מְכֵרָה (me.khe.rah)

me.khe.rah

sword

H4380 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 1 verses

H:N-F

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 1 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: H:N-F

Word Overview

The Hebrew noun mekerah refers to a sword or weapon, though its precise etymology remains uncertain. The sources note that it appears only once in the entire Old Testament, found in Genesis 49:5 within Jacob’s blessing of his sons Simeon and Levi.

In this specific instance, the word describes their violent anger, which led them to kill men and hamstring oxen. Because the term is so rare, translators often rely on the context to determine its exact nature as a weapon. It stands as a stark marker of the fierce, destructive power attributed to these tribes in the patriarchal narrative.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word mekerah appears just once in Scripture, nestled within Jacob’s poignant blessing of his sons Simeon and Levi. It translates simply to sword, yet it carries a heavy weight of violence and unchecked anger. In Genesis 49:5, this weapon symbolises the fierce, destructive power that these brothers wielded against others, highlighting how human rage can turn even close relationships into battlefields.

For your faith journey, this rare term serves as a sobering reminder of the damage caused by uncontrolled emotion. It invites you to examine your own heart for moments where anger might lead to harsh words or actions that cut deeper than any blade. Recognising the danger of such violence helps us appreciate the peace Christ offers, urging us to lay down our own spiritual swords in favour of grace and reconciliation.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.

swords/ their1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

מְכֵרֹתֵי/הֶֽם\׃1×

Key Verses

Genesis 49:5
“Simeon and Levi are brothers. Their swords are weapons of violence.

This is the sole occurrence of the word, where it describes the violent nature of Simeon and Levi's anger.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Hebrew word mekerah mean?

Mekerah is a rare Hebrew noun that means sword. It appears only once in the Old Testament, specifically in Genesis 49:5. In this context, it refers to the violent weapons used by Simeon and Levi, symbolising their fierce and destructive anger.

Why is mekerah significant in Genesis 49?

Its significance lies in its rarity and its specific context. Jacob uses this word to highlight the dangerous violence of his sons Simeon and Levi. It serves as a stark contrast to the peaceable future he later describes for other tribes, warning against the corruption of righteous zeal by unchecked rage.

How is mekerah different from the common word for sword?

While the common Hebrew word for sword is chereb (H2719), mekerah is a hapax legomenon, meaning it appears only once in Scripture. Scholars are unsure of its exact etymology, but contextually it functions similarly to chereb, representing a weapon of war and violence used in acts of retribution.

Every Occurrence (1 verses across 1 books)

Genesis 1 verse

Genesis 49:5

“Simeon and Levi are brothers. Their swords are weapons of violence.