כִּכָּר (kik.kar)
kik.kar
Plain (of Jericho)
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 55 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun kikkar denotes something round, serving as a root concept for three distinct meanings in Scripture. Its primary sense is a circular or circumjacent tract of land, most famously referring to the flat, fertile region known as the Plain of Jericho or the Jordan Valley. This geographical usage appears when Lot looks out and sees the well-watered landscape stretching toward Sodom (Genesis 13:10), highlighting the area’s agricultural abundance.
Beyond geography, kikkar describes a round loaf of bread, reflecting the shape of baked goods in ancient Israel. It also functions as a unit of weight or currency, specifically a talent, which represents a large, heavy mass of metal like gold or silver. This monetary sense dominates its usage in historical books such as Kings and Chronicles, where it quantifies vast sums paid for tribute or used in the construction of the Temple (2 Kings 5:23; 1 Kings 9:14).
The word’s versatility stems from its core idea of circularity. Whether describing the curve of a valley, the shape of a cake, or the bulk of a coin, kikkar unites these diverse concepts under one visual image. Translators must carefully distinguish between "plain," "loaf," and "talent" based on context, as the Hebrew term itself carries no inherent distinction between land, food, and currency.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word kikkar carries a quiet beauty rooted in shape and substance. It describes the round loaf offered to God, the heavy talent used for sacred construction, and the fertile plain where Lot once looked upon abundance. Each meaning points to something whole, complete, and grounded in reality.
When we encounter this word in Scripture, it reminds us that faith is not abstract. It involves the bread we share, the resources we steward, and the landscapes through which God guides our steps. Like the plain of Jericho, our lives can be places of growth or testing. The text invites us to consider what we choose to cultivate.
Whether referring to a gift of gold or a simple cake, kikkar speaks of value held in trust. We are encouraged to see these details not as mere historical footnotes, but as reflections of a God who cares for the tangible aspects of our existence. His provision is often found in the everyday shapes and spaces of our daily walk.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 55 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- talent[s] of15×
- talents7×
- the/ valley5×
- talent[s]5×
- a talent of4×
- talents of3×
- a round loaf of3×
- two talents2×
- the/ talent[s]2×
- the/ district2×
- round loaves of2×
- in/ [the] valley of2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כִּכַּר\־9×
- כִּכַּ֣ר6×
- כִכַּר\־5×
- כִּכַּ֥ר4×
- הַ/כִּכָּ֔ר4×
- כִּכָּ֑ר3×
- הַ/כִּכָּ֑ר3×
- כִּכָּרִים֙2×
- כִּכָּ֛ר2×
- כִּכְּרֵ֥י2×
- כִּכְּר֣וֹת2×
- וְ/כִכַּ֥ר2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 13:10
Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar.
This verse highlights the plain's fertility, showing how the landscape itself became a test of spiritual discernment for Lot.
-
Exodus 29:23
and one loaf of bread, one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer out of the basket of unleavened bread that is before Yahweh.
Here the word refers to a round loaf, connecting the shape of bread directly to the ritual offerings before Yahweh.
-
I Kings 9:14
Hiram sent to the king one hundred twenty talents of gold.
The talent quantifies Hiram's massive gift, illustrating how this unit measured immense wealth in Solomon's era.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does kikkar mean in the Bible?
Why does kikkar mean both land and money?
Where does kikkar appear most often?
Every Occurrence (55 verses across 16 books)
Genesis 7 verses
Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh…
Genesis 13:11So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves from one another.
Genesis 13:12Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom.
Genesis 19:17It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, “Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, and don’t…
Genesis 19:25He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew on the ground.
Genesis 19:28He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and saw that the smoke of the land went up…
Genesis 19:29When God destroyed the cities of the plain, God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the overthrow,…