Lexical Summary Kari: Kari Original Word: כָּרִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance captains, Cherethites Perhaps an abridged plural of kar in the sense of leader (of the flock); a life-guardsman -- captains, Cherethites (from the margin). see HEBREW kar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom karah Definition bodyguard of Jehoash NASB Translation Carites (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs כָּרִי adjective, of a people probably = Carian, only with article as substantive collective Carians, name given to foreign body-guard of king (compare RSOTJC 249, 2d ed.262) לַכָּרִי וְלָרָצִים 2 Kings 11:4 compare 2 Kings 11:19; הכרי 2 Samuel 20:23 Kt (< Qr הַכְּרֵתִי which We Dr Bu prefer). Topical Lexicon Name and Identity “Kari” refers to an elite corps of royal guards, rendered “Carites” in English versions such as the Berean Standard Bible and “Cherethites” in several parallel passages. The term points to a professional, non-Israelite contingent attached to the monarchy, probably mercenaries of either Cretan (Cherethite) or Carian origin. Their foreign background distinguished them from ordinary Israelite troops and enhanced their reliability, for their loyalty rested on covenant with the king rather than tribal affinity. Appearance in Scripture • 2 Samuel 20:23 places them under Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, alongside the Pelethites during David’s reign. Military Role and Organization 1. Bodyguard: Their primary duty was to protect the sovereign. When succession crises erupted—Sheba’s revolt (2 Samuel 20), Adonijah’s coup attempt (1 Kings 1), and Athaliah’s usurpation (2 Kings 11)—the Carites stood at the center of the counter-measures that preserved the Davidic line. Connection with the Cherethites The overlap of verses using either “Carites” or “Cherethites” indicates textual or dialectal variation, not two separate corps. Both names likely describe the same mercenary guard, with the spelling fluctuation reflecting transmission through different scribal traditions. Their joint mention with Pelethites confirms the close relationship. Theological and Typological Significance 1. Preservation of the Covenant Line: Each appearance of the Carites coincides with divine intervention to protect the promised dynasty (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Their steadfast service forms a human instrument through which the LORD’s covenant purposes advance. Lessons for Ministry Today • Reliability is rooted in covenant commitment, not cultural homogeneity. Forms and Transliterations הַכָּרִ֨י הַכְּרֵתִ֖י הכרי הכרתי וְהַכְּרֵתִי֙ והכרתי לַכָּרִי֙ לכרי hak·kā·rî hak·kə·rê·ṯî hakkaRi hakkārî hakkereTi hakkərêṯî lak·kā·rî lakkaRi lakkārî vehakkereTi wə·hak·kə·rê·ṯî wəhakkərêṯîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 20:23 HEB: [הַכְּרִי כ] (הַכְּרֵתִ֖י ק) וְעַל־ INT: of Jehoiada was over captains was over and the Pelethites 1 Kings 1:38 2 Kings 11:4 2 Kings 11:19 4 Occurrences |