Κορέ

Korah

Definition

Κορέ (Korah) refers to the Old Testament figure Korah, a Levite who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron's leadership in the wilderness (Numbers 16). In the New Testament, Jude 1:11 uses 'Korah' as a byword for rebellion and divine judgment, citing his destruction as a warning against those who reject God-appointed authority. The name itself means 'baldness' or 'ice' in Hebrew, but its biblical significance is entirely tied to the narrative of his insurrection and its consequences.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Jude 1:11. It is employed in a series of three Old Testament examples of judgment ('the way of Cain,' 'the error of Balaam,' and 'the rebellion of Korah') to condemn false teachers within the church. The usage is purely referential, invoking the entire story of Korah from Numbers 16 as a typology for those who challenge godly order and face destruction.

Etymology

Κορέ is a direct Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name קֹרַח (Qorach). The Hebrew root likely relates to 'baldness' or 'ice.' The New Testament usage imports the full narrative and theological weight of the Hebrew figure directly into the Greek text without semantic development.

Semantic Range

The mention of Korah in Jude 1:11 is theologically significant as it connects New Testament warnings about false teaching and church division directly to a foundational Old Testament example of challenging God's ordained order. It underscores themes of divine judgment against rebellion, the seriousness of ecclesiastical authority, and the continuity of God's justice across the biblical covenant. Understanding this reference enriches reading by linking Jude's urgent warning to a powerful, well-known historical consequence.

For a first-century Jewish or Jewish-Christian reader, the name 'Korah' would immediately evoke the story of a shocking, catastrophic rebellion where the earth opened to swallow the rebels (Numbers 16:31-33). It was a proverbial example of insubordination against God's chosen leaders. This cultural resonance is precisely why Jude uses it as a potent shorthand for the fate awaiting those who cause divisions.

ἀποστασία (apostasia, G646) — a more general term for rebellion or defection, whereas Κορέ is a specific historical example of it. στάσις (stasis, G4714) — denotes sedition, strife, or insurrection, focusing on the faction itself, while Κορέ emphasizes the divine judgment upon it.

Word Details

Scripture References