קַרְתָּה (qar.tah)
qar.tah
Kartah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Qartah, derived from the Hebrew root for "city," refers to a specific town in the territory of Zebulun. It appears only once in the Old Testament, listed in Joshua 21:34 as one of the cities allotted to the Merarite Levites.
Lexical sources identify Qartah as an alternative name for Kitron (H7003), though the exact geographical location of this settlement remains unknown today. Its primary significance lies in its inclusion within the distribution of urban centers designated for priestly residence, highlighting the logistical arrangements made for the Levitical clans.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Qartah appears in a single verse within the book of Joshua, marking it as one of the towns assigned to the Levites from the tribe of Zebulun. In this context, the word simply means 'city' or 'fortified place,' serving as a proper noun for a specific settlement. Its inclusion highlights the careful planning God made to ensure that those dedicated to temple service had secure homes and land within the promised territory.
While we cannot pinpoint its exact location today, this brief mention reminds us that God cares about the practical details of life. He provided not just spiritual direction but also physical places for His people to dwell. This shows that faith is lived out in real communities, with real homes and real neighbors, grounded in the stability God provides.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Kartah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קַרְתָּ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 21:34
To the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pasture lands, Kartah with its pasture lands,
This verse lists Qartah as a specific residence for the Merarite Levites, showing how the word functions as a proper noun for a city within the tribal allotments.