קֶרַע

קֶרַע

a rag

Definition

The Hebrew noun קֶרַע (qeraʻ) refers to a torn piece of cloth, specifically a rag or a tattered garment. In its four biblical occurrences, it consistently describes a garment that has been violently torn, often as a symbolic act. In 1 Kings 11:30-31, the prophet Ahijah tears his new garment into twelve pieces (קְרָעִים) to symbolize God tearing the kingdom from Solomon. In 2 Kings 2:12, Elisha tears his own clothes in two pieces (קְרָעַיִם) as a sign of mourning for Elijah's departure. The word emphasizes the state of being rent or shredded, not merely a small scrap.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively in narrative contexts involving prophetic symbolism or intense grief. It appears in the historical books of 1 and 2 Kings, where it is part of a dramatic, physical object lesson. In 1 Kings 11:30-31, the torn garment (קֶרַע) is a prophetic sign of divine judgment and the division of a kingdom. In 2 Kings 2:12, the torn garments represent profound personal loss and mourning. The single use in Proverbs 23:21 metaphorically describes the destitute state of a drunkard, who will be clothed in 'rags'.

Etymology

Derived from the root verb קָרַע (qāraʻ, H7167), meaning 'to tear, rend, or rip.' The noun קֶרַע is a concrete result of that action—the piece that results from tearing. This root is common in Semitic languages, appearing in Aramaic and Akkadian with similar meanings of splitting or breaking apart.

Semantic Range

The word is theologically significant as it is tied to prophetic acts of judgment (1 Kings 11) and expressions of covenantal grief (2 Kings 2). Understanding that these are not mere 'rags' but intentionally torn pieces from a garment enriches the reading of these passages. The tearing symbolizes divine action—God rending a kingdom—or human response to God's movement, framing the word within themes of sovereignty, judgment, and lament. In ancient Israelite culture, tearing one's garments (קְרִיעַת בְּגָדִים) was a profound ritual act expressing grief, horror, or repentance. A קֶרַע was not just any old rag but a piece torn from a garment in a moment of high emotion or symbolic declaration. This differs from a modern understanding of a rag as simply a worn-out cloth for cleaning. שַׂק (śaq, H8242) — a sackcloth garment, worn whole for mourning or repentance, not a torn piece. בֶּגֶד (beged, H899) — the general word for garment or clothing, from which a קֶרַע is torn.

Word Details