The Hebrew word kôr, represented by H3734, is a specific unit of measure. It appears 9 times across 6 unique verses in the Bible. The term refers to a cor, a large measure used for dry goods, and is defined as a deep round vessel. Aramaic uses the same word.
In biblical accounts, H3734 is consistently used to quantify massive amounts of provisions, tribute, and payments. It illustrates the scale of royal administration and international agreements. For King Solomon's household, the daily provision included thirty measures of fine flour and sixty measures of meal 1 Kings 4:22. As part of a treaty, Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for his household 1 Kings 5:11. The term also appears in the context of tribute, with the children of Ammon paying ten thousand measures of wheat and ten thousand of barley to King Jotham 2 Chronicles 27:5.
The significance of H3734 is further clarified by its relationship to other biblical measures and commodities:
- H2563 chômer (homer, clay): This dry measure is explicitly equated with the cor. Ezekiel establishes the standard that "ten baths are an homer" and the cor is "an homer of ten baths" Ezekiel 45:14. This word can also mean clay, as in "we are the clay, and thou our potter" Isaiah 64:8.
- H1324 bath (bath): A Hebrew measure for liquids. The cor is defined by its relationship to the bath, with one cor equaling ten baths Ezekiel 45:14. This connects the standards for both dry and liquid measurements.
- H2406 chiṭṭâh (wheat): This is one of the primary commodities measured by the cor. It was used as payment to Solomon's timber cutters 2 Chronicles 2:10 and given as annual tribute by the Ammonites 2 Chronicles 27:5.
- H8184 sᵉʻôrâh (barley): Another essential grain measured by the cor, often mentioned alongside wheat in records of large-scale provisions and payments 2 Chronicles 2:10.
While a practical term, the use of H3734 carries significant weight in understanding biblical economics and justice.
- Royal and National Economy: The immense quantities measured in cors, such as the provisions for Solomon's projects, demonstrate the wealth and administrative capacity of the Israelite kingdom at its height 2 Chronicles 2:10.
- Standard for Justice: In Ezekiel's vision for a restored Israel, the cor (as the homer) is established as the foundational standard from which other measures are derived. This highlights a divine concern for fairness and order in commerce and religious life Ezekiel 45:14.
- Substance of Agreements: The cor quantifies the tangible assets used in treaties and as payment for labor, such as the thousands of measures of wheat and oil Solomon gave to Hiram, grounding covenants in concrete economic reality 1 Kings 5:11.
In summary, H3734 is more than just an archaic unit of volume. It serves as a window into the economic life of ancient Israel, representing large-scale commerce, royal power, and international tribute. Its use in Ezekiel's prophecy elevates it from a simple measure to a component of divine order and justice, ensuring fairness in the community's economic and devotional life.
TRV