Original Word: קַרְקַע
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Qarqa`
Pronunciation: kar-KAH
Phonetic Spelling: (kar-kah')
KJV: Karkaa
NASB: Karka
Word Origin: [the same as H7172 (קַרקַע - floor)]

1. ground-floor
2. Karka (with the article prefix), a place in Israel

Karkaa

The same as qarqa'; ground-floor; Karka (with the article prefix), a place in Palestine -- Karkaa.

see HEBREW qarqa'

Word Origin
from the same as qarqa
Definition
"floor," a place on S. border of Judah
NASB Translation
Karka (1).

II. קַרְקַע proper name, of a location (floor); — with article + ה locative, הַקַּרְקָ֑עָה Joshua 15:13, on extreme southern border of Judah; τὴν κατὰ δυσμὰς Καδης.

Biblical Context

Karkaa is cited a single time in Scripture, in the catalogue of towns and landmarks that delineate the southern border of the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:3). The verse reads in the Berean Standard Bible: “Then it proceeded to the south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continued to Zin, went up to the south of Kadesh-barnea, passed to Hezron, went up to Addar, and turned to Karkaah.” As one waypoint among many, Karkaa functions as a fixed coordinate anchoring Judah’s inheritance within the Promised Land.

Geographical Location

While no modern excavation has definitively located Karkaa, the verse situates it between Addar and Azmon along the Negev’s southern sweep toward the Brook of Egypt. Scholars generally place it in the arid wilderness west of Kadesh-barnea, possibly overlooking wadis that drain into the Rift Valley. The obscurity of its site underscores how even lesser-known locales played a strategic role in defining Israel’s territorial integrity.

Covenantal Significance

1. Fulfillment of Divine Promise: The allotment in Joshua 15 represents the tangible realization of Genesis 15:18–21, where God pledged specific borders to Abraham’s descendants. Every boundary stone, including Karkaa, testifies that “not one word has failed of all the good promises” (Joshua 23:14).
2. Tribe-Specific Stewardship: Judah’s sizable inheritance, marked in part by Karkaa, foreshadows the tribe’s eventual leadership and the Messianic line (Genesis 49:10; Matthew 1:3-16). God entrusted Judah with front-line defense against southern incursions, revealing a strategic as well as spiritual design.

Theological Implications

• Precision of Divine Provision: The naming of Karkaa affirms that God’s guidance extends to exact coordinates. Believers can therefore trust Him for both the macro and the minute details of life.
• Boundary-Setting and Holiness: Just as Judah’s borders guarded covenant purity, New-Covenant believers are exhorted to “keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 21), maintaining clear spiritual boundaries.
• Corporate Identity: Each boundary point reinforced tribal unity. In the church, clearly defined callings and gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) foster harmony rather than competition.

Historical and Archaeological Notes

Ancient boundary texts commonly listed otherwise unremarkable sites to establish legal claims. Egyptian execration stelae and Ugaritic land grants show a similar pattern. Although Karkaa has not been found, its mention aligns with Late Bronze to Early Iron Age administrative practices, bolstering the historicity of Joshua’s record.

Ministry Applications

1. Teach the Faithfulness of God: Lessons or sermons can contrast Karkaa’s obscurity with the clarity of God’s covenant fidelity.
2. Encourage Personal Boundary Setting: Small-group studies may use Judah’s border list to discuss healthy limits in relationships and ministry.
3. Highlight the Value of the “Hidden” Worker: Karkaa’s anonymity mirrors the countless unnamed servants in local congregations whose roles are vital though little publicized (Romans 16:1-16).

Related Biblical Parallels

• Boundary Lists: Numbers 34:3-5; Ezekiel 47:13-23.
• Tribal Allotments and Divine Order: Joshua 21:43-45; Psalm 78:68-69.
• Spiritual Inheritance in Christ: Ephesians 1:11-14; 1 Peter 1:4.

Summary

Though mentioned only once, Karkaa stands as a silent witness that every promise, plot, and parcel of the land fell under God’s meticulous care. Its solitary appearance invites modern readers to recognize the Lord’s sovereignty over “the whole boundary of Israel” (1 Kings 8:65) and over every detail of their own pilgrimage.

הַקַּרְקָֽעָה׃ הקרקעה׃ hakkarKaah haq·qar·qā·‘āh haqqarqā‘āhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts