7142. qereach

Lexicon

qereach: Bald

Original Word: קֵרֵחַ
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: qereach
Pronunciation: keh-ray'-akh
Phonetic Spelling: (kay-ray'-akh)
Definition: Bald
Meaning: bald

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

bald head

From qarach; bald (on the back of the head) -- bald (head).

see HEBREW qarach

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from qarach
Definition
bald
NASB Translation
bald (1), baldhead (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

קֵרֵחַ adjective bald; — Leviticus 13:40 (distinct from גִּבֵּחַ Leviticus 13:41);

noun masculine 2 Kings 2:23 (twice in verse).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root קָרַח (qarach), meaning "to be bald" or "to make bald."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of baldness in the Hebrew Bible does not have a direct one-to-one correspondence in the Greek New Testament. However, the Greek term φαλακρός (phalakros), meaning "bald," can be considered a conceptual equivalent. This term appears in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, in passages corresponding to those where קֵרֵחַ is used.

Usage: The word קֵרֵחַ is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe individuals who are bald, either naturally or as a result of shaving. It appears in contexts that may relate to mourning practices, physical descriptions, or metaphorical uses.

Context: The term קֵרֵחַ appears in several passages within the Hebrew Bible, often in contexts that highlight physical appearance or ritual practices. In Leviticus 13:40-41, the term is used in the context of diagnosing skin diseases, where a bald head is described as clean. The passage states: "Now if a man loses the hair of his head, he is bald, but he is clean." This indicates that baldness, in itself, was not considered a defilement under the Levitical law.

In 2 Kings 2:23, the term is used in a narrative involving the prophet Elisha. As Elisha travels to Bethel, a group of youths mock him, saying, "Go up, you baldhead!" This incident underscores the cultural perception of baldness and the disrespect shown to the prophet, which subsequently leads to a divine judgment upon the mockers.

The term also appears in Isaiah 3:24, where baldness is mentioned as a sign of mourning and humiliation: "Instead of well-set hair, baldness." This reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of shaving the head as an expression of grief or distress.

Overall, קֵרֵחַ serves as a descriptor of physical appearance and is occasionally used metaphorically to convey themes of shame, mourning, or divine judgment.

Forms and Transliterations

קֵרֵ֖חַ קֵרֵ֥חַ קֵרֵֽחַ׃ קרח קרח׃ keReach qê·rê·aḥ qêrêaḥ

Englishman's Concordance

Leviticus 13:40
HEB: יִמָּרֵ֖ט רֹאשׁ֑וֹ קֵרֵ֥חַ ה֖וּא טָה֥וֹר
NAS: of his head, he is bald; he is clean.
KJV: off his head, he [is] bald; [yet is] he clean.
INT: loses of his head is bald he is clean

2 Kings 2:23
HEB: ל֔וֹ עֲלֵ֥ה קֵרֵ֖חַ עֲלֵ֥ה קֵרֵֽחַ׃
NAS: to him, Go up, you baldhead; go
KJV: unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up,
INT: and said Go baldhead go baldhead

2 Kings 2:23
HEB: קֵרֵ֖חַ עֲלֵ֥ה קֵרֵֽחַ׃
NAS: go up, you baldhead!
KJV: thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
INT: baldhead go baldhead

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7142
3 Occurrences

qê·rê·aḥ — 3 Occ.