כָּר (kar)
kar
saddle; pasture; ram
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun kar has three distinct meanings that share no etymological root: a basket saddle on a camel, a pasture or meadow, and a ram or battering-ram. In Genesis 31:34, it describes the enclosed riding space where Rachel hides her household gods, illustrating its use as a practical container for travel. This specific sense of a "basket-saddle" is rare in Scripture, appearing only here.
The word also denotes fertile grazing land, often translated as pasture or meadow. In Psalms and Isaiah, it evokes images of lush vegetation where flocks feed, such as the green pastures promised in Psalm 23:2. This agricultural sense connects the term to provision and sustenance.
Finally, kar refers to a male sheep, specifically a ram, or metaphorically to a battering-ram used in siege warfare. In Isaiah 41:15, the imagery of a threshing sledge with sharp teeth is linked to this concept of powerful, destructive force. These varied meanings highlight how Hebrew vocabulary can branch into unrelated concepts based on context.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kar in Hebrew carries a surprising range of meanings that reflect different aspects of ancient life: a camel’s saddle, a lush pasture, or a ram. In Genesis 31:34, Rachel hides her household gods in the camel’s saddle, showing how this everyday object held personal secrets and family history. This image reminds us that God sees what is hidden in our own lives, even when we try to conceal it.
When kar refers to a pasture or meadow, it evokes images of green fields where flocks feed safely. Psalm 23:2 speaks of lying down in green pastures, pointing to God’s provision and care for His people. This sense of the word connects to the idea of sustenance and rest, reminding us that God provides not just for our physical needs but also for our spiritual well-being.
As a ram or battering-ram, kar can symbolize strength or destruction. In Isaiah 34:6, rams are part of a sacrificial scene, highlighting the seriousness of atonement and justice. This dual nature—provision versus power—shows how God uses both gentle care and mighty intervention in our lives. Whether we experience His quiet provision or His powerful presence, we can trust that He is working for our good.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- lambs4×
- the/ lambs1×
- pastures1×
- pasture1×
- like/ lambs1×
- in/ [the] saddlebag of1×
- a lamb1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כָּרִים֙2×
- כָּרִ֜ים1×
- כָּרִ֔ים1×
- כָּרִ֑ים1×
- כַּ֥ר1×
- כְּ/כָרִ֣ים1×
- כַ֥ר1×
- הַ/כָּרִים֙1×
- בְּ/כַ֥ר1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 31:34
Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt around all the tent, but didn’t find them.
This verse uniquely uses kar to describe the camel's saddle where Rachel hid her household gods, illustrating its rare sense as a container for travel.
-
Psalms 37:20
But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of Yahweh shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish— vanish like smoke.
Here kar refers to fields or pastures, contrasting the fleeting beauty of the wicked with the enduring stability of God's people.
-
Isaiah 30:23
He will give the rain for your seed, with which you will sow the ground; and bread of the increase of the ground will be rich and plentiful. In that day, your livestock will feed in large pastures.
The word describes large pastures where livestock will feed, symbolizing God’s abundant provision and restoration for His people.
-
Isaiah 34:6
Yahweh’s sword is filled with blood. It is covered with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams; for Yahweh has a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.
Kar refers to rams in a sacrificial context, emphasizing the seriousness of divine judgment and atonement in Bozrah.