### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Kᵉrîyth**, represented by `{{H3747}}`, refers to **Cherith**, a brook in Palestine. Its base definition is "a cut," suggesting a ravine or a place carved into the earth. It appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible, exclusively marking a specific, significant location in the life of the prophet Elijah.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Both occurrences of `{{H3747}}` are found in the narrative of Elijah. God commands the prophet, "Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook **Cherith**, that is before Jordan" [[1 Kings 17:3]]. This establishes **Cherith** as a divinely appointed place of refuge. Elijah's obedience is recorded immediately: "So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook **Cherith**, that is before Jordan" [[1 Kings 17:5]]. The brook is therefore central to this episode of hiding and dependence on God's direction.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several key words are directly associated with the actions at **Cherith**:
* `{{H5158}}` **nachal** (brook): This is the word for the stream itself, often a winter torrent or the valley in which it runs. Elijah was sustained by the water of the **brook** [[1 Kings 17:6]].
* `{{H5641}}` **çâthar** (to hide): This primitive root means to hide or conceal. God’s command to Elijah was to **hide** himself at Cherith, marking it as a place of secrecy and protection [[1 Kings 17:3]].
* `{{H3427}}` **yâshab** (to dwell): Meaning to sit down, remain, or dwell, this word signifies that Elijah did not just pass through but made the brook his habitation for a time, as instructed [[1 Kings 17:5]].
* `{{H3212}}` **yâlak** (to go): This word for 'to go' or 'to walk' appears in both the command to go to Cherith and the description of Elijah's obedience in going there ([[1 Kings 17:3]], [[1 Kings 17:5]]).
### Theological Significance
The brook **Cherith** `{{H3747}}` carries significant theological weight as a specific location of divine interaction.
* **A Place of Seclusion and Protection:** The primary command associated with Cherith is to **hide** `{{H5641}}`. It is a place set apart by God to protect his servant from danger.
* **A Test of Obedience:** Elijah's journey to Cherith is an act of faith. He "went and did" `{{H6213}}` according to God's word, demonstrating immediate obedience to a command that led him into isolation [[1 Kings 17:5]].
* **A Source of Divine Provision:** At Cherith, Elijah **dwelt** `{{H3427}}` and was sustained. He drank from the **brook** `{{H5158}}`, which shows God's provision in a desolate place [[1 Kings 17:6]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3747}}` **Kᵉrîyth** is more than a geographical name; it is a symbol of a divinely appointed sanctuary. While appearing only twice, the brook **Cherith** marks a crucial juncture where obedience, seclusion, and divine provision intersect. Its root meaning, "a cut," aptly describes this hidden ravine where God protected and sustained his prophet, making it a powerful emblem of refuge found in following God's specific commands.
TRV