Original Word: כֶּרֶם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: kerem
Pronunciation: keh'-rem
Phonetic Spelling: (keh'-rem)
KJV: vines, (increase of the) vineyard(-s), vintage See also H1021
NASB: vineyard, vineyards
Word Origin: [from an unused root of uncertain meaning]

1. a garden or vineyard

vines, increase of the vineyards, vintage

From an unused root of uncertain meaning; a garden or vineyard -- vines, (increase of the) vineyard(-s), vintage. See also Beyth hak-Kerem.

see HEBREW Beyth hak-Kerem

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a vineyard
NASB Translation
vineyard (47), vineyards (45).

כֶּרֶם₉₂ noun masculine^{Deuteronomy 28:30} (feminine^{Isaiah 27:2}) vineyard (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic כַּרְמָא Zinjirli כרם DHM^Sendsch.58; Arabic , vine; Ethiopic vine; Jen^{ZA vii. (1892), 217} compare Assyrian Karânu, vine; — etymology dubious; Thes and others compare Arabic noble, Generous, fertile, but precarious); — absolute ׳כ Exodus 22:4 +, כָּ֑רֶם Genesis 9:20 +; construct כֶּרֶם 1 Kings 21:7 +; suffix כַּרְמִי Isaiah 5:3 +, כַּרְמְךָ Exodus 23:11 +, etc.; plural כְּרָמִים Joshua 24:13 +; construct כַּרְמֵי Amos 5:1 2t.; suffix כְּרָמֵנוּ Nehemiah 5:3 3t.; כַרְמֵיכֶם Amos 4:9 2t., etc., — vineyard Genesis 9:20 (J), 1 Kings 21:1 9t. 1 Kings 21; Songs 2:15 (twice in verse) +; so even Judges 15:5 (where read וזית ׳כָ compare GFM, who however doubts Genuineness); + זַּיִת Exodus 23:11 (E) and often (V. זית); + שָׂדֶה Exodus 22:4; Exodus 22:5 (E), and often; figurative of Israel under ׳יs. care Isaiah 5:1ff., compare Isaiah 3:14; Jeremiah 12:10; figurative of Shulamite's complexion Songs 1:6, of her heart Songs 8:12. — Vbs. governing ׳כ are: — נָטַע Genesis 9:20; Amos 5:11 16t., compare ׳מַטָּעֵי כ Micah 1:6; זָרַע Deuteronomy 22:9 (c. 2 accusative); חִלֵּל = begin to use fruit of, Deuteronomy 20:6 (twice in verse); Deuteronomy 28:30; Jeremiah 31:5; זָמַר prune, Leviticus 25:3,4; בָּצַר gather, harvest (literally cut off, i.e. grapes, Leviticus 25:5,11), Deuteronomy 24:21; Judges 9:27, compare לִקֵּשׁ Job 24:6; עוֺלֵל glean, Leviticus 19:10; Deuteronomy 24:21; אָכַל Joshua 24:13 (usually 'eat fruit of' Isaiah 65:21, etc.); locusts devour Amos 4:9 (si vera lectio) On

proper name, of a location אָבֵל כְּרָמִים see II. אָבֵל

4; בֵּית הַכֶּרֶם.

Overview of Usage

The Hebrew noun כֶּרֶם appears about ninety-three times across the Old Testament and is consistently rendered “vineyard” in English versions. The word evokes more than an agricultural plot; it is a settler’s livelihood, a sign of covenant prosperity, an arena for legal obedience, and a canvas for prophetic parable.

Agricultural and Economic Significance

A vineyard represented slow, patient investment. Unlike grain that yields in months, vines require several years before bearing fruit (compare Leviticus 19:23-24). Consequently, ownership of a כֶּרֶם implied permanence in the land and confidence in God’s future provision (Deuteronomy 6:10-11; 8:7-10). Grapes supplied fresh fruit, raisins, vinegar, and—most importantly—wine, a staple of Israel’s diet and worship (Genesis 14:18; Exodus 29:40). Thus, the vineyard often appears alongside “grain and oil” as shorthand for economic well-being (Hosea 2:8; Joel 2:19).

Legal and Social Regulations

The Mosaic Law repeatedly safeguards the vineyard:

• Firstfruits of the vintage belonged to the LORD (Exodus 22:29).
• The poor, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow could glean remaining clusters (Leviticus 19:10; Deuteronomy 24:21).
• Vineyards rested every seventh year (Leviticus 25:4-5).
• A newly engaged man was exempt from warfare so he might “not die in battle and another man dedicate his vineyard” (Deuteronomy 20:6).

These commands intertwine piety with social justice, reminding Israel that both land and produce were gifts entrusted to covenant stewards.

Symbolism in Blessing and Judgment

Blessing: Abundance of vineyards signifies divine favor. “Every man will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to frighten him” (Micah 4:4). Peaceful possession of one’s כֶּרֶם depicts eschatological shalom.

Judgment: The removal, trampling, or barrenness of vineyards signals covenant curse. “Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes… You will plant and cultivate vineyards, but you will neither drink the wine nor gather the grapes” (Deuteronomy 28:31-39). Assyrian and Babylonian incursions fulfilled these warnings (Isaiah 5:5-6; Jeremiah 12:10).

Prophetic and Messianic Overtones

Isaiah’s “Song of the Vineyard” (Isaiah 5:1-7) employs the כֶּרֶם to indict Judah’s fruitless religion—an image Christ later adapts in the Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Matthew 21:33-41). Prophets also promise restoration: “Again you will plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters will plant and enjoy the fruit” (Jeremiah 31:5). Amos links the Davidic hope to viticultural bounty: “They will plant vineyards and drink their wine” (Amos 9:14).

Worship and Festal Association

Wine from the vineyard accompanies national festivals (Deuteronomy 16:13-15) and daily offerings (Numbers 28:7). The Passover cup recalls redemption through shed blood, a motif Christ fulfills in the New Covenant meal (Luke 22:17-20).

Key Old Testament Clusters

Pentateuch: Genesis 9:20; Numbers 16:14; Deuteronomy 23:24

Historical Books: Judges 14:5; 1 Kings 21 (Naboth’s vineyard); 2 Kings 19:29

Wisdom Literature: Proverbs 24:30-34; Song of Songs 2:15

Major Prophets: Isaiah 1:8; Jeremiah 6:9

Minor Prophets: Hosea 2:15; Zephaniah 1:13

Ministry Implications

Discipleship: Like a vine, spiritual fruit requires cultivation, pruning, and time (John 15:1-8 echoes Old Testament vineyard theology).

Stewardship: The legal provisions surrounding כֶּרֶם instruct believers to balance legitimate enjoyment of God’s gifts with generosity toward the marginalized.

Preaching: Isaiah 5, Psalm 80, and Matthew 21 knit together a canonical theme—God plants, expects fruit, disciplines unfaithfulness, and ultimately secures a fruitful harvest through His Son.

Notable Passages for Study and Teaching

Genesis 9:20 – The first post-Flood vineyard and human weakness.

Isaiah 5:1-7 – The classic vineyard parable of judgment.

Proverbs 31:16 – The industrious wife “considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.”

Song of Songs 8:11-12 – Covenant love symbolized in vineyard imagery.

Amos 5:11 – Social injustice forfeits vineyard enjoyment.

Micah 4:4 – Messianic peace pictured under one’s own vine.

Conclusion

כֶּרֶם weaves through Scripture as a living parable of covenant relationship: planted by divine grace, guarded by righteous law, yet too often yielding wild grapes of rebellion. The prophets anticipate, and the Gospel confirms, the day when the Lord’s vineyard will stand secure, bursting with the new wine of the Kingdom.

בְּכֶ֣רֶם בְּכַרְמֵ֖י בְכָ֑רֶם בַּכְּרָמִֽים׃ בכרם בכרמי בכרמים׃ הַ֨כְּרָמִ֔ים הַכְּרָמִ֑ים הַכְּרָמִ֔ים הַכֶּ֔רֶם הַכֶּ֖רֶם הַכָּֽרֶם׃ הכרם הכרם׃ הכרמים וְכֶ֖רֶם וְכֶ֣רֶם וְכֶ֧רֶם וְכַרְמְךָ֖ וְכַרְמְךָ֙ וְכַרְמֵיכֶ֖ם וְכַרְמֵיכֶ֛ם וָכָ֑רֶם וּבְכֶ֔רֶם וּבַכְּרָמִ֥ים וּכְרָמִ֔ים וּכְרָמִ֖ים וּכְרָמִ֗ים וּכְרָמִֽים׃ וּכְרָמִים֙ וּכְרָמֵ֖ינוּ וּכְרָמֵ֥ינוּ וּכְרָמֵֽינוּ׃ ובכרם ובכרמים וכרם וכרמיכם וכרמים וכרמים׃ וכרמינו וכרמינו׃ וכרמך כְּרָמִ֑ים כְּרָמִ֔ים כְּרָמִ֖ים כְּרָמִ֤ים כְּרָמִ֥ים כְּרָמִ֧ים כְּרָמִֽים׃ כְּרָמֶ֙יהָ֙ כְרָמִ֑ים כְרָמִ֔ים כְרָמִ֖ים כֶ֔רֶם כֶ֖רֶם כֶ֜רֶם כֶּ֖רֶם כֶּ֙רֶם֙ כֶּ֛רֶם כֶּ֝֗רֶם כֶּ֣רֶם כֶּ֣רֶם ׀ כֶּ֥רֶם כֶּ֧רֶם כַּרְמ֖וֹ כַּרְמְךָ֔ כַּרְמְךָ֖ כַּרְמְךָ֙ כַּרְמְךָ֜ כַּרְמִ֥י כַּרְמִֽי׃ כַּרְמֵ֣י כַּרְמֵי־ כַּרְמֵיהֶ֥ם כַּרְמֵיהֶם֙ כַּרְמֵיכֶ֧ם כַּרְמֶ֑ךָ כַרְמִ֔י כָ֑רֶם כָּֽרֶם׃ כרם כרם׃ כרמו כרמי כרמי־ כרמי׃ כרמיה כרמיהם כרמיכם כרמים כרמים׃ כרמך לְכַרְמ֑וֹ לְכַרְמְךָ֖ לְכַרְמִ֑י לְכַרְמִ֔י לַכְּרָמִ֔ים לכרמו לכרמי לכרמים לכרמך שֶׁבַּכְּרָמִים֙ שבכרמים bak·kə·rā·mîm bakkeraMim bakkərāmîm ḇə·ḵā·rem bə·ḵar·mê bə·ḵe·rem becharMei beCherem ḇəḵārem bəḵarmê bəḵerem Charem charMi cheraMim Cherem hak·kā·rem hak·kə·rā·mîm hak·ke·rem hakKarem hakkārem hakkeraMim hakkərāmîm hakkerem kā·rem ḵā·rem kar·mê kar·mê- kar·mê·hem kar·me·ḵā kar·mə·ḵā kar·mê·ḵem kar·mî ḵar·mî kar·mōw Karem kārem ḵārem karmê karmê- karmeCha karmêhem karMei karmeiChem karmeiHem karmeḵā karməḵā karmêḵem karMi karmî ḵarmî karMo karmōw kə·rā·me·hā kə·rā·mîm ḵə·rā·mîm ke·rem ḵe·rem kərāmehā keraMeiha keraMim kərāmîm ḵərāmîm kerem ḵerem lak·kə·rā·mîm lakkeraMim lakkərāmîm lə·ḵar·mə·ḵā lə·ḵar·mî lə·ḵar·mōw lecharmeCha lecharMi lecharMo ləḵarməḵā ləḵarmî ləḵarmōw šeb·bak·kə·rā·mîm šebbakkərāmîm shebbakkeraMim ū·ḇak·kə·rā·mîm ū·ḇə·ḵe·rem ū·ḵə·rā·mê·nū ū·ḵə·rā·mîm ūḇakkərāmîm ūḇəḵerem ucheraMeinu ucheraMim ūḵərāmênū ūḵərāmîm uvakkeraMim uveCherem vaCharem veCharem vecharmeCha vecharmeiChem veCherem wā·ḵā·rem wāḵārem wə·ḵar·mə·ḵā wə·ḵar·mê·ḵem wə·ḵe·rem wəḵarməḵā wəḵarmêḵem wəḵeremInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts