כָּרִי
a life-guardsman
Definition
The Hebrew word כָּרִי (kârîy) refers to a specialized type of military officer, specifically a royal bodyguard or life-guardsman. In its two biblical occurrences, it describes the Carites, a group of elite foreign mercenaries who served as the personal protectors of the Judahite king. In 2 Kings 11:4, Jehoiada the priest summons these Carite guards to help execute the coup that places the young Joash on the throne. Later, in 2 Kings 11:19, these same guards escort the new king into the temple and palace, securing his position. The term thus denotes a trusted, professional soldier with direct responsibility for the monarch's safety.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in 2 Kings 11:4 and 11:19, within the narrative of Queen Athaliah's overthrow and the coronation of King Joash. In both verses, the כָּרִי (Carites) are depicted as a key military force loyal to the priest Jehoiada and the Davidic heir. Their usage highlights their role in a pivotal political and religious transition in Judah, acting as the instrumental guards who ensure the success of the royal restoration.
Etymology
The etymology of כָּרִי is uncertain. It may be an abridged plural form derived from כַּר (kar, H3733), meaning 'a lamb' or 'pasture,' possibly in the sense of a 'leader of the flock.' More directly, it is the Hebrew term for the 'Carites,' a people often associated with the Cherethites (from the KJV margin), who were part of David's and Solomon's professional military corps (e.g., 2 Samuel 8:18, 20:23). These groups were likely Aegean or Anatolian mercenaries (possibly related to the Philistines or Cretans) employed as royal guards.
Semantic Range
The כָּרִי, as foreign mercenaries used to restore the Davidic line, illustrate God's providence in using unlikely instruments—including non-Israelites—to fulfill His covenant promises. Their role in protecting the boy-king Joash directly facilitated the preservation of the messianic lineage from Judah (Genesis 49:10). Understanding this term enriches the reading of 2 Kings 11 by highlighting the precise, guarded means by which God orchestrated the survival of the royal house, even amidst violent political intrigue.
In the ancient Near East, kings often employed foreign mercenaries as personal bodyguards because their loyalty was to the paying sovereign rather than to local tribal or familial factions. The Carites (כָּרִי) fit this pattern, representing a professional, elite military class detached from Judah's internal politics. Their presence underscores the centralized royal power and the international nature of Israelite and Judahite military establishments during the monarchy period.
גִּבּוֹר (gibbôr, H1368) — a general term for a mighty man or warrior, not specifically a royal guard. שָׁמַר (shômer, H8104) — a guard or watchman, often for a city or flock, less specialized than a royal life-guardsman. רָצִין (râtsîyn, H7526) — a courier or runner, sometimes in royal service, but not primarily a protective guard.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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