קַרְקַע
floor (as if a pavement of pieces or tesseroe), of abuilding or the sea
Definition
The Hebrew noun קַרְקַע (qarqaʻ) refers to a firm, foundational surface, most often translated as 'floor' or 'bottom.' In architectural contexts, it describes the paved or constructed floor of a building, such as the interior floor of Solomon's Temple, which was overlaid with gold (1 Kings 6:15, 30). In a more expansive sense, it can denote the 'bottom' or foundational bed of a body of water, as seen in Amos 9:3, where God declares He will command the serpent to bite those hiding at the 'bottom' of the sea. In the ritual of the suspected adulteress (Numbers 5:17), it refers to the 'floor' of the Tabernacle where the priest places the holy water and dust.
Biblical Usage
This word is used six times in the Old Testament, primarily in descriptions of sacred architecture and in one prophetic warning. Its architectural usage is concentrated in 1 Kings, detailing the construction of Solomon's Temple and palace (1 Kings 6:15, 16, 30; 7:7). The other two instances are more figurative: Numbers 5:17 uses it for the Tabernacle floor in a ritual context, and Amos 9:3 employs it poetically for the sea's bottom to emphasize inescapable divine judgment.
Etymology
קַרְקַע is derived from the root קָרַע (qāraʻ, H7167), meaning 'to tear, rend, or split.' This suggests an original concept of a surface created by splitting or dividing, perhaps alluding to a paved floor made of fitted pieces or tessellated work, or the idea of the earth's crust or foundation being 'split' or established.
Semantic Range
While primarily a physical term, קַרְקַע gains theological weight in its contexts. In 1 Kings, it is part of the meticulous, God-ordained design of the Temple, highlighting the holiness and permanence of God's dwelling place. In Amos 9:3, its use for the sea's bottom powerfully illustrates God's omnipresence and the futility of hiding from His judgment, enriching the reader's understanding of divine sovereignty and inescapability.
In its architectural sense, a קַרְקַע was not merely a walking surface but a foundational layer, often elaborately finished (e.g., with gold or planks) in significant buildings. The concept of the sea having a 'floor' or 'bottom' reflects an ancient Near Eastern understanding of the cosmos, where the seas were contained over a solid foundation, which God alone could command (Amos 9:3).
רִצְפָּה (ritspâ, H7531) — a paved floor or pavement, often of stone or tile. יְסוֹד (yesôd, H3245) — foundation, base; refers more to the underlying support structure than the finished surface.
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.
Full methodology & sources →