כָּרִי (ka.ri)
ka.ri
Carite
N:N--TGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--TG
Word Overview
The noun kari refers to a specific group of foreign mercenaries, likely of Carian origin, who served as the personal bodyguard for King David and later Solomon. The term appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within the historical accounts of 2 Kings (11:4, 19), where these soldiers are described guarding the temple and protecting the young king during a coup attempt.
Lexical sources connect kari closely with the Cherethites (kreti), suggesting they were part of a broader class of elite foreign troops employed by the Israelite monarchy. Rather than being regular Israelite conscripts, this group functioned as a professional, possibly non-Israelite, military unit trusted with the highest level of royal security and even execution duties.
Its rarity in Scripture highlights its specialized nature. The word does not describe general warfare but rather the intimate, dangerous proximity these soldiers held to the king’s person. By limiting the term to these specific narrative moments, the text underscores the reliance on professional guards for royal safety during times of political instability.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kari refers to a small group of foreign mercenaries who served as King David’s personal bodyguard. These soldiers were not regular Israelite conscripts but professionals trusted with the highest level of royal security. Their presence in the text highlights a practical reality: even godly leaders needed reliable protection during times of political instability.
In 2 Kings, these guards play a crucial role in preserving the line of David during a coup attempt. Jehoiada uses their loyalty to protect the young king and restore order. This shows that God can work through unexpected means and people to fulfill His purposes. The safety of the covenant lineage depended on the faithfulness of these foreign soldiers.
For us, this word reminds us that God’s plans are secure even when circumstances are dangerous. We do not need to fear every threat because God oversees history. Whether through miracles or through faithful servants, He protects what belongs to Him. This truth brings comfort when we face uncertainty in our own lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Carian[s]1×
- of the/ Carian[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לַ/כָּרִי֙1×
- הַ/כָּרִ֨י1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 11:4
In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the captains over hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him into Yahweh’s house; and he made a covenant with them, and made a covenant with them in Yahweh’s house, and showed them the king’s son.
This verse shows Jehoiada actively recruiting the Carites to protect the young king, demonstrating their trusted role in royal security.
-
II Kings 11:19
He took the captains over hundreds, and the Carites, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from Yahweh’s house, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king’s house. He sat on the throne of the kings.
Here the Carites escort the king from the temple to his throne, highlighting their function as elite guards during a political transition.