כַּרְכֹּב

# Kar.kov (כַּרְכֹּב): A Rare Architectural Term The Hebrew word kar.kov appears only twice in the biblical text, identifying it as an uncommon architectural or structural feature. Its short definition—"ledge"—suggests a projecting horizontal surface, likely built into or attached to a larger structure. The rarity of this term in the biblical corpus indicates it describes a specific rather than general architectural element. Because kar.kov occurs merely twice, the evidence for its precise function and significance is limited. The word appears to denote a structural component rather than an object or concept of broader theological importance. Its classification as a ledge suggests practical applications in temple, palace, or domestic building design, where such features would serve functional purposes like supporting other structural elements or creating surfaces for placement of objects. The scarcity of this term in biblical literature makes it difficult to establish a wider semantic range or cultural significance beyond its basic architectural meaning. Its survival in the text at all indicates the biblical authors found it necessary to describe this particular structural feature in their accounts, though the specific contexts of its two appearances would be essential to understanding its exact role in the structures being described.