H3774 H3774
Kerethite(s) — a gentilic name for an ethnic group linked to the Philistines, possibly Cretan in origin
The Kerethites (also spelled Cherethites) were an ethnic group closely associated with the Philistines, likely originating from Crete — a connection the Septuagint makes explicit by rendering the name as Krētas in Ezekiel 25:16 and Zephaniah 2:5. In David's narrative they appear as the king's elite personal guard alongside the Pelethites, a loyal mercenary corps that followed David through Absalom's revolt (2 Sam 15:18) and Solomon's coronation (1 Kgs 1:38, 44). Their territory in the Negev is mentioned when David pursues the Amalekites (1 Sam 30:14). The pairing 'Kerethites and Pelethites' became virtually a fixed expression for the royal bodyguard.
Senses
1. Kerethite(s) — A gentilic adjective used substantively for the Kerethites (Cherethites), an ethnic group associated with or constituting part of the Philistine population, possibly originating from Crete. The LXX identifies them explicitly as Krētas ('Cretans') in Ezek 25:16 and Zeph 2:5. In Samuel-Kings they serve as David's royal guard in the fixed pair hakkĕrētî wĕhappĕlētî ('the Kerethites and Pelethites,' 2 Sam 8:18; 15:18; 20:7, 23; 1 Kgs 1:38, 44). In 1 Sam 30:14, their territory appears as a distinct Negev region. Spanish 'cereteos/quereteo' and English 'Cherethites' preserve the gentilic identification. 10×
AR["الكَريتيِّ", "الْكَرِيتِيِّينَ", "الْكَرِيثِيّينَ", "الْكِرِيتِيِّينَ", "وَ-الْكَرِيتِيُّونَ", "وَ-الْكَرِيتِيِّينَ", "وَالكَريتيونَ", "وَالْكَرِيتِيُّونَ", "ٱلْكَرِيتِيِّينَ"]·ben["এবং-করেথীয়", "এবং-করেথীয়দের", "এবং-করেথীয়েরা", "এবং-কেরেথীয়", "ও-দায়ূদ-এর", "করেথীয়", "করেথীয়দের", "কেরেতীয়দের", "কেরেথীয়", "কেরেথীয়দের"]·DE["[הכרתי]", "[כרתים]", "der-Cherethite", "der-Cherethites", "und-der-Cherethites", "und-der-Kerethites"]·EN["(the-Kerethites)", "Cherethites", "and-the-Cherethites", "and-the-Kerethites", "the-Cherethite", "the-Cherethites", "the-Kerethites"]·FR["(the-Kerethites)", "Crétois", "[הכרתי]", "et-le-Cherethites", "et-le-Kerethites", "le-Cherethite", "le-Cherethites"]·heb["ה-כרתי", "ו-ה-כרתי", "כרתים"]·HI["और-करेती", "करेतियों-की।", "करेती", "केरेति-क"]·ID["(-orang-Kereti)", "dan-orang-Kereti", "dan-orang-Kreti", "orang-Kereti", "orang-Kreta", "orang-Kreti", "orang-Kreti,"]·IT["(the-Kerethites)", "[הכרתי]", "[כרתים]", "e-il-Cheretei", "e-il-Kerethites", "il-Cheretei", "il-Cherethite"]·jav["lan-tiyang-Kreti", "lan-tiyang-Kréti", "lan-tiyang-Kérèti", "sang-Kereti", "tiyang-Kreta", "tiyang-Kreti", "tiyang-Krèta", "tiyang-Krèti", "tiyang-Kréti"]·KO["그-관레타의", "그-그레덧-사람들", "그-그레디-사람들", "그레디-사람들을", "그렛-의", "그리고-그레덧-사람들과", "그리고-그렛-사람과", "그리고-그렛과", "그릿사람들과"]·PT["(o-queretita)", "Keretim", "e-o-queretita", "e-os-queretitas", "o-keretita", "os-queretitas", "quereteus"]·RU["-керетяне", "·-керетийцами", "Керети", "Керетян", "Кретиян", "и-Керети", "и-Керетян", "и-Керетяне", "и-керети", "керетийца"]·ES["(el-kereteo)", "cereteos", "el-quereteo", "los-cereteos", "los-quereteos", "y-el-kereteo", "y-los-kereteos", "y-los-quereteos"]·SW["Wakerethi", "na-Wakerethi", "na-wakampandisha"]·TR["(Keretlilerin)", "Keretiler", "Keretilerin", "Keretlileri", "Keretlilerin", "ve-Keretiler", "ve-Keretli"]·urd["(کریتیوں)", "اور-کریتی", "کریتی", "کریتیوں", "کریتیوں-کی", "کریتیوں-کے"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† כְּרֵתִי adj.gent., always c. art., or pl., as subst., Kerethites, a name for Philistines or a part of them (perhaps = Cretans, cf. 𝔊 Zp 2:5 Ez 25:16; on Crete as orig. home of Philistines, v. כַּפְתֹּר, פְּלִשְׁתִּי);—הַכְּרֵתִי = subst. coll.;—נֶגֶב הַכּ׳ 1 S 30:14 (cf. Dr; 𝔊B Χολθει, 𝔊L Χορρι, A Χερηθει; of soldiers of David’s guard, הַכּ׳ וְהַפְּלֵתִי 2 S 8:18 (read עַל־הַכּ׳ Th We Dr…