What does כָּרַת · בְּרִית mean in the Bible?
כָּרַת · בְּרִית is a Hebrew phrase meaning "to cut a covenant, make a binding agreement".
Hebrew · H3772, H1285
כָּרַת בְּרִית
To cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume ; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces) · a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
כָּרַתH3772to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume ; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces)
Pronunciationkarat
Covenant-making through cutting; the ritual severing of flesh ratifies binding obligation before God.
Open lexicon entry →בְּרִיתH1285a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
Pronunciationberit
Covenant sealed through ritual blood sacrifice; God's binding commitment to His people, foundational to redemptive history
Open lexicon entry →What does כָּרַת בְּרִית (karat berit) mean in the Bible?
כָּרַת · בְּרִית is a Hebrew phrase meaning "to cut a covenant, make a binding agreement".
Full entry for כָּרַת בְּרִית (H3772, H1285) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H3772, H1285?
H3772, H1285 is connected to 574 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. to cut a covenant, make a binding agreement
Source Gloss
to cut a covenant, make a binding agreement
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups5Aligned forms132
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action43×
Imperfect1Kgs 2:4 · 1Kgs 8:25 · 1Kgs 9:5 · 2Chr 6:16 · 2Chr 7:18 · Dan 9:26 · Gen 9:11 · Hos 8:4 · Isa 48:19 · Isa 55:13 · Isa 56:5 · Jer 33:17 · Jer 33:18 · Jer 35:19 · Job 14:7 · Josh 9:2332×
PerfectJoel 1:5 · Joel 1:16 · Nah 2:1 · Ps 37:28 · Josh 3:16 · Josh 4:7 · Zeph 1:11 · Ps 37:389×
Jussive2Sam 3:291×
Infinitive absoluteNum 15:311×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense67×
Perfect1Chr 16:16 · 1Kgs 8:9 · 1Kgs 8:21 · 1Sam 24:6 · 2Chr 5:10 · 2Chr 6:11 · 2Chr 21:7 · 2Kgs 17:15 · Deut 4:23 · Deut 5:2 · Deut 5:3 · Deut 9:9 · Deut 28:69 · Deut 29:24 · Exod 24:8 · Gen 15:1835×
Imperfect1Sam 11:2 · 2Sam 3:13 · Isa 61:8 · Jer 31:33 · Josh 9:7 · Deut 7:2 · Deut 20:19 · Exod 23:32 · Exod 34:12 · Exod 34:15 · Judg 6:26 · Hos 12:2 · Ps 83:6 · 2Chr 2:15 · Judg 2:216×
Participle activeDeut 29:11 · Deut 29:13 · Exod 34:10 · Neh 10:1 · Ps 50:55×
Sequential imperfectJer 6:6 · Jer 50:16 · Josh 9:6 · Josh 9:11 · 1Sam 11:15×
CohortativeEzra 10:3 · Gen 31:442×
Participle passive1Sam 5:41×
Infinitive absoluteHos 10:41×
Infinitive constructJer 34:81×
JussiveJudg 6:251×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action19×
Imperfect1Kgs 14:14 · Deut 12:29 · Deut 19:1 · 1Sam 2:33 · Nah 1:14 · Zech 13:2 · 1Sam 20:15 · 1Sam 24:22 · 1Kgs 18:59×
PerfectEzek 21:9 · Josh 23:4 · Zeph 3:6 · 1Kgs 11:16 · 1Sam 28:9 · Judg 4:246×
JussiveMal 2:12 · Ps 12:4 · Num 4:183×
Infinitive constructJer 44:81×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject2×
PerfectEzek 16:4 · Judg 6:282×
Hophalcausative passive — the subject is caused to perform the action1×
PerfectJoel 1:91×
Word Origins
כָּרַת בְּרִית is a primitive root - no further derivation.