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.
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
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קרא (q-r-ʾ) — call, summon, invite, read aloud
| 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 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7122-01 |
לִ/קְרַ֨את | liqerat | HR/Vqc |
to meet | to encounter | 12 |
H7122-05 |
לִ/קְרָאת֑/וֹ | liqerato | HR/Vqc/Sp3ms |
to meet him | to encounter him | 4 |
H7122-06 |
נִקְרָ֣א | niqera | HVNp3ms |
has met | we will encounter | 2 |
H7122-04 |
לִ/קְרָאתִֽ/י | liqerati | HR/Vqc/Sp1cs |
me | to encounter me | 2 |
H7122-15 |
וַ/תִּקְרֶ֥אנָה | vatiqerenah | HC/Vqw3fp |
and they have befallen | and they encountered | 1 |
H7122-16 |
וַ/יִּקָּרֵא֙ | vayiqare | HC/VNw3ms |
and met | and he was encountered | 1 |
H7122-13 |
וּ/קְרָאָ֤/הוּ | uqeraahu | HC/Vqp3ms/Sp3ms |
and befall him | and he encountered him | 1 |
H7122-17 |
וְ/לִ/קְרַ֖את | veliqerat | HC/R/Vqc |
and-to-meet | and to encounter | 1 |
H7122-10 |
קְרָאֻ֣/נִי | qerauni | HVqp3cp/Sp1cs |
have come upon me | they encountered me | 1 |
H7122-14 |
וַ/תַּקְרֵ֣א | vataqere | HC/Vhw2ms |
and you brought | and you brought about encounter | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
37 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7122-21 |
Genesis 42:4 | יִקְרָאֶ֖/נּוּ | yiqeraenu | HVqi3ms/Sp3ms |
it happen to him | he will encounter him |
H7122-13 |
Genesis 42:38 | וּ/קְרָאָ֤/הוּ | uqeraahu | HC/Vqp3ms/Sp3ms |
and befall him | and he encountered him |
H7122-20 |
Genesis 49:1 | יִקְרָ֥א | yiqera | HVqi3ms |
shall befall | he encounters |
H7122-12 |
Exodus 1:10 | תִקְרֶ֤אנָה | tiqerenah | HVqi3fp |
befalls | they will encounter |
H7122-06 |
Exodus 5:3 | נִקְרָ֣א | niqera | HVNp3ms |
has met | we will encounter |
H7122-15 |
Leviticus 10:19 | וַ/תִּקְרֶ֥אנָה | vatiqerenah | HC/Vqw3fp |
and they have befallen | and they encountered |
H7122-19 |
Deuteronomy 22:6 | יִקָּרֵ֣א | yiqare | HVNi3ms |
you come across | he will be called |
H7122-18 |
Deuteronomy 31:29 | וְ/קָרָ֨את | veqarat | HC/Vqq3fs |
and will befall | and you encountered |
H7122-01 |
1 Samuel 4:1 | לִ/קְרַ֨את | liqerat | HR/Vqc |
to meet | to encounter |
H7122-01 |
1 Samuel 4:2 | לִ/קְרַ֣את | liqerat | HR/Vqc |
to meet | to encounter |