from כָּנַע in the sense of folding (compare כָּנַס); a package; wares.
Transliteration:kinʻâh
Pronunciation:kin-aw'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma כִּנְעָה (kinʻâh, `{{H3666}}`) is derived from the root כָּנַע (kanaʻ, `{{H3665}}`). While the primary sense of כָּנַע typically conveys ideas of humility, submission, or being brought low, the specific definition for כִּנְעָה highlights a distinct semantic branch. It emphasizes the sense of "folding" or "gathering," drawing a comparison to כָּנַס (kanas, `{{H3664}}`), which means "to gather" or "collect." Therefore, כִּנְעָה primarily denotes "a package," "bundle," or "wares"—referring to items that are folded, gathered, or collected together, typically for commercial purposes such as transport or sale. It signifies merchandise or commercial goods.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word כִּנְעָה (kinʻâh, `{{H3666}}`) appears only once in the Masoretic Text, found in the book of Ezekiel:
* **[[Ezekiel 28:16]]**: "By the abundance of your wares (בְּרֹב כִּנְעָתֶךָ) you filled your midst with violence, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire."
This verse is part of the prophetic lamentation over the king of Tyre, which serves as a personification of the city itself. Tyre was a renowned maritime trading power, famous for its commercial success and accumulated wealth. The phrase "by the abundance of your wares" directly links Tyre's vast commercial prosperity to its moral downfall. The accumulation and trade of these "wares" or merchandise led to internal violence and sin within the city. This context underscores a critical warning against the corrupting influence of unchecked materialism and commercialism, showing how the pursuit of economic gain can lead to moral decay and divine judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Root כָּנַע (kanaʻ, `{{H3665}}`):** While כִּנְעָה takes on the specialized meaning of "folding/gathering" for goods, the broader semantic field of its root כָּנַע is "to be humble, subdue, bring low." This divergence is notable, suggesting כִּנְעָה represents a specific, perhaps rare, application of the root's underlying concept of "bringing together" or "subduing" into a compact form.
* **כָּנַס (kanas, `{{H3664}}`):** This verb means "to gather, collect, assemble." The explicit comparison in the definition of H3666 to כָּנַס reinforces the primary meaning of כִּנְעָה as something collected or bundled, solidifying its connection to merchandise.
* **סְחוֹרָה (sĕḥôrāh, `{{H5507}}`):** This is a more common and general Hebrew term for "merchandise" or "wares," frequently used in contexts of trade and commerce (e.g., [[Genesis 39:1]], [[Proverbs 3:14]]).
* **מִסְחָר (misḥār, `{{H4607}}`):** This noun refers to "trade" or "merchandise," often emphasizing the commercial activity itself or the goods involved in it (e.g., [[Ezekiel 27:15]]).
The rarity of כִּנְעָה and its unique derivation from a root primarily associated with humility, rather than directly with commerce, sets it apart from more common terms for "merchandise."
### Theological Significance
The singular occurrence of כִּנְעָה in [[Ezekiel 28:16]] invests it with profound theological significance. Appearing within a prophetic judgment against Tyre, a city emblematic of vast commercial power and material opulence, the word becomes a linchpin in understanding the divine critique. The declaration, "By the abundance of your wares (כִּנְעָה) you filled your midst with violence, and you sinned," establishes a direct causal relationship between excessive commercial prosperity and moral corruption.
This passage serves as a potent biblical warning against unchecked materialism and the inherent dangers of wealth. It suggests that when the pursuit and accumulation of "wares" or material gain become the ultimate aim, it can lead to exploitation, injustice, and a turning away from God. Tyre's expulsion "from the mountain of God" symbolizes a forfeiture of divine favor and protection, directly stemming from the sin rooted in its commercial excess. Thus, כִּנְעָה, though rare, encapsulates a significant theological message about the perils of worldly prosperity and the ethical responsibilities associated with economic activity. It underscores a recurring prophetic theme: the potential for wealth to become an idol and a conduit for sin, ultimately leading to judgment.
### Summary
The Hebrew word כִּנְעָה (kinʻâh, `{{H3666}}`) is a unique term, appearing only once in the Old Testament in [[Ezekiel 28:16]]. Derived from the root כָּנַע (kanaʻ, `{{H3665}}`) but specifically in the sense of "folding" or "gathering" (akin to כָּנַס `{{H3664}}`), it denotes "a package" or, more broadly, "wares" or "merchandise." Its singular occurrence within the prophetic lament against Tyre is highly significant. Here, the "abundance of wares" (בְּרֹב כִּנְעָתֶךָ) is explicitly identified as the source of Tyre's internal violence and sin, leading directly to its divine judgment. Despite its rarity, כִּנְעָה powerfully conveys a core biblical critique of economic excess and its capacity to lead to unrighteousness and divine condemnation, serving as a profound theological warning against the corrupting influence of materialism.
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