קְרָב
𐤒𐤓𐤁
qᵉrâb
H7128 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A hostile encounter between opposing groups; a physical conflict between organized parties, typically referring to armed combat. The term is used in narrative and poetic biblical texts to denote situations of military engagement or battle, emphasizing the confrontation rather than the broader aspects of warfare such as campaigning or strategies. In some contexts, it may refer to specific significant battles or to the general concept of combat without reference to a particular event.
Semantic Range
battle, hostile encounter, combat, engagement
Root / Etymology
From the root ק־ר־ב (קרב), which carries the core sense of 'to come near, approach.' The noun קְרָב is formed as an abstract or collective, referring to the act of close encounter in conflict, i.e., battle. The etymological focus on nearness relates to adversaries drawing near for direct confrontation in conflict.
Historical & Contextual Notes
קְרָב (qᵉrâb) appears primarily in texts describing military events, especially in poetic or heightened narrative styles (e.g., Psalms, historical accounts). Compared with other Hebrew terms—such as מִלְחָמָה (milḥamah, 'warfare, battle')—קְרָב highlights the confrontational aspect rather than the institution or prolonged state of war. Over time, קְרָב retained its association with active combat rather than broader conflicts, whereas מִלְחָמָה can denote anything from a campaign to an ongoing state of hostilities. Standard English translations often render it as 'battle' or 'combat,' but the term may lose the specific sense of proximate hostility or encounter. Importantly, קְרָב does not carry the notion of extended military enterprise or ideology but targets the act of engagement itself. Its relative rarity and poetic usage set it apart from more common prose terms for warfare. In later Hebrew and other Semitic languages, derivatives retain a focus on proximity or close engagement, not solely in military contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קָרַב; hostile encounter; battle, war.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קרב (q-r-b) — to come near, approach, engage
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7126 | קָרַב | I would bring him near |
| H7127 | קְרֵב | they brought him near |
| H7129 | קְרָב | Draw near |
| H7130 | קֶרֶב | in the inner midst of |
| H7131 | קָרֵב | the near one |
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7128-04 |
קְרָֽב | qerav | HNcmsa |
battle | Draw near | 4 |
H7128-02 |
לַ/קְרָ֑ב | laqerav | HRd/Ncmsa |
for battle | to battle | 1 |
H7128-05 |
קְרָב֥וֹת | qeravot | HNcmpa |
battle arrays | close combats | 1 |
H7128-01 |
בַּ/קְרָֽב | baqerav | HRd/Ncmsa |
in the battle | in combat | 1 |
H7128-03 |
מִ/קֲּרָב | miqarav | HR/Ncmsa |
from battle | from close combat | 1 |
H7128-06 |
וּֽ/קֲרָב | uqarav | HC/Ncmsa |
and to near | combat encounter | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
9 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7128-01 |
2 Samuel 17:11 | בַּ/קְרָֽב | baqerav | HRd/Ncmsa |
in the battle | in combat |
H7128-04 |
Zechariah 14:3 | קְרָֽב | qerav | HNcmsa |
of-battle | Draw near |
H7128-03 |
Psalms 55:19 | מִ/קֲּרָב | miqarav | HR/Ncmsa |
from battle | from close combat |
H7128-06 |
Psalms 55:22 | וּֽ/קֲרָב | uqarav | HC/Ncmsa |
and to near | combat encounter |
H7128-05 |
Psalms 68:31 | קְרָב֥וֹת | qeravot | HNcmpa |
battle arrays | close combats |
H7128-04 |
Psalms 78:9 | קְרָֽב | qerav | HNcmsa |
battle | Draw near |
H7128-02 |
Psalms 144:1 | לַ/קְרָ֑ב | laqerav | HRd/Ncmsa |
for battle | to battle |
H7128-04 |
Job 38:23 | קְ֝רָ֗ב | qerav | HNcmsa |
of battle | Draw near |
H7128-04 |
Ecclesiastes 9:18 | קְרָ֑ב | qerav | HNcmsa |
of war | Draw near |