כָּרָה (ka.rah)
ka.rah
to trade; to feed
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb karah carries two distinct meanings that appear in the Old Testament: to obtain goods through trade or bargaining, and to host a feast or banquet. Though these senses seem unrelated today, both center on the exchange of resources for sustenance or relationship. In its commercial sense, it describes the active process of buying or negotiating, while its social sense involves providing food and hospitality to others.
This word appears sparingly, occurring in only four verses across Job, 2 Kings, and Hosea. A clear example of the banquet meaning is found in 2 Kings 6:23, where the prophet Elisha prepares a great feast for the Aramean soldiers he has captured. Here, karah emphasizes the generous provision of a meal to secure peace or demonstrate mercy. The trade sense appears in contexts like Hosea 12:7, highlighting dishonest weighing and commercial exploitation.
The dual usage reflects how ancient Israelite society viewed economic and social life as interconnected. Acquiring goods through trade was not merely transactional but often led to communal sharing. Translators typically render karah as "trade" or "feast" depending on context, requiring readers to pay attention to whether the passage focuses on market activity or hospitality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word karah reminds us that our daily exchanges are never just about money or food. When we trade, we hold power over another’s survival. When we host, we hold power over another’s dignity. This dual meaning invites us to examine how we use resources in both business and friendship.
In 2 Kings, Elisha feeds his enemies, turning a transaction into an act of peace. In Hosea, the prophet warns against using trade to exploit the vulnerable. Your interactions carry this same weight. Whether you are buying groceries or sharing a meal with a neighbor, your actions shape relationships and reflect God’s character.
Consider how you can turn ordinary exchanges into moments of grace. A fair price honors the worker. A shared table builds community. These small acts of integrity and generosity are where faith meets daily life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you will buy1×
- and/ you may bargain1×
- and/ he gave a feast1×
- and/ I bought/ her1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּכְר֧וּ1×
- וָ/אֶכְּרֶ֣/הָ1×
- וַ/יִּכְרֶ֨ה1×
- וְ֝/תִכְר֗וּ1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 6:23
He prepared a great feast for them. After they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria stopped raiding the land of Israel.
This verse shows karah used for hosting a feast, highlighting how providing food can disarm hostility and bring peace.
-
Hosea 3:2
So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley.
Here the word describes buying with silver and barley, illustrating how trade involves real economic value and commitment.
-
Job 6:27
Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.
The text uses karah to condemn making merchandise of a friend, showing that trading in people is a violation of relationship.