Hebrew word · H3803

כָּתַר

katar-

to surround

In the Piel and Hiphil forms: to surround, encircle (Judg 20:43; Ps 22:12; Hab 1:4). The related noun keter means 'crown' or headdress (Esth 1:11). In Job 36:2 the Piel means 'wait, be patient', a sense common in Aramaic.

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to surround

1a) (Piel) to surround

1b) (Hiphil) to surround, encircle

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Psalm 142:7

Range of meaning

In the Piel and Hiphil forms: to surround, encircle (Judg 20:43; Ps 22:12; Hab 1:4). The related noun keter means 'crown' or headdress (Esth 1:11). In Job 36:2 the Piel means 'wait, be patient', a sense common in Aramaic.

Against the English

KJV says 'compass me about'. ESV, NASB and WEB say 'surround'. BSB and NIV say 'gather around/about'. NLT says 'crowd around'. All take the 'encircle' sense, though 'gather' sounds softer than the Hebrew picture of a ring.

Used elsewhere in the period

Hab 1:4: 'the wicked surround (maktir) the righteous', the same form with the roles reversed. Ps 22:12: bulls of Bashan 'encircle' the sufferer. The Septuagint here reads 'will wait for me', following the Aramaic sense.

From the study of Psalm 22:12

Range of meaning

In the intensive form used here: to surround, hem in, encircle (Judg 20:43; Ps 142:7; Hab 1:4). Related nouns are keter, "crown, diadem" (Esther 1:11), and koteret, the decorated ring-shaped capital on top of a pillar (1 Kgs 7:16).

Against the English

BSB/WEB "encircle," KJV "beset me round," YLT "compassed." The idea of an enclosing ring is kept by most versions.

How it drifted

KJV's "beset" now usually means "troubled" ("beset by worries"). In 1611, "beset round" meant physically hemmed in on all sides.

Used elsewhere in the period

The word is rare. In Judg 20:43 the Israelites "surrounded" the Benjaminites in battle. In Hab 1:4, "the wicked hem in the righteous." In Ps 142:7, the righteous will "surround" the psalmist in a good sense.

From the study of Habakkuk 1:4

Range of meaning

To surround, encircle, ring round. It is related to keter, "crown" (something that encircles the head).

Against the English

"Hem in" (BSB) and "compass about" (KJV) keep the image of encirclement. NLT's "far outnumber" turns the image into a statement about numbers, which is one possible implication, but it is not what the word says.

Used elsewhere in the period

Judges 20:43: Israel "surrounded" Benjamin in battle. Psalm 22:12 (Heb. 22:13): "strong bulls of Bashan surround me." Psalm 142:7 (Heb. 142:8): "the righteous will surround me," here in a good sense, a supporting circle. Proverbs 14:18: the prudent are "crowned" (encircled) with knowledge.

Where it appears

Judges · 1

  1. Judges 20:43 כִּתְּר֤וּ they surrounded

    They surrounded the Benjamites, pursued them, and easily overtook them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east.

Job · 1

  1. Job 36:2 כַּתַּר־ wait

    “Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.

Psalms · 2

  1. Psalm 22:12 כִּתְּרֽוּנִי׃ they have encircled me

    Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

    Here: "They have ringed me in." It is a rarer verb from the same root as keter, "crown" (a ring around the head). It closes the verse with a second word for encircling, so the speaker is enclosed at both ends of the sentence.

  2. Psalm 142:7 יַכְתִּ֣רוּ they will surround

    Free my soul from prison, that I may praise Your name. The righteous will gather around me because of Your goodness to me.

    Here: 'They will form a circle around'. Related to keter, 'crown', the ring that goes around the head. Elsewhere the verb is used of enemies closing in (Ps 22:12; Hab 1:4). Here the circle is a friendly one, people gathering around someone restored.

Proverbs · 1

  1. Proverbs 14:18 יַכְתִּ֥רוּ they surround

    The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Habakkuk · 1

  1. Habakkuk 1:4 מַכְתִּ֣יר [is] surrounding

    Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

    Here: A participle for ongoing action, "is encircling." The picture is of hemming someone in or ringing them round, like a siege or a crowd closing in, so the righteous person has no room and no way out.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.