קְרִיּוֹת
Kerioth, the name of two places in Palestine
Definition
Kerioth (קְרִיּוֹת) is the name of two distinct places in ancient Palestine. First, it refers to a town in the southern territory of Judah, listed among the cities in the Negev (Joshua 15:25). Second, it identifies a prominent city in Moab, mentioned in prophecies of judgment against that nation (Jeremiah 48:24, 41; Amos 2:2). The name itself means 'cities' or 'buildings,' reflecting its nature as a populated settlement. In the Moabite context, Kerioth is depicted as a significant, fortified center whose fate is tied to divine judgment.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively as a proper noun for place names in four Old Testament verses. It appears in a historical list in Joshua 15:25 (Kerioth in Judah) and in prophetic oracles against Moab in Jeremiah 48:24, 41 and Amos 2:2 (Kerioth in Moab). The usage patterns show it functioning as a geographic identifier, with the Moabite references carrying a heavier tone of impending destruction within judgment speeches.
Etymology
Kerioth is the plural form of the Hebrew word קִרְיָה (qiryâ, H7151), meaning 'city,' 'town,' or 'building.' It derives from the root קרה (qrh), associated with meeting or encountering, which evolved to signify a place where people gather. The plural form suggests 'cities' or a collection of buildings, fitting for a populated settlement. Cognates appear in other Semitic languages with similar meanings for 'town.'
Semantic Range
Theologically, Kerioth in Moab is significant as a symbol of human pride and idolatry facing divine judgment. In Jeremiah 48 and Amos 2, its destruction is part of God's sovereign action against nations that oppose His people and moral order. Understanding it as a real, fortified city underscores the historical reality of these prophecies and God's concern with all nations, not just Israel. Its fate serves as a warning against trusting in earthly strength.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, a name meaning 'cities' like Kerioth would denote an important urban center, likely walled and politically significant. The Moabite Kerioth may have been a major city or royal site, explaining its prominence in oracles of judgment. For the original audience, hearing of Kerioth's fall would signal a complete overthrow of Moab's power and security, as cities were hubs of administration, economy, and defense.
קִרְיָה (qiryâ, H7151) — the singular form meaning 'city' or 'town,' from which Kerioth is derived. עִיר (ʿîr, H5892) — a more common general term for 'city' or 'town.'
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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