קָרָא
to call
also: call out, recite, read, cry out fuller range ↓
Full lexicon entry — Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
From Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
Where this word appears
See every Qal verb in the Hebrew Bible →
Grammar key — what these labels mean
Part of speech
- Verb
- An action or state-of-being word.
- Preposition
- A relational word (e.g. “in,” “to,” “from”) governing a noun.
Stem
- Qal
- The basic, simple active stem — the plain form of the verb (“he wrote”). Here: ‘call’
- Niphal
- Usually the simple passive or reflexive of the Qal (“he was written”). Here: ‘reflex.’
- Pual
- The passive counterpart of the Piel.
Form
- Sequential Imperfect
- An imperfect with prefixed waw — the standard past-narrative form (waw-consecutive imperfect).
- Perfect
- A completed action or state — Hebrew marks aspect (completeness) more than strict tense (“he wrote”).
- Imperfect
- An incomplete, ongoing, or future action (“he will / would write”).
- Infinitive Construct
- A bound verbal noun, frequently with prepositions (“to write / in writing”).
- Imperative
- A direct command (“write!”).
- Participle Active
- A verbal adjective expressing ongoing or characteristic action (“writing / one who writes”).
- Sequential Perfect
- A perfect with prefixed waw continuing a preceding imperfect or command (waw-consecutive perfect).
- Participle Passive
- A verbal adjective expressing action received (“written”).
- Jussive
- A third- or second-person volitional form expressing wish or command (“let him write”).
State
- Absolute
- The independent form of a noun, not bound to a following word.
- Construct
- A noun bound to a following noun in a possessive / “of” relationship (the construct chain).
Person
- 3rd Person
- The one spoken about (“he / she / it / they”).
- 1st Person
- The speaker (“I / we”).
- 2nd Person
- The one addressed (“you”).
Gender
- Masculine
- Grammatically masculine.
- Feminine
- Grammatically feminine.
- Common
- Either gender — not distinguished for this form.
Number
- Singular
- One.
- Plural
- More than one (in Hebrew, generally three or more).
62 verses where H7121 appears in the Qal stem in the Book of Isaiah. Filtered view — show all forms. Click any verse to open its interlinear word-by-word view. Verse text shown in the World English Bible for context — . Each verse’s Hebrew form is shown with its reference; the English is not keyword-highlighted, since the data carries no word-level English alignment. Use “Compare translations” on any verse to read it across multiple English versions. This concordance covers the Hebrew Bible; Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) occurrences are not indexed here.
Isaiah
- Isaiah 1:13 קְרֹ֣א Qal inf.cs Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me; New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations: I can't bear with evil assemblies.
- Isaiah 6:3 וְ/קָרָ֨א conj + Qal wpf 3ms One called to another, and said, "Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Hosts! The whole earth is full of his glory!"
- Isaiah 6:4 הַ/קּוֹרֵ֑א ptcl def.art + Qal ptcp.act ms The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.
- Isaiah 7:14 וְ/קָרָ֥את conj + Qal wpf 3fs Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
- Isaiah 8:3 קְרָ֣א Qal impv 2ms I went to the prophetess; and she conceived, and bore a son. Then said Yahweh to me, Call his name Maher Shalal Hash Baz.
- Isaiah 8:4 קְרֹ֖א Qal inf.cs For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and, My mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be carried away before the king of Assyria.
- Isaiah 9:6 וַ/יִּקְרָ֨א conj + Qal wimpf 3ms For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- Isaiah 12:4 קִרְא֣וּ Qal impv 2mp In that day you will say, "Give thanks to Yahweh! Call on his name. Declare his doings among the peoples. Proclaim that his name is exalted!
- Isaiah 13:3 קָרָ֤אתִי Qal pf 1cs I have commanded my consecrated ones, yes, I have called my mighty men for my anger, even my proudly exulting ones.
- Isaiah 21:8 וַ/יִּקְרָ֖א conj + Qal wimpf 3ms He cried as a lion: Lord, I stand continually on the watch-tower in the day-time, and am set in my ward whole nights;
- Isaiah 21:11 קֹרֵ֣א Qal ptcp.act ms The burden of Dumah. One calls to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
- Isaiah 22:12 וַ/יִּקְרָ֗א conj + Qal wimpf 3ms In that day did the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts, call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:
- Isaiah 22:20 וְ/קָרָ֣אתִי conj + Qal wpf 1cs It shall happen in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:
- Isaiah 29:11 קְרָ֣א Qal impv 2ms All vision is become to you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is learned, saying, Read this, I pray you; and he says, I can't, for it is sealed:
- Isaiah 29:12 קְרָ֣א Qal impv 2ms and the book is delivered to him who is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray you; and he says, I am not learned.
- Isaiah 30:7 קָרָ֣אתִי Qal pf 1cs For Egypt helps in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I called her Rahab who sits still.
- Isaiah 34:12 יִקְרָ֑אוּ Qal impf 3mp They shall call the nobles of it to the kingdom, but none shall be there; and all its princes shall be nothing.
- Isaiah 34:14 יִקְרָ֑א Qal impf 3ms The wild animals of the desert shall meet with the wolves, and the wild goat shall cry to his fellow; yes, the night-monster shall settle there, and shall find her a place of rest.
- Isaiah 34:16 וּֽ/קְרָ֔אוּ conj + Qal impv 2mp Seek you out of the book of Yahweh, and read: no one of these shall be missing, none shall want her mate; for my mouth, it has commanded, and his Spirit, it has gathered them.
- Isaiah 36:13 וַ/יִּקְרָ֥א conj + Qal wimpf 3ms Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and said, Hear you the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.
- Isaiah 37:14 וַ/יִּקְרָאֵ֑/הוּ conj + Qal wimpf 3ms + sfx pers 3ms Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of Yahweh, and spread it before Yahweh.
- Isaiah 40:2 וְ/קִרְא֣וּ conj + Qal impv 2mp Speak comfortably to Jerusalem; and cry to her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of Yahweh's hand double for all her sins.
- Isaiah 40:3 קוֹרֵ֔א Qal ptcp.act ms The voice of one who cries, Prepare you in the wilderness the way of Yahweh; make level in the desert a highway for our God.
- Isaiah 40:6 קְרָ֔א אֶקְרָ֑א Qal impv 2ms Qal impf 1cs The voice of one saying, Cry. One said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the glory of it is as the flower of the field.
- Isaiah 40:26 יִקְרָ֔א Qal impf 3ms Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these, who brings out their host by number; he calls them all by name; by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power, not one is lacking.
- Isaiah 41:2 יִקְרָאֵ֣/הוּ Qal impf 3ms + sfx pers 3ms Who has raised up one from the east, whom he calls in righteousness to his foot? he gives nations before him, and makes him rule over kings; he gives them as the dust to his sword, as the driven stubble to his bow.
- Isaiah 41:4 קֹרֵ֥א Qal ptcp.act ms Who has worked and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Yahweh, the first, and with the last, I am he.
- Isaiah 41:9 קְרָאתִ֑י/ךָ Qal pf 1cs + sfx pers 2ms you whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth, and called from the corners of it, and said to you, You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you away;
- Isaiah 41:25 יִקְרָ֣א Qal impf 3ms I have raised up one from the north, and he has come; from the rising of the sun one who calls on my name: and he shall come on rulers as on mortar, and as the potter treads clay.
- Isaiah 42:6 קְרָאתִ֥י/ךָֽ Qal pf 1cs + sfx pers 2ms I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and give you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
- Isaiah 43:1 קָרָ֥אתִי Qal pf 1cs But now thus says Yahweh who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel: Don't be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine.
- Isaiah 43:22 קָרָ֖אתָ Qal pf 2ms Yet you have not called on me, Jacob; but you have been weary of me, Israel.
- Isaiah 44:5 יִקְרָ֣א Qal impf 3ms One shall say, I am Yahweh's; and another shall call [himself] by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand to Yahweh, and surname [himself] by the name of Israel.
- Isaiah 44:7 יִקְרָ֗א Qal impf 3ms Who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I established the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and that shall happen, let them declare.
- Isaiah 45:3 הַ/קּוֹרֵ֥א ptcl def.art + Qal ptcp.act ms and I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, Yahweh, who call you by your name, even the God of Israel.
- Isaiah 45:4 וָ/אֶקְרָ֤א conj + Qal wimpf 1cs For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called you by your name: I have surnamed you, though you have not known me.
- Isaiah 46:11 קֹרֵ֤א Qal ptcp.act ms calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yes, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.
- Isaiah 47:1 יִקְרְאוּ Qal impf 3mp Come down, and sit in the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, daughter of the Chaldeans: for you shall no more be called tender and delicate.
- Isaiah 47:5 יִקְרְאוּ Qal impf 3mp Sit you silent, and get you into darkness, daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called The mistress of kingdoms.
- Isaiah 48:13 קֹרֵ֥א Qal ptcp.act ms Yes, my hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand has spread out the heavens: when I call to them, they stand up together.
- Isaiah 48:15 קְרָאתִ֑י/ו Qal pf 1cs + sfx pers 3ms I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called him; I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.
- Isaiah 49:1 קְרָאָ֔/נִי Qal pf 3ms + sfx pers 1cs Listen, isles, to me; and listen, you peoples, from far: Yahweh has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has he made mention of my name:
- Isaiah 50:2 קָרָֽאתִי֮ Qal pf 1cs Why, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it can't redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink, because there is no water, and die for thirst.
- Isaiah 51:2 קְרָאתִ֔י/ו Qal pf 1cs + sfx pers 3ms Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you; for when he was but one I called him, and I blessed him, and made him many.
- Isaiah 54:6 קְרָאָ֣/ךְ Qal pf 3ms + sfx pers 2fs For Yahweh has called you as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even a wife of youth, when she is cast off, says your God.
- Isaiah 55:5 תִּקְרָ֔א Qal impf 2ms Behold, you shall call a nation that you don't know; and a nation that didn't know you shall run to you, because of Yahweh your God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he has glorified you.
- Isaiah 55:6 קְרָאֻ֖/הוּ Qal impv 2mp + sfx pers 3ms Seek you Yahweh while he may be found; call you on him while he is near:
- Isaiah 58:1 קְרָ֤א Qal impv 2ms Cry aloud, don't spare, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and declare to my people their disobedience, and to the house of Jacob their sins.
- Isaiah 58:5 תִּקְרָא Qal impf 2ms Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Yahweh?
- Isaiah 58:9 תִּקְרָא֙ Qal impf 2ms Then shall you call, and Yahweh will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedly;
- Isaiah 58:13 וְ/קָרָ֨אתָ conj + Qal wpf 2ms If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, [and] the holy of Yahweh honorable; and shall honor it, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking [your own] words:
- Isaiah 59:4 קֹרֵ֣א Qal ptcp.act ms None sues in righteousness, and none pleads in truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
- Isaiah 60:14 וְ/קָ֤רְאוּ conj + Qal wpf 3cp The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending to you; and all those who despised you shall bow themselves down at the soles of your feet; and they shall call you The city of Yahweh, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
- Isaiah 60:18 וְ/קָרָ֤את conj + Qal wpf 2fs Violence shall no more be heard in your land, desolation nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.
- Isaiah 61:1 לִ/קְרֹ֤א prep + Qal inf.cs The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening [of the prison] to those who are bound;
- Isaiah 61:2 לִ/קְרֹ֤א prep + Qal inf.cs to proclaim the year of Yahweh's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;
- Isaiah 62:12 וְ/קָרְא֥וּ יִקָּרֵ֣א conj + Qal wpf 3cp Niphal impf 3ms They shall call them The holy people, The redeemed of Yahweh: and you shall be called Sought out, A city not forsaken.
- Isaiah 64:7 קוֹרֵ֣א Qal ptcp.act ms There is none who calls on your name, who stirs up himself to take hold of you; for you have hid your face from us, and have consumed us by means of our iniquities.
- Isaiah 65:12 קָרָ֨אתִי֙ Qal pf 1cs I will destine you to the sword, and you shall all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not hear; but you did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I didn't delight.
- Isaiah 65:15 יִקְרָ֖א Qal impf 3ms You shall leave your name for a curse to my chosen; and the Lord Yahweh will kill you; and he will call his servants by another name:
- Isaiah 65:24 יִקְרָ֖אוּ Qal impf 3mp It shall happen that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
- Isaiah 66:4 קָרָ֨אתִי֙ Qal pf 1cs I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears on them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spoke, they did not hear: but they did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I didn't delight.
About this entry
At a glance — auto-summarized from this page’s data, not written by a person. Every figure links to its source below. This summary describes the numbers; it doesn’t interpret them.
“to call” is the headline sense of the Hebrew verb קרא (qârâʼ). Across 4 stems, its meaning turns on the binyan (Qal, Niphal). It turns up in 689 verses across 37 books, one of the most common footprint. First canonically at Genesis 1:5, it enters the text early. From the same root come קרא, קראה and מקרא. See the sense tree, 689-verse concordance, and the renderings breakdown below.
Gloss history
Strong's 1890 vs modern scholarship
About this word
Strong's H7121 catalogs a Hebrew word from the Hebrew Old Testament.
These counts are not copied from any lexicon or concordance. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged Hebrew Old Testament. What Lemma adds →
- 689
- distinct verses
- The word appears in 689 distinct verses.
- 37 / 39
- OT books
- The word appears in 37 of 39 Old Testament books.
- #69
- by frequency
- Top 100 most frequent Hebrew words (rank 69 of 8,640 Hebrew words by occurrence).
View all 689 occurrences in the concordance →
By section of the Old Testament
By traditional corpus
Conventional, traditional groupings — biblical authorship is debated, so this is a traditional corpus grouping, not an authorship claim. Each share is this word’s portion of its verses in that division of the Hebrew canon. Each figure is a share of the word’s 689 distinct verses.
- Prophets (Nevi'im) 359 verses · 52%
- Torah (Pentateuch) 183 verses · 27%
- Writings (Ketuvim) 147 verses · 21%
How translations render this word
Counts come from each version’s own published word-to-Strong’s tagging or interlinear alignment — an approximate guide to how each version renders this word, not a word-level alignment the data otherwise carries. Because each total is that version’s own tagged count, the per-version totals vary from one another and need not match the appearance or distinct-verse counts above. These counts may also differ from a printed concordance because Lemma counts each distinctly tagged rendering and does not collapse phrase taggings into a single head-word total. This is a fixed set of word-tagged versions (KJV, ASV, BSB, ULT) and does not change with the reading translation you choose elsewhere. Each version’s license is shown beside its name below (and on Sources).
BDB lists this Strong’s number as 2 distinct words (homographs). Each count above pools all of them and is not split by sense — see the Senses section below. A low-frequency rendering may belong to a different one of those words, not the primary meaning.
- King James Version†: Called 156×, Call 52×, He called 40×
- American Standard Version†: Called 146×, Call 46×, He called 35×
- Berean Standard Bible†: Called 53×, Call 35×, Summoned 34×
- unfoldingWord Literal Text†: Called 117×, He called 81×, And 66×
King James Version Public Domain
Renders H7121 across 736† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 144 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 1 further occurrence.
American Standard Version Public Domain
Renders H7121 across 734† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 174 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Berean Standard Bible Public Domain
Renders H7121 across 708† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 195 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 24 further occurrences.
unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
Renders H7121 across 839† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 125 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
45 senses and sub-senses in the full BDB
Hebrew verbs can shift meaning by stem (binyan): Qal is the basic action, Niphal is often passive or reflexive, Piel often intensifies or makes it factitive, and Hiphil is typically causative. The senses below are grouped under the stem BDB assigns to each. This entry also uses Pual (the passive of Piel).
What do BDB’s symbols mean?
BDB uses these scholarly abbreviations:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 𝔊 | the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation, LXX) |
| 𝔙 | the Vulgate (the Latin translation) |
| 𝔖 | the Syriac version (the Peshitta) |
| 𝔗 | the Targum (the Aramaic translation) |
| ψ | the Psalms |
| √ | root (the underlying root or stem) |
| ‖ | parallel passage (a synonymous or contrasted parallel) |
| † | the dagger: every passage where the word occurs is cited |
The 45 senses and sub-senses the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon distinguishes for this word, in lexicon order (not ranked by frequency), with BDB’s own verbatim wording and sub-sense lettering. Shown in Hebrew script with BDB’s own scholarly abbreviations. The condensed entry is in the Lexicon Entry tab. See also the Forms in the corpus table below.
קרא I call, proclaim, read (NH id., read aloud, read
Qal
- Pf. ק׳ Gn 11:9 +, 3 fs. consec. וְקָרָאת Is 7:14 (Ges§ 74 g); 2 ms. קָרָאתָ Ju 12:1 +, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. יִקְרָא Gn 2:19 +; sf. יִקְרְאוֹ Je 23:6, -אֵהוּ Is 41:2 +; 1 s. אֶקְרָא Dt 32:3 +, וָאֶקְרָאֶה 1 S 28:15 (Ges§ 48 d NesMarg. 15); 3 fpl. וַתִּקְרֶאנָה Ru 4:17(×2), וַתִּקְרֶאן Nu 25:2; 2 fpl. תִּקְרֶאנָה Ru 1:20, 21, etc.; Imv. ms. קְרָא Ju 7:3 +, sf. קְרָאֵנִי ψ 50:15, etc.; Inf. cstr. קְרֹא 1 S 3:6 +, קְרֹאות (Baer -אֹת) Ju 8:1 (Ges§ 74 h); sf. קָרְאִי ψ 4:2 +, etc.; Pt. act. קוֹרֵא Am 5:8 +, קֹרֵא Je 1:15 +; pl. קֹרִאים ψ 99:6 (Ges§§ 74 i; 75 oo); pass. קָרוּא Est 5:12; pl. קְרוּאִים 1 S 9:22; Ez 23:23, קְרֻאִים 1 S 9:13 +; cstr. קְרוּאֵי Nu 1:16 Qr (Kt קריאי), 26:9 Kt (Qr קְרִיאֵי, v. קָרִיא);— e.g. Genesis 11:9
- 1.
- a. call, cry, utter a loud sound, Ju 9:7; 2 S 18:25 (in v 28 read וַיִּקְרַב We, confirmed by 𝔊L, so Dr and all recent Comm.), Je 4:5 Dn 8:16 (all + אמר), 2 K 7:11 (on text v. Kit Benz), Is 6:4; for help Gn 39:15, 18 (J); of pleading in court Is 59:4 (ב of manner); explicitly בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל Gn 39:14 (J), 1 K 18:27, 28; 2 K 18:28 = Is 36:13 = 2 Ch 32:18, קוֹל גָּדוֹל Ez 9:1 (+ בְּאָזְנֵי); c. אַחֲרֵי pers. 1 S 20:37 (+ אָמַר), 24:8 (Gi; v 9 van d. H. Baer; + לֵאמֹר), Je 12:6. e.g. Judges 9:7
- b. call, cry, obj. in orat. recta Ju 7:20 1 S 3:4 (read שְׁמוּאֵל שְׁמוּאֵל; 𝔊 Th We Dr Kit Bu HPS), v 6 (cf. 𝔊), v 8 (agst. accents), v 10 (v. שְׁמוּאֵל), 20:38; 2 S 20:16; 2 K 11:14; Je 20:8; Lv 13:45; = utter, speak Je 36:18; of command Gn 45:1 (E). e.g. Judges 7:20
- 2.
- a. call unto some one: אֶל pers. (often + אָמַר; sometimes c. מִן loc.), Gn 3:9; 19:5; Ex 3:4 Is 6:3 + often; c. עַל (for אֶל) of satyrs Is 34:14 (so Vrss Ges CheComm. al. > recent Comm. from ii. קָרָא or קָרָה which (in Qal) always take accus.); unto (אֶל) י׳ (God), in praise †ψ 66:17 1 Ch 4:10, usually for help, Ju 15:18; 1 S 12:17, 18; Ho 7:7 ψ 3:5; 4:4 +, + עַל pers. against Dt 15:9; 24:15; to (ל) י׳ (God) †Jb 12:4 ψ 57:3; 141:1; to (ל) a servant (for service) 2 K 4:36; Jb 19:16, so (ל) 2 S 1:15; call to (ל) one Je 3:4 (+ orat. rect.), La 4:15 (id.), Pr 2:3 (לְבִינָה); subj. י׳ Mi 6:8; Je 35:17. e.g. Genesis 3:9
- b. cry for help, abs., (poet. and late) Zc 7:13; Is 58:9; 65:24; Jb 5:1; 9:16; Pr 21:13 ψ 4:2; 20:10 + 10 times ψψ (147:9 of young ravens); בְּאָזְנֵי Ez 8:18. e.g. Zechariah 7:13
- c. ק׳ בְּשֵׁם י׳ call with name of י׳ (i.e. use it in invocation): Gn 4:26; 12:8; 2 K 5:11; Je 10:25 = ψ 79:6 + 16 times (1 K 18:24 of specif. appeal to י׳ to display his power), + Is 65:1 (v. Pu.); with name of Baal †1 K 18:24, 25, 26. e.g. Genesis 4:26
- d. late, c. acc. dei Is 43:22 ψ 14:4 + 4 times ψψ; abs. ψ 116:2. e.g. Isaiah 43:22
- 3. proclaim:
- a. c. acc. rei procl. Am 4:5; Gn 41:43; Dt 15:2; Je 31:6; Lv 25:10 +; ק׳ צוֹם proclaim a fast 1 K 21:9, 12 Je 36:9 +, ק׳ מוֹעֲדֵי י׳ Lv 23:2, 4; ק׳ sq. orat. rect. Ex 34:6, etc.; sq. ל pers. Je 34:8, 15, 17(×2) Is 61:1, עַל pers. (against, concerning) 1 K 13:4, 32; Je 49:29; La 1:15; proclaim peace to (ל pers.) Ju 21:13; cf. ק׳ אֵלֶיהָ לְשָׁלוֹם Dt 20:10; ק׳ c. acc. cogn. מִקְרָא Is 1:13, הַקְרִיאָה Jon 3:2 (+ אֶל). e.g. Amos 4:5
- b. ק׳ שֵׁם י׳ Dt 32:3 ψ 99:6; so (earlier) ק׳ בְשֵׁם י׳ Ex 33:19; 34:5 (JE); cf. ק׳ בְּשֵׁם יַעֲקֹב Is 44:5 (but read יִקָּרֵא, Lo Che and most). e.g. Deuteronomy 32:3
- c. ק׳ בְּשׁ׳ עֲלֵי ψ 49:12 proclaim (with) name over landed estates, claim possession (Hup Bae); proclaim one’s own name Ru 4:11 = become famous; pt. pass. proclaimed, i.e. renowned Ez 23:23. e.g. Psalms 49:12
- d. abs. make proclamation (sometimes + אָמַר, לֵאמֹר) Ju 7:3; Je 2:2 (בְּאָזְנֵי) Zc 1:14, 17; Jon 3:4; Is 40:3, 6 +, c. עַל concerning Ne 6:7, against 1 K 13:2 Jon 1:2. e.g. Judges 7:3
- 4.
- a. read aloud, often בְּאָזְנֵי, less often לִפְנֵי, c. ב of roll, book Je 36:6, 8, 14; Ne 8:3, 8, 18; 9:3; 2 Ch 34:18, + acc. of words Je 36:8, 10; obj. om. Ex 24:7 (E) Je 36:15; c. acc. of roll, book v 15, 21; 51:63; 2 K 22:10; 2 Ch 34:24, of letter (סֵפֶר), writing 2 K 5:7 Is 29:11, 12; Je 29:29, columns of manuscript Je 36:23; c. acc. of words Jos 8:34, 35; Je 36:6; 51:61; 2 K 23:2 = 2 Ch 34:30, cf. Dt 31:11. e.g. Jeremiah 36:6
- b. read, to oneself, in (ב) a roll, book, Dt 17:19, so of vision written on tablets Hb 2:2; c. acc. of letter (סֵפֶר) 2 K 19:14 = Is 37:14, book 2 K 22:8; abs. Is 34:16. e.g. Deuteronomy 17:19
- c. read, for hear read, 2 K 22:16. e.g. 2 Kings 22:16
- 5. summon: usually
- a. c. ל pers.: Gn 12:18; 20:8, 9; Nu 22:5, 20, 37; Ju 8:1 1 S 3:5, 6, 8(×2) + often (c. 100 times), + ל reflex. 1 K 1:28, 32, + אֶל loc. Ex 19:20, + אֶל pers. 2 S 9:2, + inf. purpose Jos 24:9; Ju 12:1; 14:15; 1 S 28:15, + מִן loc. Ho 11:1 Ju 4:6; + בִּשְׁמֶ֑ךָ Is 45:4 summon by thy name; specif. summon = invite (especially to feast) Ex 34:15 Ju 14:15 (+ inf. purpose) 1 S 16:3 (+ בַּזָּבַ֑ח, read prob. לַזּ׳ v. HPS), v 5 (+ לַזּ׳), 1 K 1:9, 26 + (c. 17 times). e.g. Genesis 12:18
- b. c. אֶל pers. Ex 10:24 Jos 4:4; 10:24 1 K 13:21 + (c. 20 times); אֶל pers. + ל pers. (diff. persons in same relation) Ex 8:21 Je 42:8; = call for (demand to see), c. אֶל pers. 2 K 18:18; c. ל rei = demand, require Pr 18:6 cf. 27:16 (prob. corrupt, v. Toy). e.g. Exodus 10:24
- c. c. acc. pers. Gn 41:8, 14 Ex 2:7 (+ ל pers.), v 7 Am 5:16 (+ אֶל rei), Is 13:3 (ל rei), 1 S 3:16; 22:11 + (c. 33 times), ins. וַיִּקְרָא in this sense also 2 S 15:12 𝔊L We Dr and most; + inf. purpose Nu 24:10, ק׳ מִמִּזְרָח עַיִט Is 46:11; in weakened sense (to bring response, or bring pers. near) Ct 5:6; specif. invite, 1 S 9:24 (but corrupt, v. especially HPS), 1 K 1:9 (also + ל, MT), v 10; 12:20 (+ אֶל loc), Dt 33:19 (acc. loc.); אֲנִי קָרוּא לָהּ Est 5:12, pt. pass. elsewhere pl., invited ones, guests 1 S 9:13, 22 2 S 15:11 1 K 1:41, 49 Zp 1:7 Pr 9:18; invite or summon (acc. pers.) for help, succour, Ho 7:11; usually obj. י׳ (poet. and late) Je 29:12 2 S 22:4, 7 = ψ 18:4, 7 Is 55:6 La 3:57 Jb 27:10 ψ 50:15; 86:5 + 8 times ψψ, acc. שֵׁם י׳ La 3:55; acc. חכמה Pr 1:28. e.g. Genesis 41:8
- d. abs. call, summon Am 7:4 (+ ל rei), Is 22:12 (id.), 1 S 3:5, 6; Zc 7:13; subj. י׳ (God) Is 50:2; 65:12; 66:4; Jb 13:22; 14:15, קְרוּאֵי הָעֵדָה Nu 1:16 Qr (Kt קְרִיאֵי), 26:9 Kt (Qr קְרִיאֵי!). e.g. Amos 7:4
- e. call and commission, appoint, acc. pers., Is 48:15; 49:1, + בְּשֵׁם by name, specifically, Ex 31:2; 35:30 Is 43:1; 45:3. e.g. Isaiah 48:15
- f. call and endow (with privilege) Is 51:2; 54:6; 55:5. e.g. Isaiah 51:2
- 6. call = name:
- a. (eárly and most common usage), call one’s name (שֵׁם) so and so, 2 acc.: of pers. Gn 3:20; 4:25, 26; 5:2, 3, 29 + 34 times Gn, Ex 2:10, 22 Ho 1:4, 6, 9 Is 7:14; 8:3; 9:5 + 10 times (Je 46:17 read קִרְאוּ שֵׁם 𝔊 Gie al.); of places, etc., Gn 4:17; 11:9 + 17 times Gn, Ju 1:17, 26; 2:5; 15:19; 18:29 + 21 times e.g. Genesis 3:20
- b. c. acc. of appellation only, Ez 39:11. e.g. Ezekiel 39:11
- c. acc. pers. vel loc. + acc. appell. Ho 2:18 Dt 3:14 Je 23:6 Is 58:5 Nu 32:41. e.g. Hosea 2:18
- d. acc. pers. + cl. ψ 89:27. e.g. Psalms 89:27
- e. = give name to, acc. appell. + ל pers. (loc., velrei): (1) pers. Ho 2:18; Gn 35:18; 1 S 4:21; Je 3:19; 30:17; 33:16 + 9 times; (2) loc., vel rei, Ju 18:12 2 S 2:16; 5:9; 6:8 Jos 22:34 (name lost, 𝔖 Heb. Codd. ins. עֵד; cf. DiSteuern), Gn 1:5(×2), 8; 2:19(×2) Ex 33:7 + 30 times + Jb 17:14 (ל + sentence incl. name). e.g. Hosea 2:18
- f. c. בְּשֵׁם + ל Is 40:26, cf. 65:11 (שֵׁם אַחֵר), ψ 147:4 (שֵׁמוֹת), Ru 4:17 (שֵׁם + לֵאמֹר), Gn 2:20; 26:18(×2) (all c. שֵׁם). e.g. Isaiah 40:26
- g. c. ל rei + עַל־שֵׁם 2 S 18:18. e.g. 2 Samuel 18:18
- h. call by (ב) names the names (acc.) of cities Nu 32:38; call to (ל) city, + appell., + בִּשְׁמוֹ v 42. e.g. Numbers 32:38
- i. call cities (acc.) בְּשֵׁם, i.e. specify them, Jos 21:9; 1 Ch 6:50 (בְּשֵׁמוֹת). e.g. Joshua 21:9
Niphal
- Pf. 3 ms. נִקְרָא Je 4:20 +, 1 s. נִקְרֵאתִי Est 4:11, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. יִקָּרֵא Gn 2:23 +, וַיִּקָּרֵא Ez 20:29 +, etc.; Pt. נִקְרָא Is 43:7; Je 44:26; pl. נִקְרָאִים Is 48:1 Est 6:1;— e.g. Jeremiah 4:20
- 1. reflex., מֵעִיר הַקֹּדֶשׁ נִק׳ Is 48:2 from the holy city they call themselves. e.g. Isaiah 48:2
- 2. pass. be called:
- a. be proclaimed (cf. Qal 3), of שֵׁם י׳ Je 44:26 (בְּפֶה instr.); of man’s name = be famous Ru 4:14; = be announced Je 4:20. e.g. Jeremiah 44:26
- b. be read aloud (cf. Qal 4): impers. c. ב of book, + בְּאָזְנֵי Ne 13:1; subj. records Est 6:1 (לִפְנֵי). e.g. Nehemiah 13:1
- c. be summoned (cf. Qal 5): Is 31:4 (עַל against); Est 3:12; 4:11(×2); 8:9; †בְּשֵׁם, i.e. specifically, 2:14. e.g. Isaiah 31:4
- d. be named (cf. Qal 6): (1) appell. subj. + ל pers. Gn 2:23 to her shall be called ‘woman,’ 1 S 9:9; Is 32:5; 62:4, 12; Pr 16:21; + ל loc. 2 S 18:18; Is 1:26; 35:8; Je 19:6. (2) וְנִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ וגו׳ Dt 25:10, so Gn 35:10 Dn 10:1; Ez 20:29 (of place); אֶת־שִׁמְךָ Ez 20:29. (3) וְנִקְרְאָה יְרוּשׁ׳ וגו׳ Zc 8:3, so of land Dt 3:13, temple Is 56:7. (4) especially נִקְרָא שֵׁם י׳ עַל, denoting ownership, of pers. Je 15:16, people Dt 28:10; Je 14:9; Am 9:12; Is 63:19; 2 Ch 7:14, ark 2 S 6:2 (del. 2nd שֵׁם 𝔅 We Dr al.), = 1 Ch 13:6 (adding עָלָיו Oettli Kau; > KitHpt שְׁמוֹ שָׁם), temple 1 K 8:43 = 2 Ch 6:33; Je 7:10, 11, 14, 30; 32:34; 34:15, city Je 25:29; Dn 9:18, city + people v 19; so name of man 2 S 12:28, as given to his wife Is 4:1. (5) be called עַל שֵׁם, i.e. reckoned to, Gn 48:6; Is 54:5; 61:6; עַל־שֵׁבֶט 1 Ch 23:14, cf. Ezr 2:61 = Ne 7:63. (6) be called בְּשֵׁם Is 43:7; 48:1. (7) בְּיִצְחָק יִקּ׳ לְךָ זָ֑רַע Gn 21:12, i.e. in (through) יִצ׳ shall seed be reckoned to thee; וְיִקָּרֵא בָהֶם שְׁמִי 48:16 through them shall my name be called, i.e. perpetuated. (8) be named = mentioned, of pers. Is 14:20. (9) subj. שֵׁם Ec 6:10, i.e. thing is known. e.g. Genesis 2:23
Pual
- (Ez and Is 2) Pf. 3 ms. קֹרָא be called, subj. appell. + ל pers. vel rei = be named, Is 48:8 Ez 10:13 (קוֹ׳); וְקֹרָא consec. Is 58:12; 61:3; 62:2 (שֵׁם חָדָשׁ); גּוֹי לֹא קֹרָא בִּשְׁמִי 65:1 (קָרָא or קֹרֵא [Qal 2 c], Vrss Lo Ew Che Di al.); be called and privileged (cf. Qal 5 f), Pt. יִשׂ׳ מְקֹרָאִי 48:12. e.g. Isaiah 48:8
קרא II encounter, befall (‖ form of קָרָה, q.v.
Qal
- Pf.5 3 ms. sf. קְרָאַנִי Je 13:22 Jb 4:2; 3 fs. קָרָאת Dt 31:29; Je 44:23, etc.; Impf.4 3 ms. יִקְרָא Gn 49:1, sf. יִקְרָאֶנּוּ Gn 42:4; 3 fpl. וַתִּקְרֶאנָה Lv 10:19; Ex 1:10 read 3 fs. sf. תִּקְרָאֵנוּ (Sam Vrss Di Ges§ 47 k SoKau Baen); Inf. cstr.121 לִקְרַאת (Ges§ 19 k Ol§ 137), Gn 15:10 +, etc.; Pt. fpl. sf. קֹרְאֹתַיִךְ Is 51:19;— e.g. Jeremiah 13:22
- 1. meet, encounter, only inf. cstr. לִקְרַאת often = prep. toward, against (Köii. 1, 317), almost always c. acc. pers., after vb. of motion, Is 7:3; Gn 19:1; 24:17; Ju 4:18, 22; 1 K 2:8 +; in war, battle, Ju 7:24; 20:25, 31; 1 S 4:1; 1 K 20:27 +, after עָרַךְ 2 S 10:9, 10, 17 +, ψ 35:3 v. I. סגר 2 b; לְחַזֵּק לִבָּם לִק׳ הַמִּלְחָמָה Jos 11:20 to harden their heart to encounter the war with Isr.; after הִנֵּה (without vb. of motion), †1 S 10:10; 2 S 15:32; 16:1; 1 K 18:7; Pr 7:10; in constr. prægn. וַיִּשְׂמַח לִק׳ Ju 19:3 he rejoiced to meet him, + 1 S 6:13 (𝔊 We Dr al.); חרד לִק׳ 1 S 16:4; 21:2; so c. שׁאג Ju 14:5, הריע 15:14, מצא 2 K 10:15, נצב Ex 5:20; 7:15 Nu 22:34, etc.; redund. יִקָּרֶה י׳ לִק׳ Nu 23:3; implic. of helping, Is 21:14 ψ 59:5 (fig.); לִק׳ נְחָשִׁים Nu 24:1 he did not go to encounter (in expectation of) signs of divination; in metaph. Is 14:9, לִק׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ Am 4:12. e.g. Isaiah 7:3
- 2. fig. befall c. acc. pers., bad sense Gn 42:4, 38; Dt 31:29; Je 13:22; 44:23; Is 51:19; Jb 4:14; Lv 10:19; of war Ex 1:10 (v. supr.); in gen., Gn 49:1. e.g. Genesis 42:4
Niphal
- meet unexpectedly; Pf. 3 ms. נִקְרָא, c. עַל pers. Ex 5:3; Impf. 3 ms. וַיִּקָּרֵא, c. לִפְנֵי pers. 2 S 18:9; Pf. 20:1, c. שָׁם, chanced to be there; Impf. of bird’s nest Dt 22:6 (לִפְנֵי); Inf. abs. נִקְרֹא v. קרה. e.g. Exodus 5:3
Hiphil
- Impf. 2 ms. וַתַּקְרֵא Je 32:23 thou didst cause all this evil to befall them (acc. pers. et rei). e.g. Jeremiah 32:23
Senses from the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon (Brown, Driver, Briggs; Oxford 1906 — public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). Full attribution on Sources.
Word origin
I. vb. call, proclaim, read (NH id., read aloud, read; Ph. קרא call; Arabic قَرَأَ read aloud, recite (the ‘Ḳorʾān’), القُرْآنُ the Ḳorʾān; Aramaic קְרָא, ܩܪܳܐ call, etc., so Old Aramaic קרא, Nab. id., Palm. id., קרה);—
II. vb. encounter, befall (‖ form of קָרָה, q.v.; SI 4 לקרת to meet, opposite; Arabic قَرَأَ, put part to part; Min. קרא set opposite, HomChrest. 127);—
— Brown-Driver-Briggs (Oxford 1906, public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). See Sources.
Derived from קרא (qârâʼ) (H7122) — to meet.
Jastrow Dictionary
A second Hebrew/Aramaic lexicon for comparison, covering Aramaic and post-biblical (Talmudic, Targumic, Midrashic) usage that the biblical-Hebrew BDB does not. Matched by lemma rather than by Strong’s number, so a lemma may carry more than one Jastrow headword (shown separately below), and the entries cover usage well beyond the Bible.
קָרָא I
- (קְרַר II) pumpkin, gourd. Succ. 56ᵇ; Keth. 83ᵇ, a. e. טב מק׳, v. בּוּצִין. Yoma 78ᵃ מצטנן בק׳ cooled his hands with a pumpkin. Ker. 6ᵃ; Hor. 12ᵃ; a. fr.—Pl. קָרֵי, קָרַיָּא. Meg. 12ᵃ, v. בּוּצִין; Sot. 10ᵃ קָארֵי. Ned. 51ᵃ Rashi (ed. קרא, corr. acc.). B. Mets. 64ᵃ ק׳ בני זרתא pumpkins of the size of a fist. B. Bath. 88ᵃ קארי. Sabb. 129ᵇ מאה ק׳, v. קַרְנָא I; a. e.—קָרַיָּיא וְקָרָוָותָא large and small gourds, all kinds of gourds. Y. Ned. VII, beg. 40ᵇ (not וכרובתא); Y. Orl. III, 63ᵇ top קירייא וקרותוא (corr. acc.).
קָרָא II
- to call, v. קרי.
קְרָא I
- v. קְרֵי
קְרָא II
- (preced.) = h. מִקְרָא, Biblical verse. Targ. Esth. VI, 1.—Ber. 2ᵃ אק׳ קאי, v. קָאֵי. Ib. 27ᵃ אמר ק׳ וכ׳ the text reads babboḳer &c. Ib. 29ᵇ מאי קראה where is the Biblical passage to prove it? Snh. 45ᵇ; 71ᵃ, a. e. בעינן ק׳ וכ׳, v. כְּתַב I. Ker. 11ᵇ bot. ק׳ בעי do we need a Bible verse for it?; a. v. fr.—Ber. 30ᵇ פוק קרא קְרָאָיךְ לברא go out, read thy verse in the street, i.e. thy authority is not recognized at college; Keth. 56ᵃ; Yeb. 40ᵃ קַרְיָיךְ, v. קַרְיָיא.—Pl. קְרָאֵי. M. Kat. 3ᵇ והני … ק׳ נינהו are these traditional rulings? are they not intimated in the Biblical text? Pes. 4ᵇ תרי ק׳ כתיבי there are two verses (seemingly contradictory); a. v. fr.
קַרָא
- (preced.) a Biblical scholar, Bible teacher. Kidd. 49ᵃ אבל אמר לה ק׳ אנא וכ׳ but if he said to her, (thou art betrothed unto me under the condition that) I am a Biblical scholar, she is not betrothed unless he can read the Pentateuch, Prophets and Hagiographa correctly (understandingly), contrad. to קַרְיָנָא. Ber. 30ᵇ, a. e. ר׳ חנינא ק׳ R. Ḥanina, the Bible teacher.—Pl. (h. form) קַרָאִים; (ch.) קַרָאֵי. Pesik. Shubah, p. 165ᵇ ק׳ טובים וכ׳ good Bible teachers, good preachers, like Levi &c.; Yalk. Hos. 533. Ab. Zar. 40ᵃ מתלתא ק׳ שמיע לי (Ar. קיראי) I have it from three authorities (as reliable as the Scriptures, Rashi).—V. קַרָיָיא.—[Meg. 24ᵇ in Mish. דרך הקראים, a censorial change for המינות, as in Mish. ed. IV, 8, a. Ms. M., v. Rabb. D. S. a. l.—In later literature קראים Karaites, a Jewish sect recognizing the Bible as sole authority.]
קרי ²
- (b. h.)
- 1. to call, name; to invite. Ber. 7ᵇ מיום שברא … שקְרָאוֹ … וּקְרָאוֹ אדון from the day that the Lord created the world there was no man that called the Holy One, blessed be He, lord, until Abraham came and called him lord (Gen. XV, 2 אדני). Gen. R. s. 56 אברהם קראו יראה Abraham called it (the Temple site) yeraëh (Gen. XXII, 14), שם ק׳ אותו שלם Shem called it Salem (ib. XIV, 18), הריני קוֹרֵא אותו ירושלם I will call it Jerusalem. Snh. 70ᵇ אין … לִקְרוֹא אבא וכ׳ no sooner does a child know to call ‘father’ and ‘mother’, than it tastes grain food. Num. R. s. 15, beg. ק׳ אותו אוהב he invited that friend. Ib. והיה קורא אומניות, v. אוּמָנוּת; a. v. fr.—Part. pass. קָרוּא, קָרוּי; f. קְרוּאָה, קְרוּיָה; Pl. קְרוּאִים, קְרוּאִין, קְרוּיִים, קְרוּיִם, קְרוּיִין, קְרוּיִן; קְרוּאוֹת, קְרוּיוֹת. B. Mets. 114ᵇ, a. e. (ref. to Ez. XXXIV, 31) אתם ק׳ אדם וכ׳ you are called men, but idolaters &c. Sifra Aḥăré, end כל העריות ק׳ טומאה all illicit connections are called uncleanness; a. fr.—Esp. קְרוּאִים, קְרוּיִין those called up to read from the Torah (v. infra). Gen. R. s. 70 (ref. to Gen. XXIX, 2) אלו שלשה ק׳ this is typical of the three persons called up to read from the Torah (priest, Levite, and Israelite). Y. Meg. III, 74ᵇ ולא שבעה ק׳ אינון are not seven persons called up (on the Sabbath)?; a. fr.—V. קְרוּיוֹת.—2) to read, recite (esp. from the Scriptures). Yoma I, 6 אם רגיל לִקְרוֹת … קוֹרִין לפניו if he (the high priest) is accustomed to read (the Scriptures), he reads himself, if not, they read to him; ובמה קורין לפניו and from what books do they read to him? Ib. פעמים הרבה קָרִיתִי וכ׳ many a time I read to him from Daniel. Meg. II, 1 הקורא את המגילה וכ׳, v. מִפְרֵעַ. Ib. 2 קְרָאָהּ סירוגין, v. סֵירוּג. Ib. 3 קורא כמקומו he must read in accordance with the usage of the place he came from. Ib. 4 הכל כשרין לִקְרוֹת וכ׳ all persons are qualified to recite the Book of Esther (before the congregation). Y. Meg. IV, 74ᵈ bot. וקְרָיָיהּ and read from it; a. fr.—Esp. to read from the Torah at public services. Ib. III, 4 קורין בפרשת שקלים they (those who are called up, v. supra) read the section of Sheḳalim (Ex. XXX, 11-16). Ib. 6 אחד קורא את כולן one person must read the entire chapter (of the curses). Ib. IV, 1 בשני … קורין שלשה on Mondays … three persons read. Ib. 4 הקורא בתורה לא יפחות וכ׳ he who is designated to read from the Torah must read no less than three verses; לא יִקְרָא למתורגמן וכ׳ he must read to the interpreter one verse at a time, but from the Prophets, three verses. Bicc. I, 1 יש מביאין … וקורין וכ׳ there are those who are bound to bring the first-fruits and to read (Deut. XXVI, 5-10), and those who must bring but not read &c. Ib. 4; a. v. fr.—Esp. (את שמע) ק׳ to recite the Sh’mʿa in the morning and in the evening prayer. Ber. I, 1 לא קָרִינוּ וכ׳ we omitted to read the Sh’mʿa. Ib. II, 3 ק׳ וטעה if one read the Sh’mʿa and made a mistake. Ib. 4 האומנין קוֹרְאִין וכ׳ (Bab. ed. 16ᵃ קורין) workingmen read the Sh’mʿa on top of a tree, or on the scaffolding; a. v. fr.—אל תִּקְרֵי … אלא (or תִּיקְרִי Chald. form; abbrev. א"ת) read not … but—, i.e. change the traditional (Massoretic) reading (for homiletical purposes). Ib. 64ᵃ (ref. to Is. LIV, 13 א"ת בָּנַיִךְ אלא בּוֹנַיִךְ read not banayikh (thy children) but bonayikh (thy builders, the scholars). M. Kat. 9ᵇ (ref. to Ps. XLIX, 12) א"ת קִרְבָּם אלא קִבְרָם read not ḳirbam (their innermost) but ḳibram (their grave); a. fr. e.g. Genesis 15:2
- same, to call, invite. Part. pass. מְקוֹרָא, pl. מְקוֹרָאִים, מְקוֹרָאִין. Num. R. s. 13 יש חתן … למק׳ וכ׳ does a bridegroom give a banquet for the invited guests and not sit with them?; a. e.
- 1. to be called. Lev. R. s. 1, beg. נִקְרְאוּ הנביאים וכ׳, v. בַּיִת. Ex. R. s. 1 (ref. to Ex. II, 13) מכאן … נ׳ רשע from here we learn that when a man lifts up his hand to strike his neighbor, even if he does not strike, he is called a wicked man; Snh. 58ᵇ. Ab. Zar. 19ᵃ (ref. to Ps. I, 2) בתחלה נִקְרֵאת … נקראת וכ׳ first it (the Law) is called the Lord’s, and then his (the student’s); a. fr.— to be read, recited. Meg. I, 1 מגלה נקראת וכ׳ the Book of Esther may be read at public service on the eleventh &c. Ib. IV, 10 מעשה ראובן נ׳ ולא וכ׳ the story of Reuben (Gen. XXXV, 22) is read at public service but not translated. Ib. לא נִקְרָאִין וכ׳ (Y. ed. נִיקְרִין) must be neither read nor interpreted. Tosef. ib. IV (III), 31 יש נקראין ומתרגמין וכ׳ certain verses are read but not interpreted &c.; Meg. 25ᵃ נִקְרִין; a. v. fr. e.g. Exodus 2:13
- to cause to call, to lead in reading. Sot. 10ᵃ sq. (ref. to Gen. XXI, 33) א"ת וַיִּקְרָא אלא וַיַּקְרִיא read not vayiḳra (and he called) but vayaḳri (and he made call), מלמד שה׳ וכ׳ intimating that Abraham caused the name of the Lord to be called by the mouth of every passer-by. Y. ib. V, 20ᶜ top קטן שהוא מַקְרֵא וכ׳ a child that reads the Hallel at school, and they (the class) respond by repeating each sentence (v. עָנָה I); גדול שהוא מקרא וכ׳ an adult that leads in reciting …, when the congregation responds with the first sentence (as refrain). Succ. III, 10 מי שהיה … מַקְרִין אותו וכ׳ if a slave, a woman, or a child reads to him, he responds with Hallelujah. Gitt. III, 1 שמע קול סופרים מקרין וכ׳ heard the teaching scribes as they made the practicing children read, ‘such and such … divorces &c.’—Esp. to teach the Scriptures (מִקְרָא). Lam. R. to I, 6 הַקְרינִי דף אחד … השניני וכ׳ teach me a page of the Scriptures, teach me a chapter of the Mishnah; a. fr.—[Erub. 104ᵇ שהקרו, v. קָרַר I.] e.g. Genesis 21:33
קרי ³
- (b. h.) to join.—Denom. קוֹרָה III.—לִקְרַאת to meet. Sabb. 31ᵃ ויצא לִקְרָאתוֹ and came out to meet him. Ib. 119ᵃ; B. Kam. 32ᵃ top לקראת כלה to meet the bride (the Sabbath); a. fr.
- to meet, join, esp. נִקְרֵי, נִיקְרֵי (denom. of קֶרִי) to lose semen. Gen. R. s. 52; s. 74, a. e. אין הלשון הזה וַיִּקָּר אלא לשון טומאה this expression vayiḳḳar (Num. XXIII, 4) has the meaning of uncleanness (by analogy from Deut. XXIII, 11).—Meg. 15ᵃ; Taan. 5ᵇ. Yeb. 76ᵃ e.g. Numbers 23:4
- same, to have (nocturnal) pollution; to lose semen. Y. Snh. II, 20ᵇ top; Midr. Sam. ch. XXIII (ref. to I Sam. XXV, 20) ותפגש אותם הוּקְרוּ כולן ‘she struck them’ (with her charms), all of them met with &c. e.g. 1 Samuel 25:20
A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature (Marcus Jastrow; London, Luzac, 1903) — Public Domain. Digitized via Sefaria. Digitized via Sefaria. Full attribution on Sources.
Forms in the corpus
The 334 distinct written forms H7121 takes in the Hebrew Bible, most frequent first — each parse links to that stem’s occurrences in the concordance. Hebrew forms include their vowel points and cantillation, so a single lemma takes many written forms.
The 60 most common forms are shown; 274 rarer forms follow in the full concordance.
Same root — word family
Other BDB entries built from the same root as H7121, grouped by Strong’s listed origin. These share a root / origin per the lexicon — not necessarily a shared meaning. Each links to that word’s own entry.
Derives from
Shares the same root
Derived from this word
- מקרא miqrâʼ H4744 convocation
- קרא qᵉrâʼ H7123 to call
- קרא qôrêʼ H7124 partridge
- קריא qârîyʼ H7148 called
- קריאה qᵉrîyʼâh H7150 proclamation
Proper names from this root
People and places named from this root — a name, not an additional meaning of the word.
Compare all same-root words → Showing 4 of 9 — not the complete family. 1 of the same-root words is a proper name (a person or place). They share a root, not necessarily a meaning.
Septuagint verse parallels
This word appears in 653 verses that also exist in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), out of the 689 Hebrew verses it occurs in. You can read those verses in Greek by switching the Old Testament edition to the Septuagint.
Read these verses in the Septuagint
- Genesis 1:5
- Exodus 1:18
- Leviticus 1:1
- Numbers 1:16
- Deuteronomy 2:11
- Joshua 4:4
- Judges 1:17
- Ruth 1:20
- 1 Samuel 1:20
- 2 Samuel 1:7
- 1 Kings 1:9
- 2 Kings 3:10
This is a verse-level parallel only — the same verses exist in both the Hebrew and Greek Old Testaments. No word-level Hebrew↔Greek correspondence is claimed: the data carries no such alignment, so no Greek word is shown as this Hebrew word’s translation. Coverage is not total — the Septuagint omits the deuterocanon and renumbers the Psalms, so some Hebrew verses have no direct Greek parallel.
