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קָרָא

𐤒𐤓𐤀

qârâʼ

H7122 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To encounter, meet, or come across, generally in the course of events or by apparent chance, sometimes with reference to hostile, fortuitous, or unexpected meetings. The term covers both planned and unplanned encounters, including those with people (friend or foe) or situations and events that befall someone. It can also refer more abstractly to things happening to someone, as in circumstances or occurrences.

Semantic Range

to meet (someone, whether planned or by chance), to encounter (hostile or friendly), to happen to, to befall, to occur, to come across (an event or person), to experience (by chance or fate)

Root / Etymology

Root is ק-ר-א (קרא) with the basic sense of 'to encounter, meet,' likely from the concept of coming into contact with something or someone. Distinct from other roots spelled identically (e.g., קרא meaning 'to call'). The word is a primary verb from this root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

קָרָא (qârâʼ) in the sense of 'to meet' often occurs in narrative texts, particularly where encounters are unexpected, fortuitous, or apparently by chance (e.g., Genesis 24:17; Exodus 5:3). The verb can also describe hostile encounters in the context of battle or confrontation (e.g., Deuteronomy 25:18). In some passages, it extends to impersonal situations that 'befall' or 'happen to' a person (e.g., Ecclesiastes 2:14-15). Over time, the nuance of 'chance' or 'occurrence' became more pronounced, reflected in post-exilic and later Hebrew (see the derivative noun מִקְרֶה miqreh, 'event; fate'). It is distinct from terms for intentional assembly (e.g., פגש for 'to meet, encounter' intentionally, or קבץ for 'to gather'). Standard English translations capture most of the primary senses but may underrepresent the possible nuances of chance or hostility inherent in some contexts. Care must be taken not to conflate this root with קרא 'to call, proclaim,' despite identical spelling.

Translation Consistency

primary "meet" 21 occurrences

Most occurrences (17/37) are naturally rendered by “meet,” which covers planned and chance encounters with people and situations and can extend idiomatically to things that befall someone. “Meet” is simple, natural English and will allow consistent, flexible inflection across the full semantic range of qârâʻ.

Alternatives (16 occurrences):
"befall" (4x) "encountered" (4x) "encounter" (1x) "met" (1x) "befell" (1x) "come across" (1x) "befallings" (1x) "come upon" (1x) "brought about encounter" (1x) "come" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to encounter, whether accidentally or in a hostile manner; befall, (by) chance, (cause to) come (upon), fall out, happen, meet.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קרא (q-r-ʾ) — call, summon, invite, read aloud

Root קרא to meet, to encounter, to happen, to befall
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4744 מִקְרָא in the summoned assembly
H6981 קוֹרֵא the one who calls
H7121 קָרָא in my calling
H7123 קְרָא I will call out
H7124 קֹרֵא the calling-one

Word Forms

21 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7122-01 לִ/קְרַ֨את liqerat HR/Vqc to meet to encounter to meet 12
H7122-05 לִ/קְרָאת֑/וֹ liqerato HR/Vqc/Sp3ms to meet him to encounter him to meet him 4
H7122-06 נִקְרָ֣א niqera HVNp3ms has met we will encounter has met 2
H7122-04 לִ/קְרָאתִֽ/י liqerati HR/Vqc/Sp1cs me to encounter me to meet me 2
H7122-15 וַ/תִּקְרֶ֥אנָה vatiqerenah HC/Vqw3fp and they have befallen and they encountered and they befell 1
H7122-16 וַ/יִּקָּרֵא֙ vayiqare HC/VNw3ms and met and he was encountered and he was encountered 1
H7122-13 וּ/קְרָאָ֤/הוּ uqeraahu HC/Vqp3ms/Sp3ms and befall him and he encountered him and befall him 1
H7122-17 וְ/לִ/קְרַ֖את veliqerat HC/R/Vqc and-to-meet and to encounter and to meet 1
H7122-10 קְרָאֻ֣/נִי qerauni HVqp3cp/Sp1cs have come upon me they encountered me they have come upon me 1
H7122-14 וַ/תַּקְרֵ֣א vataqere HC/Vhw2ms and you brought and you brought about encounter and you brought about encounter 1

Occurrences in Scripture

37 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7122-21 Genesis 42:4 יִקְרָאֶ֖/נּוּ yiqeraenu HVqi3ms/Sp3ms it happen to him he will encounter him should befall him
H7122-13 Genesis 42:38 וּ/קְרָאָ֤/הוּ uqeraahu HC/Vqp3ms/Sp3ms and befall him and he encountered him and befall him
H7122-20 Genesis 49:1 יִקְרָ֥א yiqera HVqi3ms shall befall he encounters will befall
H7122-12 Exodus 1:10 תִקְרֶ֤אנָה tiqerenah HVqi3fp befalls they will encounter they encounter
H7122-06 Exodus 5:3 נִקְרָ֣א niqera HVNp3ms has met we will encounter has met
H7122-15 Leviticus 10:19 וַ/תִּקְרֶ֥אנָה vatiqerenah HC/Vqw3fp and they have befallen and they encountered and they befell
H7122-19 Deuteronomy 22:6 יִקָּרֵ֣א yiqare HVNi3ms you come across he will be called you come across
H7122-18 Deuteronomy 31:29 וְ/קָרָ֨את veqarat HC/Vqq3fs and will befall and you encountered and will befall
H7122-01 1 Samuel 4:1 לִ/קְרַ֨את liqerat HR/Vqc to meet to encounter to meet
H7122-01 1 Samuel 4:2 לִ/קְרַ֣את liqerat HR/Vqc to meet to encounter to meet
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