Dictionary Article

Members of a tribal group that lived in southern Judah near Hebron (1 Sm 30:14), mentioned along with the Pelethites (2 Sm 8:18). The Kerethites were associated with the Philistines, according to Ezekiel 25:15-17 (cf. Zep 2:5). They were judged with “the rest of the seacoast” for the Philistines’ offense against Israel. Since the Philistines most likely originated in the islands of the Mediterranean, including Crete, the word Kerethite probably means Cretan. “Pelethite” is probably an alternate spelling of Philistine.

Show passage in OET: SA1 30:14

OET-RV SA1 30:14

14 We’d raided the southern area of the Kereti as well as part of Yehudah (Judah) and the south of Kalev (Caleb). And we burnt down Tsiklag.”

OET-LV SA1 30:14

14 We we _had _made _a _raid the_Negeⱱ _of the _Kerethite[s] and_on that_which belongs_to_Yəhūdāh/(Judah) and_on the_Negeⱱ _of Kālēⱱ/(Caleb) and_DOM Tsiqlag/(Ziklag) we _had _burnt with_fire.

Show passage in OET: SA2 8:18

OET-RV SA2 8:18

18 Yehoyada’s son Benayah supervised the Keretim and the Peletim (David’s bodyguard), and David’s sons were his administrators.

OET-LV SA2 8:18

18 And_Bənā^yāh the _son _of Yəhōyādāˊ/(Jehoiada) and_the_Kerethite[s] and_the_Pelethite[s] and_the _sons of _Dāvid were_priests they _were.

Show passage in OET: EZE 25:15–17

OET-RV EZE 25:15

15 The master Yahweh says this, ‘The Pelishtim have chosen hateful vengeance and have put much effort into trying to destroy Yehudah (Judah).

OET-RV EZE 25:16

16 So this is what the master Yahweh says: Listen, I’ll take action against the Pelishtim, and I’ll cut off the Kereti and destroy the remnant along the coast.

OET-RV EZE 25:17

17 I’ll take severe vengeance against them with furious acts to punish them—they’ll know that I am Yahweh, when I take my vengeance on them.’ ”

OET-LV EZE 25:15

15 Thus my_master YHWH he _says because the_Pəlishtiy acted in_vengeance and_they _avenged _themselves vengeance with_scorn in_the_self to_destruction enmity _of antiquity.

OET-LV EZE 25:16

16 For_so/thus/hence thus my_master YHWH he _says HERE_I am_about _to _stretch _out hand _of_my on the_Pəlishtiy and_I _will _cut _off DOM the_Kərētī and_I _will _destroy DOM the _remnant _of the _coast _of the_sea.

OET-LV EZE 25:17

17 And_I _will _do on_them vengeance(s) great with_rebukes _of rage and_they _will _know if/because _that I am_YHWH when_I_have _put DOM vengeance _of_my on_them.

Show passage in OET: ZEP 2:5

OET-RV ZEP 2:5

5 The inhabitants of the coastal region are to be pitied,
⇔ the nation of the Kereti.
⇔ ≈ Yahweh’s decision is against you all,
⇔ Kena’an (Canaan), land of the Pelishtim.
⇔ I’ll destroy you until no one remains.

OET-LV ZEP 2:5

5 Woe _to the _inhabitants _of the _region _of the_sea the _nation _of the_Kərētī the _message _of YHWH is_on_you(pl) Oh _Kənaˊan/(Canaan) the _land _of the_Pəlishtiy and_I_will _destroy _you from_not an _inhabitant.

Jump to OET SA1 30:14 section.

Jump to OET SA2 8:18 section.

Jump to OET EZE 25:15–17 section.

Jump to OET ZEP 2:5 section.

Because of the Kerethites’ Philistine connections, what is known about the Philistines may shed light on them. Archaeological evidence from Cretan murals and Egyptian tomb paintings and temple reliefs shows Philistines wearing plumed headdresses. Similarities between Philistine, Cretan, and Greek pottery designs also suggest a strong link among these Mediterranean peoples.

Kerethites and Pelethites were hired by David as mercenaries, forming an elite corps of foreign soldiers faithful to him through all his troubles (2 Sm 15:18; 20:7, 23 OET SA2 20:7 · OET SA2 20:23; 1 Kgs 1:38). Later kings may have continued to use them as soldiers, as suggested by the mention of “Carites” (Kerethites?) in 2 Kings 11:4, 19 OET KI2 11:4 · OET KI2 11:19.

Show passage in OET: SA2 15:18

OET-RV SA2 15:18

18 Then all his servants passed beside him to go ahead, along with his bodyguards (the Kereti and the Peletim) and six hundred Gitim (from Gat).

OET-LV SA2 15:18

18 And_all servants _of_his were_passing _by at his/its_hand and_all the_Kerethite[s] and_all the_Pelethite[s] and_all Gittiys six hundred(s) man who they _had _come at_foot _of_his from_Gat were_passing _by on the _face _of the _king.

Show passage in OET: SA2 20:7; SA2 20:23

OET-RV SA2 20:7

7 So Yoav’s (Joab) men and the king’s bodyguards and all the best warriors left Yerushalem to hunt Sheva down.

OET-RV SA2 20:23

23 Now Yoav (Joab) was over the entire Israeli army, and Benayah (Yehoyada’s son) was over the kings bodyguards.

OET-LV SA2 20:7

7 And_they _went _out after_him the _men _of Yōʼāⱱ/(Joab) and_the_Kerethite[s] and_the_Pelethite[s] and_all the_powerful/mighty(pl) and_they _went _out from_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) to_pursue after Sheⱱaˊ the _son _of Bicri.

OET-LV SA2 20:23

23 And_Yōʼāⱱ was_to all _of the_army of _Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_Bənā^yāh the _son _of Yəhōyādāˊ/(Jehoiada) was_over the and_over the_Pelethite[s].

Show passage in OET: KI1 1:38

OET-RV KI1 1:38

38 So Tsadok the priest and Natan the prophet and Yehoyada’s son Benayah and the kings bodyguards went and put Shelomoh on the king’s mule, and took him to Gihon.

OET-LV KI1 1:38

38 And_ Tsādōq/(Zadok) the_priest/officer and_Nātān the_prophet and_Bənā^yāh the _son _of Yəhōyādāˊ/(Jehoiada) and_the_Kerethite[s] and_the_Pelethite[s] _he/it _descended and_they _caused _to _ride DOM Shəlomoh on the _mule _of the_king Dāvid and_they _brought DOM_him/it to Giyḩōn.

Show passage in OET: KI2 11:4; KI2 11:19

OET-RV KI2 11:4

4 In the seventh year, Yehoyada the priest sent for the officers over the royal bodyguards and the palace bodyguards to come to him inside Yahweh’s temple. He made them agree to take an oath of secrecy and loyalty in the temple, then he let them see the king’s son.

OET-RV KI2 11:19

19 Then he organised the officers over the royal guard and the palace guards to bring the king down from the temple of Yahweh, and along with all the people, they entered the palace via the gate usually used by the king’s bodyguards, and he sat on the throne.

OET-LV KI2 11:4

4 And_in_year (the)_seventh Yəhōyādāˊ/(Jehoiada) he _sent and_he/it _took DOM the _commanders _of the of_Carian[s] and_of_runners and_he/it _brought DOM_them to_him/it the _house _of YHWH and_he _made to/for_them a _covenant and_he _made _to _swear _an _oath DOM_them in_house _of YHWH and_he/it _saw DOM_them DOM the _son _of the _king.

OET-LV KI2 11:19

19 And_he/it _took DOM the _commanders _of the _hundreds and_DOM the_Carian[s] and_DOM the_runners and_DOM all _of the _people _of the_earth/land and_they _brought _down DOM the_king from_the _house _of YHWH and_they _came the _way _of the _gate _of of_the _runners the _house _of the_king and_he/it _sat _down//remained//lived on the _throne _of the _kings.

Jump to OET SA2 15:18 section.

Jump to OET SA2 20:7 section. · OET SA2 20:23 section.

Jump to OET KI1 1:38 section.

Jump to OET KI2 11:4 section. · OET KI2 11:19 section.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary