Original Word: כָּתַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kathar
Pronunciation: kah-thar
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-thar')
Definition: To crown, to surround, to encircle
Meaning: to enclose, to crown, to besiege, to wait

beset round, compass about, be crowne, suffer

A primitive root; to enclose; hence (in a friendly sense) to crown, (in a hostile one) to besiege; also to wait (as restraining oneself) -- beset round, compass about, be crowned inclose round, suffer.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to surround
NASB Translation
crowned (1), encircled (1), surround (2), surrounded (1), wait (1).

[כָּתַר] verb surround (in

Pi`el), (Aramaic כַּתַּר Pa`el, wait, hope for; Pa`el wait, await, remain: i.e. perhaps surrounded expectantly, see Job 36:2 below) —

Pi`el Perfect3plural כִּתְּרוּ Judges 20:43 of surrounding an enemy; suffix כִּתְּרוּנִי Psalm 22:13 (in figurative; "" סְבָבוּנִי); Imperative כַּתַּרלִֿי Job 36:2 wait, I pray (as in Aramaic)

Hiph`il Imperfect3masculine plural בִּי יַכְּתִּרוּ צַדִּיקִים Psalm 142:8 dubious, throw out crowns (Ges<sup>§ 53g</sup>), i.e. appear with crowns (denominative from כֶּתֶר; but this very late — only in Esther); figurative for triumph, because of me; but Gr Che יִתְמָּֽאֲרוּ (see I. פאר); יַכְתִּרוּ דָ֑עַת Proverbs 14:18 dubious, Thes De and others throw out knowledge as a crown, make knowledge their crown (denominative from כֶּתֶר; but see above), Now, encompass knowledge, i.e. possess it ("" נָָֽחֲלוּ); sense good, but meaning of ׳כ without "". Participle מַכְתִּיר surrounding (as Pi`el) Habakkuk 1:4 (with accusative of enemy).

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G2616 (κατακυριεύω, katakurieuō): To have dominion over, to lord over
• G2902 (κρατέω, krateō): To hold fast, to seize, to retain
• G3306 (μένω, menō): To remain, to abide, to wait
• G4023 (περιμένω, perimenō): To wait for, to await

These Greek terms reflect similar themes of control, encirclement, and waiting, providing a broader understanding of the concept as it transitions from Hebrew to Greek contexts in biblical literature.

Usage: The verb כָּתַר (kāṯar) is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe actions such as encircling or surrounding, often in the context of besieging a city or waiting in ambush. It can also convey the idea of crowning, in the sense of encircling the head with a crown.

Context: The Hebrew verb כָּתַר (kāṯar) appears in various contexts within the Old Testament, primarily associated with the act of encircling or surrounding. This term is often used in military contexts, where it describes the action of besieging a city, as seen in passages where armies surround a city to cut off supplies and force surrender. For example, in 1 Samuel 23:8, Saul mobilizes his forces to besiege David and his men.

Beyond its military connotations, כָּתַר (kāṯar) can also imply the act of waiting or lying in ambush, suggesting a strategic encirclement with the intent to capture or attack. This usage highlights the tactical aspect of the term, where patience and positioning are key elements.

Additionally, the term carries a metaphorical sense of crowning, which can be understood as encircling the head with a crown, symbolizing honor or authority. This usage, while less frequent, enriches the semantic range of the word by connecting physical encirclement with symbolic acts of recognition and elevation.

יַכְתִּ֣רוּ יַכְתִּ֥רוּ יכתרו כִּתְּר֤וּ כִּתְּרֽוּנִי׃ כַּתַּר־ כתר־ כתרו כתרוני׃ מַכְתִּ֣יר מכתיר kat·tar- kattar kattar- kit·tə·rū kit·tə·rū·nî kitteRu kittərū kitteRuni kittərūnî machTir maḵ·tîr maḵtîr yachTiru yaḵ·ti·rū yaḵtirūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts