כֵּרָה (ke.rah)
ke.rah
feast
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun kerah denotes a feast or banquet, appearing only once in the Old Testament at 2 Kings 6:23. In this specific instance, the Aramean king Ben-Hadad’s commanders capture Israelite scouts and bring them to the prophet Elisha. Rather than executing them, Elisha instructs the king to prepare a great kerah for these guests.
This single occurrence highlights a gesture of diplomatic hospitality rather than a religious ritual. The meal serves as a strategic act of peace, intended to secure goodwill and ensure the safety of the captives. By hosting such a feast, the narrative illustrates how shared meals could function as tools for de-escalation in ancient Near Eastern politics.
Because the word is rare, its meaning is anchored entirely by this context. It reminds readers that feasting in Scripture can carry complex political weight, serving not just celebration but also strategic alliance and mercy in tense historical moments.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kerah appears only once in Scripture, in a moment where violence could have easily erupted but was replaced by grace. When Elisha’s men captured enemy scouts, the natural human response might have been revenge or retaliation. Instead, the prophet chose to prepare a great feast for them.
This single instance shows that sharing a meal can be a powerful tool for peace. It de-escalates tension and builds bridges where walls usually stand. In our own lives, extending hospitality to those who might oppose us reflects a higher calling to seek reconciliation rather than retribution.
When we choose kindness over conflict, we participate in God’s work of restoring relationships. May we be quick to offer peace and slow to anger, trusting that shared tables can heal broken bonds.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a feast1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כֵּרָ֣ה1×
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 demonstrates how a feast served as a strategic act of mercy that halted military raids and secured peace between enemies.