### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun qeraʻ (`{{H7168}}`) fundamentally signifies something that has been "torn" or "rent." It is directly derived from the verb qaraʻ (`{{H7167}}`), meaning "to tear, rend, rip open." Thus, qeraʻ denotes the *result* of such an action: a "piece" or "fragment" that has been separated from a whole, most commonly a "rag" or a "torn piece of cloth." Its semantic range extends to anything broken off or rendered into fragments through a violent or decisive tearing action, emphasizing the state of being broken or dismembered.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term qeraʻ (`{{H7168}}`) appears in a few significant contexts within the Hebrew Bible:
* **[[1 Kings 11:30]]**: The prophet Ahijah, in a symbolic act of divine judgment against Solomon, "took hold of the new garment that was on him and tore it into twelve pieces (qeraʻim)." Here, the qeraʻim represent the twelve tribes of Israel, torn and divided from the unified kingdom, signifying God's sovereign act of judgment and the fragmentation of the monarchy. The tearing is a prophetic sign of division.
* **[[Isaiah 64:6]] (ESV/KJV)**: This is perhaps the most theologically potent use: "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment (qeraʻim)." The phrase "polluted garment" or "filthy rags" translates qeraʻim ʻiddim, literally "torn pieces of menstrual impurity." This vivid imagery portrays human righteousness as utterly defiled, ritually unclean, and worthless in God's sight, emphasizing the profound inadequacy of human effort to achieve purity or merit before a holy God.
* **[[Jeremiah 38:11-12]]**: Ebed-Melech, the Cushite eunuch, instructs Jeremiah to place "old rags (qeraʻim) and worn-out clothes" under his armpits to cushion the ropes as he is pulled from the cistern. In this context, qeraʻim refers to discarded, valueless pieces of cloth, used for a practical, albeit humble, purpose. It highlights the low status of these items, yet their utility in a desperate situation.
Across these occurrences, qeraʻ consistently refers to something broken, fragmented, or discarded, often carrying connotations of impurity or worthlessness in a spiritual or material sense.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the verbal root qaraʻ (`{{H7167}}`), "to tear, rend." The noun qeraʻ is the direct result of this action. The act of tearing garments (qaraʻ) was a common expression of profound grief, mourning, distress, or indignation in ancient Israel (e.g., [[Genesis 37:34]], [[2 Samuel 1:11]], [[Job 1:20]]).
Concepts related to qeraʻ include:
* **Division and Fragmentation**: As seen in the prophetic act of Ahijah (`{{H7168}}` in [[1 Kings 11:30]]), where the tearing symbolizes the breaking apart of a unified entity.
* **Impurity and Defilement**: Most powerfully conveyed in [[Isaiah 64:6]], where qeraʻim represents ritual uncleanness and moral corruption. This concept is often linked to niddah (`{{H5079}}`), menstrual impurity, which renders a person ritually unclean.
* **Worthlessness and Discardedness**: The use in [[Jeremiah 38:11-12]] demonstrates qeraʻim as items of no intrinsic value, discarded and only useful for a makeshift purpose.
* **Human Inadequacy**: Especially in the context of Isaiah, qeraʻ underlines the inability of human effort to meet divine standards of righteousness.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of qeraʻ (`{{H7168}}`) is most profoundly felt in [[Isaiah 64:6]]. This verse serves as a foundational text for understanding the biblical view of human righteousness. By likening all human righteous deeds (tsedeqot, `{{H6666}}`) to "filthy rags" (qeraʻim ʻiddim), the prophet starkly conveys:
1. **The Absolute Holiness of God**: From God's perspective, even humanity's best efforts at righteousness are utterly defiled and unacceptable. This highlights the infinite chasm between human sinfulness and divine perfection.
2. **The Pervasiveness of Sin**: The metaphor implies that sin has so thoroughly corrupted human nature that even our most virtuous acts are tainted and ritually unclean, incapable of standing before God's purity.
3. **The Necessity of Divine Grace**: If human righteousness is like qeraʻim, then salvation and true righteousness cannot originate from human works or merit. This underscores the indispensable need for God's gracious intervention and the provision of a righteousness that is external to humanity, ultimately pointing towards the atoning work of Christ.
In [[1 Kings 11:30]], qeraʻ also speaks to God's sovereign power to judge and divide, demonstrating His control over historical events and the consequences of disobedience.
### Summary
The Hebrew word qeraʻ (`{{H7168}}`), derived from the verb "to tear" (`{{H7167}}`), denotes a "torn piece" or "rag." Its biblical usage highlights themes of division and fragmentation, as seen in Ahijah's prophetic act concerning the kingdom of Israel (`{{H7168}}` in [[1 Kings 11:30]]). Most significantly, qeraʻ is employed in [[Isaiah 64:6]] to powerfully describe human righteousness as "filthy rags," emphasizing its utter defilement and worthlessness in the sight of a holy God. This profound metaphor underscores the pervasive nature of sin, the absolute holiness of God, and the indispensable need for divine grace. In a more mundane context, it also refers to discarded items of little value, yet capable of serving a humble purpose (`{{H7168}}` in [[Jeremiah 38:11-12]]). Ultimately, qeraʻ serves as a potent reminder of human inadequacy and the vast chasm between human effort and divine perfection, pointing to the necessity of a righteousness provided by God alone.
TRV