קֹר
cold
Definition
The Hebrew noun קֹר (qôr) refers specifically to 'cold' as a climatic condition or temperature state. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Genesis 8:22, where God promises that the cycles of the earth will continue: 'cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall not cease.' Here, 'cold' is paired with 'heat' (חֹרֶב, ḥōrev) to represent the full spectrum of seasonal temperatures. The word denotes the literal, physical experience of cold weather within the created order.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only a single time in the entire Hebrew Bible, in Genesis 8:22. It is used in a poetic, parallel structure contrasting climatic opposites ('cold and heat') as part of God's covenantal promise following the Flood. Its usage is foundational, establishing the reliability of earthly seasons as a divine guarantee.
Etymology
קֹר (qôr) is a noun derived from the root קרר (qrr), which conveys the basic idea of being or becoming cool or cold. It is related to the adjective קַר (qar, H7119), meaning 'cool' or 'cold.' The root is also seen in verbs like קָרַר (qārar, H7139), 'to be or become cool.' The noun form קֹר specifically denotes the state or condition of coldness.
Semantic Range
While a simple term for a physical condition, its sole biblical occurrence in Genesis 8:22 gives it theological weight. It is a key component in God's post-Flood covenant with creation, symbolizing the stability and faithful regularity of the natural world ordained by God. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of this pivotal verse by highlighting the concrete, physical realities God promises to maintain, underscoring His faithfulness to His creation.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, the cycle of seasons was vital for agriculture and survival. The promise that 'cold' would not cease was a guarantee of continued climatic patterns necessary for planting and harvest. The pairing of 'cold and heat' represented the entire annual weather cycle, a concept deeply meaningful to an agrarian society.
קַר (qar, H7119) — An adjective meaning 'cool' or 'cold,' describing a quality rather than the noun state. Example: Proverbs 25:13 ('cool snow').
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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