קֶרַח
ice (as if bald, i.e. smooth); hence, hail; by resemblance, rock crystal
Definition
The Hebrew noun קֶרַח (qerach) primarily means 'ice' or 'frost,' referring to frozen water, as seen in Job 6:16 where streams are described as dark with ice. It can also denote 'hail,' a form of frozen precipitation, as in Psalm 147:17 where God hurls hail like crumbs. By extension, due to its smooth, clear appearance, the word is used poetically for 'rock crystal' or a crystal-like substance, such as in Ezekiel 1:22 where it describes a gleaming expanse under God's throne. Thus, the term spans literal meteorological phenomena to symbolic, radiant materials in visionary contexts.
Biblical Usage
קֶרַח appears seven times in the Old Testament, primarily in poetic and prophetic books. It describes literal ice or frost in contexts of harsh weather (Genesis 31:40; Job 6:16; Job 38:29) and hail as an instrument of divine power (Psalm 147:17; Job 37:10). In Ezekiel 1:22, it takes on a metaphorical sense, depicting a dazzling, crystal-like platform supporting God's throne, while Jeremiah 36:30 uses it in a curse metaphorically linked to barrenness. Its usage shifts from concrete natural descriptions to symbolic, theological imagery.
Etymology
Derived from the root קָרַח (qarach, H7139), meaning 'to be bald' or 'make bald,' קֶרַח likely draws on the smooth, bare appearance of ice or a bald head. This connection emphasizes smoothness and clarity, which extended to hail and crystal. Cognates in other Semitic languages also relate to ice or frost, supporting its core meaning as a cold, smooth substance.
Semantic Range
קֶרַח holds theological significance as it often illustrates God's sovereign power over creation, both in natural phenomena like hail (Psalm 147:17) and in visionary depictions of His glory (Ezekiel 1:22). It underscores themes of divine judgment, as in Jeremiah's curse (Jeremiah 36:30), and the majesty of God's heavenly realm. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting how physical realities like ice are woven into metaphors for God's authority and splendor.
In ancient Israel, ice and hail were rare but impactful, associated with winter cold and destructive storms, reflecting God's control over weather (Job 37:10). The use of 'crystal' in Ezekiel 1:22 draws from Near Eastern imagery of precious, translucent materials symbolizing divine purity and transcendence, differing from modern scientific understandings of crystal.
בָּרָד (barad, H1259) — specifically 'hail,' often as a plague or judgment, whereas קֶרַח can mean ice or crystal. כְּפוֹר (kephor, H3713) — 'frost' or 'hoarfrost,' a lighter, crystalline ice, less common than קֶרַח.
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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