְרַח, , chiefly derivatives (and derived Meanings); compare Sinaitic proper name, masculine קרחה, קרחו; MI^3.21.24.25 proper name, of a location קרחה); —

Qal Imperfect3masculine plural יִקְרְחוּ קָרְחָה בְּראִשָׁם Leviticus 21:5 Qr (> Kt יקרחה; "" יְגַלֵּ֑חוּ compare Deuteronomy 14:1); Imperative feminine singular קָרְחִי וָגֹ֫זִּי עַל Micah 1:16 make a baldness... for.

Niph`al Imperfect3masculine singular יִקָּרֵחַ לָהֶם Jeremiah 16:6 men shall not make themselves bald for them.

Hiph`il Perfect3plural consecutive וְהִקְרִיחוּ אֵלַיִח קָרְחָה Ezekiel 27:31 and they shall make a baldness (compare

Qal>) for thee.

Hoph`al Participle כָּלרֿאִשׁ מֻקְרָח Ezekiel 29:18 every head made bald (by carrying load).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The corresponding Greek entry related to the concept of baldness or shaving is Strong's Greek Number G3587, ξυράω (xurao), which means to shave or to shear. This Greek term is used in the New Testament in contexts involving shaving or cutting hair, reflecting similar cultural practices and symbolic meanings as those found in the Hebrew Bible.

Usage: The verb קָרַח (qarach) is used in the context of making bald or shaving, often associated with mourning practices or ritualistic actions in the Hebrew Bible.

Context: The Hebrew root קָרַח (qarach) appears in the context of mourning and ritualistic practices in the Old Testament. It is primarily used to describe the act of making oneself bald, either by shaving the head or plucking out hair, as a sign of grief or lamentation. This practice was common in ancient Near Eastern cultures and is mentioned in several biblical passages as a prohibited act for the Israelites, who were instructed to distinguish themselves from surrounding nations through their customs and practices.

In Leviticus 21:5, the priests are specifically commanded not to shave their heads or make bald spots on their heads as a sign of mourning: "They must not make bald spots on their heads, shave off the edges of their beards, or make cuts in their bodies." This prohibition underscores the importance of maintaining holiness and separation from pagan mourning rituals.

Similarly, in Deuteronomy 14:1, the Israelites are reminded of their identity as God's chosen people and are instructed not to engage in such practices: "You are the children of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves or shave your foreheads on behalf of the dead."

The act of making bald is also mentioned in the context of judgment and humiliation, as seen in Isaiah 3:24, where baldness is a symbol of disgrace: "Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty."

Forms and Transliterations

וְהִקְרִ֤יחוּ והקריחו יִקְרְח֤וּ יִקָּרֵ֖חַ יקרח יקרחו מֻקְרָ֔ח מקרח קָרְחִ֣י קרחי kareChi mukRach muq·rāḥ muqrāḥ qā·rə·ḥî qārəḥî vehikRichu wə·hiq·rî·ḥū wəhiqrîḥū yikkaReach yikreChu yiq·qā·rê·aḥ yiq·rə·ḥū yiqqārêaḥ yiqrəḥū

Englishman's Concordance

Leviticus 21:5
HEB: [יִקְרְחָה כ] (יִקְרְח֤וּ ק) קָרְחָה֙
NAS: They shall not make any baldness on their heads,
KJV: They shall not make baldness
INT: nor make bald baldness their heads

Jeremiah 16:6
HEB: יִתְגֹּדַ֔ד וְלֹ֥א יִקָּרֵ֖חַ לָהֶֽם׃
NAS: will anyone gash himself or shave his head for them.
KJV: for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them:
INT: gash nor shave like

Ezekiel 27:31
HEB: וְהִקְרִ֤יחוּ אֵלַ֙יִךְ֙ קָרְחָ֔ה
NAS: Also they will make themselves bald for you And gird
KJV: And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird
INT: will make and utterly

Ezekiel 29:18
HEB: כָּל־ רֹ֣אשׁ מֻקְרָ֔ח וְכָל־ כָּתֵ֖ף
NAS: head was made bald and every
KJV: every head [was] made bald, and every shoulder
INT: every head was made and every shoulder

Micah 1:16
HEB: קָרְחִ֣י וָגֹ֔זִּי עַל־
NAS: Make yourself bald and cut off your hair,
KJV: Make thee bald, and poll
INT: Make and cut of

5 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7139
5 Occurrences

qā·rə·ḥî — 1 Occ.
muq·rāḥ — 1 Occ.
wə·hiq·rî·ḥū — 1 Occ.
yiq·qā·rê·aḥ — 1 Occ.
yiq·rə·ḥū — 1 Occ.