Lexical Summary qaras: To bow down, to collapse, to fall Original Word: קָרַס Strong's Exhaustive Concordance stoop A primitive root; properly, to protrude; used only as denominative from qerec (for alliteration with qara'), to hunch, i.e. Be hump-backed -- stoop. see HEBREW qerec see HEBREW qara' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to bend down, stoop, crouch NASB Translation stooped over (1), stoops over (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [קָרַס] verb bend down, stoop, crouch (intransitive) (compare perhaps Arabic  disc, round cake; compare Late Hebrew קַרְסוֺל, קַרְצוֺל, ᵑ7 קַרְסוּלָּא, קַרְצוּלָא all ankle); — Qal Perfect3plural קָֽרְסוּ Isaiah 46:2; Participle קֹרֵס Isaiah 46:1 (both + כָּרַע); of vanquished gods of Babylon. Topical Lexicon Biblical Context קָרַס (qaras) appears twice, both in Isaiah 46. The prophet pictures the cult statues of Babylon’s chief gods being carted away as spoil: “Bel bows down, Nebo stoops” (Isaiah 46:1). In verse 2 the same verb is repeated, “They stoop; they bow down together; they cannot rescue the burden, but they themselves go into captivity.” The word therefore serves Isaiah’s ironic description of idols that are themselves forced to “stoop” under judgment while the living God simultaneously promises, “I will sustain you and I will rescue you” (Isaiah 46:4). Historical Background of Babylonian Idolatry Bel (Marduk) and Nebo (Nabu) dominated the Mesopotamian pantheon. Annual festivals paraded their images on wagons or beasts in public procession. When Cyrus of Persia captured Babylon in 539 BC, such images were indeed confiscated and transported, fulfilling the prophetic scene. Isaiah’s language would have resonated with exiles in anticipation that the empire that had humiliated Judah would itself be humbled. Language and Imagery The core picture is one of collapse. קָרַס evokes an animal buckling under excessive freight. Isaiah deliberately contrasts that humiliating posture with the upright strength of the LORD who “carries” His people (Isaiah 46:4). The inversion exposes the futility of trusting objects that must themselves be carried; the true God bears the burden rather than adding to it. Theological Significance 1. Supremacy of God: The verb underscores YHWH’s unrivaled sovereignty over nations and their deities (compare Jeremiah 50:2; Jeremiah 51:44). Ministry Application • False Supports Fail: Any modern reliance—materialism, acclaim, political power—ultimately “stoops” under its own weight. Believers are called to discern and abandon such idols before they collapse (1 John 5:21). Messianic and Eschatological Considerations The downfall of Babylonian gods foreshadows the ultimate overthrow of every pretension that exalts itself against Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Revelation’s fall of “Babylon the Great” echoes Isaiah’s imagery, culminating in the universal confession that every power must bow to Jesus (Philippians 2:10). Contemporary Reflection קָרַס remains a vivid reminder that whatever humanity elevates above God will inevitably bend and break. The faithful response is worship of the One who never stoops in weakness but stooped in grace at the cross, thereby freeing His people from every burden. Forms and Transliterations קָרְס֤וּ קֹרֵ֣ס קרס קרסו kareSu koRes qā·rə·sū qārəsū qō·rês qōrêsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 46:1 HEB: כָּרַ֥ע בֵּל֙ קֹרֵ֣ס נְב֔וֹ הָיוּ֙ NAS: Nebo stoops over; Their images KJV: Nebo stoopeth, their idols INT: has bowed Bel stoops Nebo become Isaiah 46:2 2 Occurrences |
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