קֶ֫רֶץ (qe.rets)
qe.rets
stinging fly
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun qereets refers to a stinging insect, specifically a gadfly or horsefly that bites with painful precision. Its root meaning conveys the idea of nipping or stinging, capturing the sharp, irritating nature of this creature rather than just its presence in the air.
This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Jeremiah 46:20. There it serves as a vivid metaphor for the invading army of Nebuchadnezzar. Just as gadflies harass and torment livestock or people, causing constant distress and distraction, this foreign force is depicted as an overwhelming nuisance that brings pain and chaos to Egypt.
The choice of such a specific insect highlights the relentless and irritating quality of the threat. It is not necessarily a description of massive military power, but rather of an invasion that is persistent, painful, and difficult to shake off. The image suggests an enemy that lingers and bites, wearing down its target through continuous, sharp affliction.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qereets describes a stinging fly, specifically a gadfly or horsefly known for its painful and persistent bites. In the Hebrew Bible, this term appears only once, in Jeremiah 46:20. Here, it serves as a powerful metaphor for the invading army of Nebuchadnezzar. Just as these insects harass and torment, causing constant distress and distraction, the foreign force is depicted as an overwhelming nuisance that brings pain and chaos to Egypt.
This imagery reminds us that some challenges in life are not just about massive power, but about persistent, irritating affliction. The enemy here lingers and bites, wearing down its target through continuous sharpness. For believers, this highlights the reality of spiritual warfare where distractions and annoyances can drain our energy and focus. It is a call to remain steadfast when faced with relentless pressures that seek to distract us from our faith.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a gadfly1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קֶ֥רֶץ1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 46:20
“Egypt is a very beautiful heifer; but destruction out of the north has come. It has come.
This verse uses the word to metaphorically describe the invading army of Nebuchadnezzar as a persistent, stinging threat against Egypt.