Hebrew word · H7145

קׇרְחִי

hakarechi

Korahite

A family or group name built from the personal name Korah (qoraḥ, possibly 'bald'). A form like 'the Korahite(s)' therefore tells us which family or place someone belongs to; it does not by itself say which Korah is meant.

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

Someone descended from Korah who was a man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.6.21;

son of: Izhar (H3324);

brother of: Nepheg (H5298), Zichri (H2147) and Shelomith (H8019A);

father of: Assir (H0617), Elkanah (H0511) and Ebiasaph (H0043)

Group of qo.rach (קֹ֫רַח "Korah" H7141I)

§ Korahite = "one of Korah"

descendants of Korah the son of Levi

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 1 Chronicles 12:6

Range of meaning

A family or group name built from the personal name Korah (qoraḥ, possibly 'bald'). The Bible has several men named Korah: (1) Korah son of Izhar, a Levite, the rebel of Numbers 16, whose line survived (Numbers 26:11) and became gatekeepers and singers (1 Chronicles 9:19; 26:1; the 'sons of Korah' in the headings of Psalms 42–49, 84–85, 87–88); (2) Korah son of Esau, an Edomite chief (Genesis 36:5, 14, 16); (3) Korah son of Hebron, in the Calebite branch of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:43). A form like 'the Korahite(s)' therefore tells us which family or place someone belongs to; it does not by itself say which Korah is meant.

Against the English

All the major English versions say 'Korahites' (KJV/YLT spell it 'Korhites'). That is accurate. The only risk is that readers who know the Psalms or Numbers 16 will assume straight away that these are the Levite Korahites, when the text does not say so.

Used elsewhere in the period

Elsewhere in Chronicles, 'Korahite(s)' consistently refers to Levites (1 Chronicles 9:19, 31; 26:1, 19; 2 Chronicles 20:19). In Exodus 6:24 and Numbers 26:58 the Korahite clan is listed among the Levite families. In the same Chronicles genealogies, though, a Judahite Korah appears (1 Chronicles 2:43), which shows the name was not limited to Levites.

From the study of Numbers 26:58

Range of meaning

Gentilic (clan-name) form: 'a Korahite', 'one belonging to Korah's line'. Korah was son of Izhar, son of Kohath (Exod 6:21).

Against the English

BSB, WEB, ESV 'Korahite(s)'; KJV and YLT 'Korathite(s)', simply an older spelling of the same name.

Used elsewhere in the period

Korah leads a revolt against Moses and Aaron in Numbers 16 and dies. Numbers 26:11 adds that 'the sons of Korah did not die'. Later the Korahites appear as gatekeepers and bakers at the sanctuary (1 Chr 9:19, 31; 26:1) and as temple singers; Psalms 42, 44–49, 84–85, 87–88 carry the heading 'of the sons of Korah'.

Similar words

Where it appears

Exodus · 1

  1. Exodus 6:24 הַקָּרְחִֽי׃ the Korahite[s]

    The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These were the clans of the Korahites.

Numbers · 1

  1. Numbers 26:58 הַקָּרְחִ֑י the Korahite[s]

    These were the families of the Levites: The Libnite clan, the Hebronite clan, the Mahlite clan, the Mushite clan, and the Korahite clan. Now Kohath was the father of Amram,

    Here: The clan descended from Korah, Kohath's grandson through Izhar (Exod 6:21). Its presence matters: Korah had led a rebellion and died (Num 16), but 26:11 has just said 'the sons of Korah did not die', and here his line stands as a recognised clan.

1 Chronicles · 5

  1. 1 Chronicles 9:19 הַקָּרְחִ֗ים the Korahites

    Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his relatives from the Korahites were assigned to guard the thresholds of the Tent, just as their fathers had been assigned to guard the entrance to the dwelling of the LORD.

  2. 1 Chronicles 9:31 הַקָּרְחִ֑י the Korahite

    A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with baking the bread.

  3. 1 Chronicles 12:6 הַקָּרְחִֽים׃ the Korahites

    Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites;

    Here: "The Korahites": a group name meaning descendants or members of a family or place called Korah. It labels the five names just listed (or perhaps only some of them). Whether this Korah is the Levite clan of the temple singers or a different Korah is debated (see debates).

  4. 1 Chronicles 26:1 לַקָּרְחִ֕ים of the Korahites

    These were the divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.

  5. 1 Chronicles 26:19 הַקָּרְחִ֖י the Korahite[s]

    These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.

2 Chronicles · 1

  1. 2 Chronicles 20:19 הַקָּרְחִ֑ים the Korahites

    And the Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, shouting in a very loud voice.

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