What does קָרַח (qāraḥ) mean in the Bible?
קָרַח (qāraḥ): Making oneself bald as ritual sign of grief, mourning, or covenant breaking in ancient Israel
Hebrew · H7139
קָרַח
To depilate
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.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
קָרַחH7139
Pronunciationqāraḥ
What does קָרַח (qāraḥ) mean in the Bible?
קָרַח (qāraḥ): Making oneself bald as ritual sign of grief, mourning, or covenant breaking in ancient Israel
Full entry for קָרַח (H7139) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7139?
The BSB source-word alignment has 5 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include make bald (1), or shave his head (1), Shave yourselves bald (1), They will shave their heads (1), was made bald (1).
Where does קָרַח (qāraḥ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Leviticus 21:5. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (2), Jeremiah (1), Leviticus (1), Micah (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itmake bald1×Leviticus 21:5
or shave his head1×Jeremiah 16:6
Shave yourselves bald1×Micah 1:16
They will shave their heads1×Ezekiel 27:31
was made bald1×Ezekiel 29:18
Show sample aligned rows
Leviticus 21:5יִקְרְחָהtomake baldVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralJeremiah 16:6יִקָּרֵ֖חַtoor shave his headVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularEzekiel 27:31וְהִקְרִ֤יחוּtoThey will shave their headsConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralEzekiel 29:18מֻקְרָ֔חtowas made baldVerb - Hofal - Participle - masculine singularMicah 1:16קָרְחִ֣יtoShave yourselves baldVerb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowLeviticus 21:5
Aligned rows5
Books represented4
Leviticus1Jeremiah1Ezekiel2Micah1
Source forms
וְהִקְרִ֤יחוּ1xwə·hiq·rî·ḥūEzekiel 27:31
יִקָּרֵ֖חַ1xyiq·qā·rê·aḥJeremiah 16:6
יִקְרְחָה1xyiq·rə·ḥå̄hLeviticus 21:5
מֻקְרָ֔ח1xmuq·rāḥEzekiel 29:18
קָרְחִ֣י1xqā·rə·ḥîMicah 1:16
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural1xEzekiel 27:31
Verb - Hofal - Participle - masculine singular1xEzekiel 29:18
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1xJeremiah 16:6
Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular1xMicah 1:16
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural1xLeviticus 21:5
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Making oneself bald as ritual sign of grief, mourning, or covenant breaking in ancient Israel
Source Gloss
to depilate
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Making oneself bald as ritual sign of grief, mourning, or covenant breaking in ancient Israel
to depilate BDB: make bald Usage: make (self) bald.
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 groups3Aligned forms5
Hophalcausative passive — the subject is caused to perform the action1×
Participle passiveEzek 29:181×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action1×
ImperfectJer 16:61×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense3×
ImperfectLev 21:52×
Sequential imperfectMic 1:161×
Word Origins
קָרַח is a primitive root - no further derivation.