כְּנָת (ke.nat)
ke.nat
associate
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun kenat refers to an associate, colleague, or companion. Although it appears as a feminine form in Aramaic, the sources clarify that it describes men, specifically those linked by professional or official duty rather than personal friendship.
This word occurs only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Ezra 4:7. The text lists these "associates" among those writing to King Artaxerxes to oppose the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. Here, kenat highlights a formal alliance between officials and local leaders who shared a common political goal.
It is distinct from words for close friends or family, focusing instead on the bond of shared work or interest. Translators typically render it as "colleagues" or "companions," capturing the sense of people working together toward a specific end.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kenat describes people linked by a shared task or official duty, rather than deep personal affection. In Ezra 4:7, it identifies the colleagues who joined forces to oppose the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. This reminds us that not all alliances are built on love; some are formed simply because people have a common interest or goal.
When you face opposition in your own life, remember that others may unite against what God is doing without knowing Him. Their coordination does not mean God has lost control. Instead, it shows that spiritual progress often meets organized resistance. You can trust that God sees these dynamics and works through them for His ultimate purpose.
Even when colleagues band together to hinder your work, you are never alone. God’s presence accompanies you regardless of who stands beside or against you. This word invites us to look beyond surface-level conflicts and rest in the sovereignty of God over human plans.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- colleagues/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כְּנָוֹתָ֔י/ו1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 4:7
In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Syrian and delivered in the Syrian language.
This verse uses kenat to identify the specific group of officials who coordinated a political letter to stop the rebuilding of Jerusalem, highlighting their formal alliance rather than personal friendship.