English · KJV
H4378

מַכָּר

makkâr /mak-kawr'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom נָכַר
Meaningan acquaintance
KJV usageacquaintance.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of makkâr — 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 makkâr, represented by H4378, refers to an acquaintance. This specific term appears only 2 times in 2 unique verses, both of which are found in the same biblical narrative. Its base definition is from נָכַר and signifies a person who is known to someone, a member of one's social or community circle.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The use of H4378 is confined to the account of King Jehoash's efforts to repair the temple. Initially, the king commanded the priests to collect funds for the project, instructing each man to take H3947 it from "his acquaintance" 2 Kings 12:5. When the priests failed to carry out the repairs, King Jehoash altered the plan, ordering them to "receive no more money H3701 of your acquaintance," and to instead deliver the funds for the breaches H919 of the house 2 Kings 12:7. In this context, the word designates the personal network from which priests were to solicit contributions.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context in which makkâr is used:

  • H3548 kôhên (priest): This refers to the officials who were initially tasked with collecting money from their personal contacts. The narrative centers on King Jehoash's instructions to Jehoiada the priest and the other priests 2 Kings 12:7.
  • H3701 keçeph (money, silver): This is the resource being gathered. The directive was specifically about receiving money to fund the restoration of the temple 2 Kings 12:7.
  • H919 bedeq (breach): This term specifies the problem that needed solving. The funds collected from each acquaintance were designated for repairing the breaches of the house of the Lord 2 Kings 12:5.

Theological Significance

The specific usage of H4378 provides insight into administrative and community responsibilities.

  • Community-Based Funding: The word illustrates a method of funding where religious leaders, the priests H3548, were expected to draw upon their relationships with their acquaintance to support the temple's upkeep 2 Kings 12:5.
  • Stewardship and Accountability: The narrative demonstrates a shift in fiscal policy. When the initial plan failed, the king intervened, ordering the priests to no longer receive H3947 money from their acquaintance but to deliver H5414 it directly, highlighting a need for oversight 2 Kings 12:7.
  • Practical Administration: The term is rooted in a practical, administrative context rather than a theological one. It shows the real-world logistics involved in maintaining the central place of worship in ancient Israel.

Summary

In summary, H4378 is a highly specific term for an acquaintance, used exclusively within the story of temple fundraising in 2 Kings. While not a broad theological concept, it is a practical word that illuminates the financial administration and community involvement required for the temple's maintenance during King Jehoash's reign. Its usage reveals a system of giving based on personal relationships and the importance of accountability in managing resources dedicated to the house of the Lord.

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 noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 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.

  • מַכָּרֵי
  • מַכָּר

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.

H3947 לָקַח a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, in H3701 כֶּסֶף from כָּסַף; silver (from its pale color); by implication, money; money, price, silver(-ling). H919 בֶּדֶק from בָּדַק; a gap or leak (in a building or a ship); breach, [phrase] calker. H3548 כֹּהֵן active participle of כָּהַן; literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman H5414 נָתַן a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, a

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

2 verses, all in 2 Kings — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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.