קָרֵחַ (qa.re.ach)
qa.re.ach
Kareah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Qareach, transliterated as Kareah, literally means "bald." In the Hebrew Bible, it appears fourteen times, serving primarily as a personal identifier for a specific figure during the turbulent final years of the Kingdom of Judah. This usage reflects a common ancient practice where descriptive physical traits or conditions became permanent family names.
The individual bearing this name is most prominent in the books of 2 Kings and Jeremiah. He is identified as the father of Johanan and Jonathan, men who held significant influence among the remaining Judeans after the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem. Kareah played a key role in supporting Gedaliah, the governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, and later participated in the group that assassinated him.
While the name itself describes a physical characteristic, its biblical significance lies in the historical context it anchors. It marks the presence of this family within the political and religious struggles of the exilic period. The sources highlight his involvement in the events surrounding Gedaliah’s administration, illustrating how personal identities were woven into the broader narrative of national collapse and survival.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Qareach means "bald," a physical trait that became a permanent family identifier in ancient Judah. While this detail might seem minor, it anchors us to real people living through the collapse of their nation. These were not abstract figures but fathers and leaders navigating fear, loyalty, and survival after Jerusalem fell.
Johanan, son of Qareach, stands out for his courage and grief. He warned Governor Gedaliah about a plot against him, showing how personal relationships shaped political decisions during times of crisis. His story reminds us that faith often plays out in difficult choices, where loyalty to God conflicts with human safety.
When Johanan and others ignored Jeremiah’s warning to stay in Judah and chose Egypt instead, it highlights the tension between trusting God and relying on our own plans. This word, Qareach, connects us to these struggles, inviting reflection on how we respond when circumstances feel overwhelming.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Kareah14×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קָרֵ֔חַ7×
- קָרֵ֜חַ2×
- קָ֠רֵחַ2×
- קָרֵֽחַ\׃1×
- קָרֵ֡חַ1×
- קָרֵ֙חַ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 40:15
Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, “Please let me go, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man will know it. Why should he take your life, that all the Jews who are gathered to you should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?”
Johanan, son of Qareach, secretly warns Governor Gedaliah about Ishmael’s plot, showing his concern for the remnant’s survival.
-
Jeremiah 43:4
So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, didn’t obey Yahweh’s voice, to dwell in the land of Judah.
Johanan and the captains disobey God’s command to stay in Judah, choosing Egypt instead, which reveals their struggle with trust during exile.
-
II Kings 25:23
Now when all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan the son of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men.
Qareach’s name appears here as part of the group gathering at Mizpah, marking his family’s role in the post-destruction political landscape.