a form for כּוּר (only in the dual); a cooking range (consisting of two parallel stones, across which the boiler is set); ranges for pots.
Transliteration:kîyr
Pronunciation:keer
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma כִּיר (kîyr), Strong's `{{H3600}}`, denotes a "cooking range" or "ranges for pots." Its base definition specifies a construction "consisting of two parallel stones, across which the boiler is set," indicating a rudimentary but effective apparatus for culinary purposes. The word is noted to appear "only in the dual" form in the biblical text, כִּירַיִם (kîrayim), which literally means "two cooking ranges" or "a pair of cooking ranges," likely referring to the two parallel stones that formed the cooking surface. This suggests a specific design for domestic heating and food preparation. Semantically, כִּיר is related to כּוּר (kûr), Strong's `{{H3564}}`, which refers to a "furnace" or "smelting pot," highlighting a shared function of intense heat application, though כִּיר is specifically for household cooking rather than industrial refining.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word כִּיר (kîyr), `{{H3600}}`, appears exclusively in its dual form, כִּירַיִם, in a single biblical verse: [[Leviticus 11:35]]. This verse is situated within the extensive dietary and purity laws given to Israel, particularly those concerning unclean animals and objects.
[[Leviticus 11:35]] states: "And every oven or cooking range (כִּירַיִם) shall be broken down; for they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you."
In this context, the כִּירַיִם is paired with תַּנּוּר (tannûr), Strong's `{{H8574}}`, meaning "oven." Both were essential household items for preparing food. The instruction dictates that if an unclean creeping thing (such as a mouse or lizard, as listed in the preceding verses) falls into either an oven or a cooking range, the apparatus itself becomes ritually unclean. Unlike other defiled items that could be cleansed by washing, the כִּירַיִם and תַּנּוּר were to be "broken down" or destroyed. This drastic measure underscores the severity of defilement when it pertains to items used directly for food preparation, emphasizing the meticulous standards of purity required within the Israelite household. The destruction prevents the further spread of impurity and ensures the sanctity of the food supply.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **כּוּר (kûr), `{{H3564}}`**: As noted, this word signifies a "furnace" or "smelting pot." While כִּיר is domestic, כּוּר is often used in metallurgical contexts (e.g., [[Proverbs 17:3]], [[Isaiah 48:10]]), referring to the process of refining metals through intense heat. The shared root or semantic connection highlights the function of heat application, but כִּיר is a specific application for culinary purposes.
* **תַּנּוּר (tannûr), `{{H8574}}`**: "Oven." This word is directly paralleled with כִּירַיִם in [[Leviticus 11:35]]. Both were fundamental to ancient Israelite cooking, with the תַּנּוּר typically being a larger, enclosed structure for baking bread, and the כִּירַיִם a more open range for pots. Their co-occurrence in the purity laws indicates their similar status as crucial household items requiring strict adherence to ritual cleanliness.
* **Purity Laws (טָהֳרָה, `{{H2893}}` and טֻמְאָה, `{{H2932}}`)**: The context of כִּיר is inextricably linked to the elaborate system of ritual purity and impurity detailed in Leviticus. These laws governed every aspect of Israelite life, distinguishing between clean and unclean, holy and common. The requirement to destroy a defiled כִּיר exemplifies the uncompromising nature of these laws in preserving the sanctity of the community.
* **Household Implements**: The כִּיר represents a category of common household articles that, despite their mundane function, were subject to divine regulation. This extends to other vessels and containers mentioned in the purity codes, underscoring that holiness was to permeate every sphere of Israelite existence.
### Theological Significance
Despite its single occurrence, the word כִּיר holds profound theological significance within the framework of Israelite worship and daily life.
* **Holiness Pervading the Mundane**: The command concerning the כִּיר demonstrates that God's holiness was not confined to the Tabernacle or specific rituals, but extended into the most ordinary aspects of daily life, including food preparation. This emphasizes that Israel's entire existence was to be consecrated to Yahweh (`{{H3068}}`), reflecting His own perfect holiness.
* **Radical Separation from Impurity**: The instruction to break down a defiled כִּיר highlights the radical nature of the separation demanded from Israel. Unlike items that could be washed, these permanent fixtures, once defiled, were beyond purification and had to be completely removed. This symbolizes the uncompromising stance against anything that could compromise the community's ritual purity and, by extension, its relationship with a holy God. It underscored the seriousness of defilement and the need for complete removal of sin's taint.
* **Symbol of Covenant Fidelity**: Adherence to such detailed and demanding purity laws, even concerning a simple cooking range, served as a tangible expression of Israel's covenant fidelity. By meticulously following these divine statutes, Israel affirmed its unique identity as a holy nation, set apart by God.
* **Divine Authority and Provision**: The כִּיר was an instrument of sustenance, a means by which God's provision of food was prepared. The regulations surrounding it implicitly teach a form of stewardship, reminding Israel that even the means of their daily bread were under divine scrutiny and subject to holy standards.
### Summary
The Hebrew word כִּיר (kîyr), `{{H3600}}`, appearing in its dual form כִּירַיִם, refers to a "cooking range" or "ranges for pots," typically constructed from two parallel stones. Its sole biblical occurrence is in [[Leviticus 11:35]], where it is mentioned alongside the "oven" (`{{H8574}}`) as a household item that, if defiled by an unclean creeping thing, must be "broken down" and destroyed. This unique context reveals significant theological insights. The requirement to destroy the כִּירַיִם underscores the pervasive nature of holiness in the Israelite worldview, extending to the most mundane aspects of life. It symbolizes the radical separation from impurity demanded of God's covenant people, emphasizing that defilement, particularly concerning items related to sustenance, necessitated complete removal rather than mere cleansing. This meticulous attention to purity, even for a domestic cooking apparatus, served to distinguish Israel and reinforce its identity as a holy nation consecrated to Yahweh, reflecting His own perfect and uncompromising holiness.
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