Lexical Definition

‎כְּרֵתִי‎ Kᵉrêthîy (ker-ay-thee') Cherethite ^N:N--TG
probably from ‎כָּרַת‎ in the sense of executioner; (compare ‎טַבָּח‎) (only collectively in the singular as plural)

Cherethims, Cherethites.

• § Cherethites = "executioners"
• a Kerethite or life-guardsman

1) a group of foreign mercenary soldiers serving as a bodyguard for king David; also executioners
2) either Cretans or proto-Philistines (in general)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎כְרֵתִי‎ adjective, of a people, always with article, or plural, as substantive, Kerethites, a name for Philistines or a part of them (perhaps = Cretans, compare ᵐ5 Zeph 2:5; Ezek 25:15 on Crete as original home of Philistines, see ‎כַּפְתֹּר‎, ‎פְּלִשְׁתִּי‎); — ‎הַכְּרֵתִי‎ = substantive collective; — ‎׳‎‎נֶגֶב הַכּ‎ 1Sam 30:14 (compare Dr; ᵐ5 B Ξολθει, ᵐ5^L Ξορρι A Ξερηθει); of soldiers of David's guard, ‎וְהַפְּלֵתִי‎ ‎׳‎‎הַכּ‎ 2Sam 8:18 (read ‎׳‎‎עַלהַֿכּ‎ Th We Dr and others) = 1Chr 18:17; 2Sam 15:18; 2Sam 20:7 + v2Sam 20:23 Qr ( > Kt ‎הכרי‎), 1Kgs 1:38; 1Kgs 1:44 (ᵐ5 Ξελεθθει, Ξερεθθει, etc.); plural ‎כְּרֵתִים‎ Ezek 25:16 (|| ‎פְּלִשְׁתִּים‎; ᵐ5. Κρῆτας); ‎גּוֺי כְּרֵתִים‎ Zeph 2:5 (ᵐ5 Κρητῶν; || ‎ארץ‎ ‎פלשׁתים‎): in vZeph 2:6 We reads ‎כֶּרֶת‎ = Philistia (see [‎כָרָה‎], below I. ‎כרה‎). ‎כֶּשֶׂב‎, ‎כִּשְׂבָּה‎ see ‎כֶבֶשׂ‎ etc.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References