מְכֵרָתִי
a Mekerathite, or inhabitant of Mekerah
Definition
מְכֵרָתִי (Mᵉkêrâthîy) is a gentilic noun meaning 'a Mekerathite,' referring to an inhabitant of a place called Mekerah. This term functions as a geographical identifier, classifying an individual by their town or region of origin. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 11:36, where it is used as part of a personal name to designate Helez the Mekerathite, one of King David's mighty warriors. The word carries no additional semantic senses beyond this patrial designation.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in 1 Chronicles 11:36 within a list of David's military elite, known as 'the mighty men.' Its sole function is to specify the hometown or regional affiliation of the warrior Helez, following a common biblical pattern of identifying individuals (e.g., 'Uriah the Hittite'). There are no other occurrences or contextual variations in its usage.
Etymology
The word is derived as a patrial noun (a gentilic) from an unused place name, Mekerah. It shares the same presumed root as the Hebrew word מְכֵרָה (mᵉkêrâh, H4380), which means 'a pit' or 'a digging.' This suggests the place name Mekerah may have been descriptive, possibly referring to a settlement known for pits, quarries, or its location in a depression. The '-i' suffix is a standard Hebrew ending used to form gentilics, meaning 'inhabitant of.'
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, personal identity was often tightly linked to one's clan and place of origin. Being identified as 'the Mekerathite' was a significant marker of Helez's background and social connection. While the specific location of Mekerah is unknown and likely a minor settlement, its inclusion highlights that David's warriors were drawn from diverse towns and regions across Israel, not just major urban centers. This reflects the unifying power of David's kingship.
patrial nouns with the '-i' suffix, e.g., יְהוּדִי (Yᵉhûdîy, H3064) — a Judahite; יִשְׂרְאֵלִי (Yisrᵉʼêlîy, H3481) — an Israelite. These share the same grammatical function but denote different places of origin.
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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