קֶרֶץ
extirpation (as if by constriction)
Definition
קֶרֶץ (qerets) is a Hebrew noun meaning 'extirpation' or 'destruction,' specifically a sudden, violent, and complete cutting off or annihilation. The imagery suggests a swift, constricting action that utterly removes something from existence. It is used only once in the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 46:20, where it describes the coming judgment and destruction of Egypt, portrayed as a 'beautiful heifer,' by a 'gadfly' from the north (Babylon). The term conveys a sense of inescapable and total ruin.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only in Jeremiah 46:20 within a prophetic oracle against Egypt. Its usage is singular and poetic, employed in a metaphor for divine judgment. The context is a prophecy of military invasion and national collapse, where the destruction (qerets) is sudden and decisive, leaving no opportunity for recovery.
Etymology
קֶרֶץ derives from the root verb קָרַץ (qarats, H7169), which means 'to nip, pinch, or wink,' often with the sense of a quick, sharp motion. The noun form carries the developed meaning of a sudden 'cutting off' or 'extirpation,' extending the root's idea of a constrictive action to the concept of complete destruction.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word is theologically significant as it portrays God's sovereign judgment against a powerful nation. It emphasizes the totality and inevitability of divine punishment for pride and oppression. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Jeremiah 46 by highlighting the prophetic certainty and finality of God's decreed judgment, contrasting human power with divine authority.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, the metaphor of a gadfly (or horsefly) bringing destruction to a heifer would resonate with an agricultural society. It depicts a seemingly small agent (Babylon) divinely empowered to harass and utterly ruin a much larger, seemingly secure power (Egypt). This subverts expectations of military strength and underscores that the judgment comes from the Lord.
כָּרַת (karat, H3772) — to cut off or make a covenant, broader in usage. שָׁמַד (shamad, H8045) — to destroy or exterminate, often used for complete annihilation. אָבַד (avad, H6) — to perish or be lost, focusing on the state of being ruined.
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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