כְּרִיתוּת
a cutting (of the matrimonial bond), i.e. divorce
Definition
The Hebrew noun כְּרִיתוּת (kerithuth) specifically denotes the legal act of divorce, the formal severing of the matrimonial bond. It is derived from the concept of 'cutting,' vividly portraying divorce as a decisive, legal separation. In its biblical usage, it refers exclusively to the husband's action of issuing a formal certificate of divorce to his wife, as mandated in Deuteronomy 24:1-4. The term appears only in contexts discussing the legal procedure and consequences of divorce, never for informal separation.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in legal and prophetic contexts concerning divorce law. All four occurrences are in passages that discuss the proper procedure or the wrongful use of divorce. It appears in the legal stipulations of Deuteronomy (24:1, 24:3) outlining the process for a man to divorce his wife. The prophets Isaiah (50:1) and Jeremiah (3:8) then use the term metaphorically, with God citing the lack of a 'certificate of divorce' (sēpher kerithuth) to Judah to highlight the illegitimacy of their separation from Him, contrasting it with His faithful covenant.
Etymology
The noun כְּרִיתוּת is a derivative of the root כָּרַת (karat, H3772), which means 'to cut off, cut down, or make a covenant.' This root is fundamental, often used for cutting covenants (e.g., 'cutting a covenant' in Genesis 15:18). The noun form here carries the sense of 'a cutting off'—specifically, the cutting of the marital bond. The semantic development moves from the physical act of cutting to the legal and relational severance enacted in divorce.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it grounds the biblical concept of divorce in the concrete imagery of cutting a covenant bond. It underscores the seriousness of divorce as a legal dissolution of a God-joined union (cf. Malachi 2:16). The prophetic use in Isaiah 50:1 and Jeremiah 3:8 is profound, where God uses the language of human divorce law (kerithuth) to illustrate His covenant faithfulness. He states He did not issue Israel a 'certificate of divorce,' highlighting that their exile was due to sin, not a legitimate dissolution of His covenant with them, leaving a door open for repentance and restoration.
In its original Ancient Near Eastern setting, כְּרִיתוּת referred to a legal action available almost exclusively to the husband. The 'certificate of divorce' (sēpher kerithuth) was a written document that formally released the woman from the marriage, allowing her to legally marry another (Deuteronomy 24:2). This provided a measure of protection for the woman, giving her documented proof of her free status. This cultural-legal reality is essential for understanding the prophetic metaphors, where God acts as the faithful husband who has not invoked this legal right against His people.
שִׁלּוּחַ (shilluach, H7971) — a more general term for 'sending away' or 'dismissal,' which can be used for divorce (Deuteronomy 22:19, 29) but lacks the specific legal connotation of a formal 'cutting' found in kerithuth.
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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