כָּרֻתָה
something cut, i.e. a hewn timber
Definition
The Hebrew word כָּרֻתָה (kâruthâh) refers specifically to a hewn timber or a cut beam, derived from the passive participle form meaning 'something that has been cut.' It denotes wood that has been shaped and prepared by cutting, as opposed to raw logs. In its biblical usage, it consistently describes the finished, dressed lumber used in major construction projects, particularly in the context of Solomon's building programs. All three occurrences (1 Kings 6:36, 7:2, 7:12) refer to these prepared timbers used in the temple and palace complexes.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the descriptions of Solomon's construction projects in 1 Kings. It appears three times, always in the context of specifying building materials. In 1 Kings 6:36, it describes the hewn timber used for the inner courtyard of the temple. In 1 Kings 7:2, it refers to the beams of the 'House of the Forest of Lebanon,' and in 1 Kings 7:12, it specifies the materials for the great courtyard. The usage pattern shows it was a technical term for quality, prepared lumber in royal architecture.
Etymology
כָּרֻתָה is the feminine passive participle of the root verb כָּרַת (kârath, H3772), which means 'to cut off, cut down, or make a covenant.' The participle form indicates the resultant state—'that which has been cut.' The root is common in Hebrew, with meanings ranging from physical cutting (of trees, as here) to the figurative 'cutting' of a covenant. The specific form כָּרֻתָה emphasizes the material as a finished product of the cutting process.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a technical architectural term, its use in the construction of the temple (1 Kings 6:36) connects it to the theology of God's dwelling place. The precision and preparation implied by 'hewn timber' reflect the care, order, and excellence required for materials used in sacred space. It subtly underscores that worship involves intentionality and the offering of our best, transformed resources to God.
In the ancient Near East, the use of dressed, hewn timber (as opposed to rough logs) represented a significant investment of labor and skill, indicating a permanent, prestigious structure. For Solomon's projects, such timber was likely imported (e.g., cedar from Lebanon) and meticulously prepared, signifying wealth, stability, and royal power. The modern reader might overlook that 'beam' implies a processed, high-value construction material, not just any piece of wood.
עֵץ (ʿēts, H6086) — a general term for tree or wood, not specifying its worked state. קוֹרָה (qôrâh, H6982) — a beam or rafter, often structural, but not necessarily emphasizing the hewing process. לֻחַ (lûach, H3871) — a plank or board, a different form of worked wood.
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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