קוֹרָה (qo.rah)
qo.rah
beam
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun qorah refers to a structural beam or rafter, specifically one that fits into or meets another piece of timber. Its root sense implies something that joins or interlocks, highlighting the word’s focus on architectural stability rather than just raw material.
This term appears in five verses, often describing the wooden framework of significant buildings. In Second Chronicles 2:8 and 3:5, it denotes the beams used in Solomon’s Temple, emphasizing the grandeur and permanence of God’s house. Similarly, in Song of Solomon 1:16, the beloved describes his partner as having beauty like the qorahs of Lebanon, using the sturdy cedar beam as a metaphor for strength and noble character.
Translators typically render qorah as "beam" or "rafter," capturing its function as a load-bearing element. The word’s association with fine timber from Lebanon underscores the value placed on quality construction in ancient Israelite culture, where such materials were reserved for royal and religious structures.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qorah refers to a structural beam or rafter, specifically one that fits into or meets another piece of timber. Its root sense implies something that joins or interlocks, highlighting the word’s focus on architectural stability rather than just raw material.
In Second Chronicles 2:8 and 3:5, it denotes the beams used in Solomon’s Temple, emphasizing the grandeur and permanence of God’s house. Similarly, in Song of Solomon 1:16, the beloved describes his partner as having beauty like the qorahs of Lebanon, using the sturdy cedar beam as a metaphor for strength and noble character.
Translators typically render qorah as "beam" or "rafter," capturing its function as a load-bearing element. The word’s association with fine timber from Lebanon underscores the value placed on quality construction in ancient Israelite culture, where such materials were reserved for royal and religious structures.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ beams1×
- the/ beam1×
- roof/ my1×
- a beam1×
- [the] beams of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קוֹרָ֣ה1×
- קֹרָתִֽ/י\׃1×
- קֹר֤וֹת1×
- הַ/קּוֹרָ֔ה1×
- הַ/קֹּר֧וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
II Chronicles 3:7
He also overlaid the house, the beams, the thresholds, its walls, and its doors with gold, and engraved cherubim on the walls.
This verse highlights the use of qorah in Solomon's Temple, emphasizing the grandeur and permanence of God's house.
-
Song of Solomon 1:17
The beams of our house are cedars. Our rafters are firs.
The beloved describes his partner as having beauty like the qorahs of Lebanon, using the sturdy cedar beam as a metaphor for strength and noble character.
-
II Kings 6:2
Please let us go to the Jordan, and each man take a beam from there, and let’s make us a place there, where we may live.” He answered, “Go!”
This verse shows the practical use of qorah in everyday life, where people cut down trees to make beams for building a place to live.