English · KJV
H3807

כָּתַת

kâthath /kaw-thath'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto bruise or violently strike
KJV usagebeat (down, to pieces), break in pieces, crushed, destroy, discomfit, smite, stamp. l

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of kâthath — 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 kâthath, represented by H3807, is a primitive root that signifies a violent or destructive impact. It appears 17 times across 17 unique verses in the Bible. Its core meaning is to bruise or violently strike, with applications that include to beat (down, to pieces), break in pieces, crushed, destroy, discomfit, smite, and stamp.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H3807 is frequently used to describe acts of complete destruction, particularly in the context of divine judgment or purification. It depicts the physical annihilation of idols, such as when King Hezekiah brake in pieces the bronze serpent 2 Kings 18:4 or when the graven images of Samaria were to be beaten to pieces Micah 1:7. The word also portrays military defeat and ruin, as when the Amorites destroyed Israel in Seir Deuteronomy 1:44 or when the LORD's enemies are beaten down Jeremiah 46:5. Conversely, in a powerful prophetic image of future peace, Isaiah and Micah describe a time when nations will beat their swords into plowshares (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3). This is inverted in Joel, where a call to war commands the people to Beat your plowshares into swords Joel 3:10.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words further illustrate the concept of breaking, striking, and destroying:

  • H5422 nâthats (to tear down): This word often appears alongside H3807, emphasizing the demolition of idolatrous structures. In 2 Chronicles 34:7, King Josiah had broken down the altars before he had beaten the graven images into powder.
  • H2912 ṭâchan (to grind meal): This term highlights the process of reducing something to dust. It is used in parallel with H3807 when Moses took the golden calf, stamped it, and ground it until it was as small as dust Deuteronomy 9:21.
  • H7665 shâbar (to burst, break in pieces): This word often describes the shattering of objects or power. The dossier notes its use to describe how the arms of the wicked shall be broken Psalms 37:17.
  • H5221 nâkâh (to strike, smite): A broader term for striking, it is used in the context of divine judgment, as when God promises to smite the earth with a curse Malachi 4:6.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H3807 is demonstrated in several key themes:

  • Purification through Destruction: The act of beating idols into powder or dust is not merely destruction but a radical form of purification, removing the object of false worship from the land (2 Chronicles 34:7, Deuteronomy 9:21).
  • Consequence of Sin: The word is used to depict the consequences of disobedience, both for Israel when they are discomfited by their enemies Numbers 14:45 and for enemy nations facing divine judgment Jeremiah 46:5.
  • Eschatological Reversal: H3807 is central to the prophetic vision of God's ultimate reign. The act of "beating" is transformed from an instrument of war into an act of peace, turning swords into farming tools Isaiah 2:4. This highlights a future where God's judgment brings about a complete reversal of the world's violent order.

Summary

In summary, H3807 kâthath is a powerful word that conveys violent, shattering force. It is used literally to describe the pulverizing of idols and the defeat of armies, and prophetically to illustrate the final transformation of a world at war into a kingdom of peace. The word demonstrates how a single act of "beating" can represent both the severity of divine judgment against sin and the hope of ultimate redemption.

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 17 occurrences, inflected in 11 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.

  • יֻכַּתּוּ
  • כִתְּתוּ
  • יַּכְּתוּ
  • כָתוּת
  • יֻכַּת
  • כִתַּת
  • כִּתַּת
  • כֻתְּתוּ
  • אֶכֹּת
  • כַתּוֹתִי
  • כֹּתּוּ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H5422 נָתַץ a primitive root; to tear down; beat down, break down (out), cast down, destroy, overthrow, pull down, throw down. H2912 טָחַן a primitive root; to grind meal; hence, to be aconcubine (that being their employment); grind(-er). H7665 שָׁבַר a primitive root; to burst (literally or figuratively); break (down, off, in pieces, up), broken (-hearted), bring to th H5221 נָכָה a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [id

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 17 verses across 12 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (3 verses); never once in the other 27.

1
Leviticus
1
Numbers
2
Deuteronomy
1
2 Kings
2
2 Chronicles
1
Job
1
Psalms
3
Isaiah
1
Jeremiah
1
Joel
2
Micah
1
Zechariah

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.