Word Study for H3803 (כָּתַר)

kâthar /kaw-thar'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto enclose; hence (in a friendly sense) to crown, (in a hostile one) to besiege; also to wait (as restraining oneself)

KJV usagebeset round, compass about, be crowned inclose round, suffer.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of kâthar — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word kâthar, represented by H3803, is a primitive root meaning to enclose. Its application varies dramatically based on context, from a friendly sense, to crown, to a hostile one, to besiege. It also carries the meaning to wait, as in restraining oneself. It appears 7 times across 6 unique verses in the Bible, making each usage significant.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H3803 conveys a powerful sense of being surrounded, for better or for worse. In a hostile context, the prophet Habakkuk states that the wicked H7563 compass about the righteous H6662, perverting justice Habakkuk 1:4. This idea of a threatening enclosure is also seen in the military defeat of the Benjamites, who were inclosed round about Judges 20:43. In contrast, the word takes on a positive meaning in Proverbs 14:18, where the prudent are crowned with knowledge. It can also signify a plea for patience, as when Elihu asks Job to suffer him, or wait, a little longer Job 36:2.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illuminate the contexts in which H3803 is found:

H1847 daʻath (knowledge): This is the "crown" with which the prudent are adorned in Proverbs 14:18, representing wisdom as a high honor.
H5437 çâbab (compass about): This word is used in parallel with H3803 in Psalms 22:12, where the psalmist feels encircled by enemies, showing a synonymous relationship in the context of a siege.
H6175 ʻârûwm (prudent): This describes those who receive the "crown" of knowledge. In Proverbs 14:18, the prudent are rewarded for their insight, contrasting with the simple who inherit folly.
H6662 tsaddîyq (just; righteous): This term identifies the one being surrounded. The nature of the surrounding depends on who is doing it, whether it is the wicked in an act of oppression Habakkuk 1:4 or fellow righteous in an act of fellowship Psalms 142:7.

Theological Significance

The conceptual weight of H3803 lies in its duality, illustrating how the same physical act of surrounding something can have opposite moral implications.

Hostile Encirclement: The word frequently depicts a state of oppression or attack. This is seen when the wicked compass the righteous to obstruct justice Habakkuk 1:4 and when enemies beset the psalmist like strong bulls Psalms 22:12.
A Crown of Virtue: In a positive sense, the word signifies honor and reward. Being crowned with knowledge H1847 is presented as the culmination of a prudent life, a visible mark of wisdom Proverbs 14:18.
Fellowship and Deliverance: The word can also describe a supportive community. In Psalms 142:7, the psalmist anticipates that after being brought out of his prison, the righteous H6662 will compass him about, signifying a welcoming and protective circle.

Summary

In summary, H3803 is a dynamic word whose meaning is defined by intent. Whether it describes a hostile siege, a crown of honor, or a circle of friends, kâthar consistently portrays a state of being completely enclosed. Its varied applications demonstrate that the nature of an action—friendly or hostile—is determined by the character of those performing it.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 6 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

יַכְתִּרוּ
כִּתְּרוּ
מַכְתִּיר
כַּתַּר

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 6 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms (2 verses); never once in the other 34.

Judges

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Habakkuk

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.