קֶרֶב
𐤒𐤓𐤁
qereb
H7130 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The innermost part or interior, both in a physical and metaphorical sense. qereb refers to what is inside or at the center of something, such as an object, an animal (often meaning entrails or inward parts), a group or community (the midst), or a person (inner being, thought, or heart).
Semantic Range
midst, center, interior, inward parts (entrails, bowels), inner being, heart, thoughts, within a group, among, within (prepositional), in the midst, inside
Root / Etymology
From the root ק-ר-ב (קרב), which conveys the idea of approaching, drawing near, or being close. qereb is a derived noun form, signifying 'interior,' 'midst,' or 'center'—that which is nearest or most inward.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, qereb is used for the 'midst' of physical spaces (a city's center or someone's surroundings), internal organs (as in animal sacrifice), and as a metaphor for one's inner being, mind, or will. It is common in prepositional phrases to indicate location ('in the midst of,' 'within'), and is often used to reflect emotional or cognitive states ('in one's heart,' 'within oneself'). In the sacrificial context, qereb refers to entrails or inward parts, highlighting its literal meaning. Later biblical usage retains these senses but develops more figurative/metaphorical nuances, especially for interiority of thought and community (e.g., 'in the midst of the people'). English translations frequently render qereb as 'midst,' 'within,' 'inward part,' or 'heart,' but no single English word captures its entire semantic field.
Translation Consistency
'Midst' is the most natural, widely attested English rendering for qereb across physical and metaphorical senses (interior, in the midst of, among, inner parts). It fits both spatial and communal uses better than a verb or a prepositional form like 'within,' and matches the dominant usage in the source data (117/227), ensuring consistent, natural-sounding translation choices.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קָרַב; properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition); [idiom] among, [idiom] before, bowels, [idiom] unto charge, [phrase] eat (up), [idiom] heart, [idiom] him, [idiom] in, inward ([idiom] -ly, part, -s, thought), midst, [phrase] out of, purtenance, [idiom] therein, [idiom] through, [idiom] within self.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קרב (q-r-b) — approach, draw near, be close
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7126 | קָרַב | I would bring him near |
| H7127 | קְרֵב | they brought him near |
| H7128 | קְרָב | in combat |
| H7129 | קְרָב | Draw near |
| H7131 | קָרֵב | the near one |
Word Forms
33 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7130-01 |
בְּ/קֶ֣רֶב | beqerev | HR/Ncmsc |
in the midst of | in the inner midst of | in the inner midst of | 49 |
H7130-10 |
בְּ/קִרְבּֽ/וֹ | beqirebo | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
in its midst | within him | in his midst | 22 |
H7130-12 |
מִ/קֶּ֥רֶב | miqerev | HR/Ncmsc |
from the midst of | from the interior of | from the midst of | 20 |
H7130-05 |
בְּ/קִרְבְּ/ךָ֗ | beqirebekha | HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
in your midst | in your inner part | in your midst | 16 |
H7130-15 |
מִ/קִּרְבֶּֽ/ךָ | miqirebekha | HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
from your midst | from your inner midst | from your midst | 15 |
H7130-11 |
הַ/קֶּרֶב֒ | haqerev | HTd/Ncmsa |
the entrails | Bring near! | the entrails | 15 |
H7130-02 |
בְּ/קִרְבָּ֣/הּ | beqirebah | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3fs |
in her midst | in her interior | in her midst | 12 |
H7130-07 |
בְּ/קִרְבְּ/כֶ֔ם | beqirebekhem | HR/Ncmsc/Sp2mp |
among you | in your midst | in your midst | 12 |
H7130-09 |
בְּ/קִרְבִּ֔/י | beqirebi | HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs |
within me | in my inner being | in my midst | 9 |
H7130-06 |
בְּ/קִרְבֵּ֖/ךְ | beqirebekhe | HR/Ncmsc/Sp2fs |
in your midst | within you (feminine) | in your midst | 6 |
Occurrences in Scripture
227 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7130-02 |
Genesis 18:12 | בְּ/קִרְבָּ֣/הּ | beqirebah | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3fs |
to herself | in her interior | within herself |
H7130-02 |
Genesis 18:24 | בְּ/קִרְבָּֽ/הּ | beqirebah | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3fs |
in it | in her interior | in her midst |
H7130-10 |
Genesis 24:3 | בְּ/קִרְבּֽ/וֹ | beqirebo | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
in their midst | within him | in his midst |
H7130-02 |
Genesis 25:22 | בְּ/קִרְבָּ֔/הּ | beqirebah | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3fs |
within her | in her interior | in her midst |
H7130-21 |
Genesis 41:21 | קִרְבֶּ֗/נָה | qirebenah | HNcmsc/Sp3fp |
their midst | their interior | their interior |
H7130-21 |
Genesis 41:21 | קִרְבֶּ֔/נָה | qirebenah-2 | HNcmsc/Sp3fp |
their midst | their interior | their interior |
H7130-01 |
Genesis 45:6 | בְּ/קֶ֣רֶב | beqerev | HR/Ncmsc |
in the midst of | in the inner midst of | in the inner midst of |
H7130-01 |
Genesis 48:16 | בְּ/קֶ֥רֶב | beqerev | HR/Ncmsc |
in the midst | in the inner midst of | in the inner midst of |
H7130-10 |
Exodus 3:20 | בְּ/קִרְבּ֑/וֹ | beqirebo | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
in its midst | within him | in its midst |
H7130-01 |
Exodus 8:18 | בְּ/קֶ֥רֶב | beqerev | HR/Ncmsc |
in the midst of | in the inner midst of | in the inner midst of |