כִּכָּר

כִּכָּר

a circle, i.e. (by implication) a circumjacent tract or region

Definition

The Hebrew noun כִּכָּר (kikkâr) primarily denotes a 'circle' or 'round thing,' from which several specific meanings derive. Its most prominent sense is a geographical region, specifically the 'plain' or 'circle' of the Jordan Valley, as described in Genesis 13:10-12. It also refers to a 'round loaf' of bread, as in the showbread (Exodus 25:39), and to a unit of weight and currency, the 'talent,' used for precious metals (e.g., Exodus 38:27). These meanings are connected by the core idea of something round or a defined, circular area.

Biblical Usage

כִּכָּר appears 55 times across the Pentateuch, Historical Books, and Prophets. Its usage is context-dependent: it most frequently describes the 'plain' of the Jordan (Genesis 13, 19), the cities of the plain (Sodom and Gomorrah), and the 'plain' of Jericho (Deuteronomy 34:3). As a 'talent,' it is used in the construction of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:39, 38:24-27) and Solomon's temple (1 Kings 9:14, 28). The sense of a 'loaf' or 'cake' of bread is less common but significant in ritual contexts like the showbread.

Etymology

The word derives from the root כָּרַר (kārar, H3769), meaning 'to dance' or 'to whirl,' which implies a circular motion. This root gives כִּכָּר its fundamental sense of roundness or something encircled. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian 'kakkaru,' also mean 'circle' or 'disk,' reinforcing this core concept. The development from a physical circle to a measured region (plain) and a standardized weight (talent) is a natural semantic extension.

Semantic Range

כִּכָּר is theologically significant in its geographical usage, as the 'plain of the Jordan' is the setting for the story of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18-19), a pivotal narrative about divine judgment, mercy, and covenant faithfulness. Understanding it as a defined, circular region underscores the specificity of God's actions in history. Furthermore, its use as the 'talent' in the tabernacle construction highlights the concept of devoted offering and the precise, valuable materials used in worship, pointing to God's holiness. In its ancient Near Eastern context, a 'talent' (kikkâr) was a large unit of weight, approximately 75 pounds (34 kg) for a heavy talent. This was a standard measure for trade and tribute, especially for gold and silver. The 'plain' (kikkâr) was understood as a distinct, fertile, and often inhabited geographical basin, contrasting with hill country. The 'round loaf' was a common bread shape, and its use in the tabernacle connected everyday sustenance with sacred ritual. בִּקְעָה (biqʿâ, H1237) — a broad valley or plain, often a wider, more general term than the specific circular 'kikkâr'. לֶחֶם (leḥem, H3899) — the general word for bread or food, whereas 'kikkâr' specifies a round loaf or cake. כֶּסֶף (keseph, H3701) — silver, the material often measured by the talent (kikkâr).

Word Details