What does קָרָא mean in the Bible?
קָרָא is a Hebrew word meaning "to encounter , whether accidentally or in a hostile manner".
Hebrew · H7122
קָרָא
To encounter , whether accidentally or in a hostile manner
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
קָרָאH7122
What does קָרָא mean in the Bible?
קָרָא is a Hebrew word meaning "to encounter , whether accidentally or in a hostile manner".
Full entry for קָרָא (H7122) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7122?
The BSB source-word alignment has 138 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include to meet (22), to meet him (12), against (11), . . . (7), to meet them (7).
Where does קָרָא appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 14:17. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Samuel (20), 2 Kings (16), 2 Samuel (16), Genesis (14).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itto meet22×Genesis 46:29, Exodus 19:17, Numbers 21:33, 1 Samuel 4:1
to meet him12×Genesis 14:17, Genesis 29:13, Genesis 30:16, Exodus 7:15
against11×Judges 7:24, Judges 20:31, 1 Samuel 4:2, 1 Samuel 17:2
. . .7×Genesis 33:4, Exodus 18:7, Numbers 24:1, Judges 4:18
to meet them7×Genesis 18:2, Genesis 19:1, Numbers 31:13, Joshua 9:11
to meet you4×Genesis 32:6, Exodus 4:14, 2 Kings 5:26, Proverbs 7:15
against us3×Deuteronomy 2:32, Deuteronomy 29:7, Joshua 8:5
met him3×1 Samuel 10:10, 1 Samuel 16:4, 1 Kings 18:7
to confront3×Numbers 21:23, 1 Samuel 15:12, 1 Samuel 17:55
to engage3×Joshua 8:14, Joshua 11:20, 2 Samuel 18:6
to meet me3×1 Samuel 25:32, 1 Samuel 25:34, 1 Kings 2:8
to meet us3×Genesis 24:65, Deuteronomy 3:1, 2 Kings 1:6
-2×Exodus 14:27, Isaiah 21:14
against them2×Joshua 8:22, Judges 20:25
met2×1 Samuel 21:1, 2 Samuel 18:9
to confront him2×2 Kings 23:29, 2 Chronicles 35:20
to meet her2×Genesis 24:17, 2 Kings 4:26
[and]1×1 Samuel 30:21
against him1×Judges 15:14
against you1×Deuteronomy 1:44
and confront you1×Numbers 20:18
and meet1×Exodus 4:27
and so You have brought1×Jeremiah 32:23
at him1×Judges 14:5
breaks out1×Exodus 1:10
came out to meet him1×Proverbs 7:10
came over me1×Job 4:14
follows1×Jeremiah 51:31
happened1×2 Samuel 20:1
happened to me1×Jeremiah 13:22
has befallen you1×Jeremiah 44:23
has met1×Exodus 5:3
have befallen1×Isaiah 51:19
have happened to me1×Leviticus 10:19
I happened1×2 Samuel 1:6
If any harm comes1×Genesis 42:38
meet1×2 Samuel 19:15
messengers to meet them1×1 Chronicles 19:5
might befall him1×Genesis 42:4
opposite1×Genesis 15:10
or grasping1×Proverbs 27:16
to1×1 Kings 18:16
to attack1×1 Samuel 17:48
to confront [the Israelites]1×Numbers 20:20
to confront me1×Numbers 22:34
to engage [them]1×1 Chronicles 19:17
to greet her1×1 Kings 2:19
to greet him1×Judges 4:22
to greet me1×Judges 11:31
to help me1×Psalms 59:4
to meet [Elisha]1×2 Kings 4:31
to meet [the men]1×2 Samuel 10:5
to meet Elisha1×2 Kings 8:9
to meet Jehu1×2 Kings 9:18
toward her1×1 Samuel 25:20
toward them1×1 Samuel 9:14
vvv1×1 Samuel 13:10
waiting to meet them1×Exodus 5:20
welcomed him1×Judges 19:3
who was coming to meet him1×2 Kings 10:15
will befall1×Deuteronomy 31:29
will happen1×Genesis 49:1
will meet with me1×Numbers 23:3
you come across1×Deuteronomy 22:6
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 14:17לִקְרָאתוֹ֒toto meet himPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularGenesis 15:10לִקְרַ֣אתtooppositePreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructGenesis 18:2לִקְרָאתָם֙toto meet themPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine pluralGenesis 19:1לִקְרָאתָ֔םtoto meet themPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine pluralGenesis 24:17לִקְרָאתָ֑הּtoto meet herPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singularGenesis 24:65לִקְרָאתֵ֔נוּtoto meet usPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common pluralGenesis 29:13לִקְרָאתוֹ֙toto meet himPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularGenesis 30:16לִקְרָאת֗וֹtoto meet himPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularGenesis 32:6לִקְרָֽאתְךָ֔toto meet youPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singularGenesis 33:4לִקְרָאתוֹ֙to. . .Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 14:17
Aligned rows138
Books represented20
Genesis14Exodus9Leviticus1Numbers9Deuteronomy6Joshua5Judges111 Samuel202 Samuel161 Kings72 Kings161 Chronicles42 Chronicles1Job2Psalms2Proverbs3Isaiah4Jeremiah6Amos1Zechariah1
Source forms
לִקְרַ֣את22xliq·raṯGenesis 15:10, Exodus 18:7, Numbers 24:1, Judges 4:18
לִקְרַ֥את11xliq·raṯExodus 4:27, Exodus 19:17, 1 Samuel 15:12, 1 Samuel 17:2
לִקְרַ֖את7xliq·raṯ1 Samuel 18:6, 2 Samuel 10:10, 2 Samuel 19:16, 2 Samuel 19:20
לִקְרָאת֑וֹ6xliq·rā·ṯōwExodus 14:27, Judges 15:14, 1 Samuel 10:10, 2 Samuel 16:1
לִקְרָאת֔וֹ6xliq·rā·ṯōwNumbers 20:20, Judges 4:22, Judges 11:34, 1 Samuel 16:4
לִקְרָאתָ֔ם5xliq·rā·ṯāmGenesis 19:1, Joshua 8:22, 1 Samuel 9:14, 2 Samuel 10:5
לִקְרָאתוֹ֙4xliq·rā·ṯōwGenesis 29:13, Genesis 33:4, 2 Samuel 15:32, 2 Kings 4:31
לִקְרָאת֖וֹ4xliq·rā·ṯōwExodus 7:15, 1 Samuel 13:10, 2 Kings 5:21, 2 Chronicles 35:20
Parsing patterns
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct52xGenesis 15:10, Genesis 46:29, Exodus 4:27, Exodus 18:7
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular29xGenesis 14:17, Genesis 29:13, Genesis 30:16, Genesis 33:4
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural15xGenesis 18:2, Genesis 19:1, Exodus 5:20, Numbers 21:33
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular7xNumbers 22:34, Numbers 23:3, Judges 11:31, 1 Samuel 25:32
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common plural6xGenesis 24:65, Deuteronomy 2:32, Deuteronomy 3:1, Deuteronomy 29:7
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular5xGenesis 32:6, Exodus 4:14, Numbers 20:18, 2 Kings 5:26
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular4xGenesis 24:17, 1 Samuel 25:20, 1 Kings 2:19, 2 Kings 4:26
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine plural2xDeuteronomy 1:44, 2 Kings 1:7
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to encounter , whether accidentally or in a hostile manner
Source Gloss
to encounter , whether accidentally or in a hostile manner
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to encounter, whether accidentally or in a hostile manner BDB: encounter Usage: befall, (by) chance, (cause to) come (upon), fall out, happen, meet.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms7
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action4×
Perfect2Sam 20:1 · Exod 5:32×
Infinitive absolute2Sam 1:61×
ImperfectDeut 22:61×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense3×
ImperfectExod 1:10 · Gen 49:12×
PerfectJer 44:231×
Word Origins
קָרָא is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.