Lexical Summary
qereb: midst, inner part, inward part, among, within
Original Word:קֶרֶב
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:qereb
Pronunciation:keh'-reb
Phonetic Spelling:(keh'-reb)
KJV: X among, X before, bowels, X unto charge, + eat (up), X heart, X him, X in, inward (X -ly, part, -s, thought), midst, + out of, purtenance, X therein, X through, X within self
NASB:midst, among, within, entrails, inwardly, middle, within our land
Word Origin:[fromH7126 (קָרַב - offer)]
1. (properly) the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
among, before, bowels, unto charge, eat up, heart, him, in,
Fromqarab; properly, the nearest part, i.e. The center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition) -- X among, X before, bowels, X unto charge, + eat (up), X heart, X him, X in, inward (X -ly, part, -s, thought), midst, + out of, purtenance, X therein, X through, X within self.
see HEBREWqarab
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitioninward part, midst
NASB Translationamong (62), body (1), devoured* (2), entrails (20), heart (1), herself (1), inner thought (1), inside (1), inward feelings (1), inward part (1), inward thought (1), inwardly (2), middle (2), midst (81), within (35), within our land (2), within their land (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
227 ; — absolute
Exodus 29:13 + (only ); construct
Genesis 45:6 +; suffix
Joshua 9:7 +, 3 feminine plural
Genesis 41:21, -
Genesis 41:21 (Ges
§ 91i. Kö
ii.1488 N.I), etc.; plural only (suffix)
Psalm 103:1; — usually with preposition (143t. 43t.); —
inward part of human body, physical sense,within one's bodyGenesis 25:22 (J), compareGenesis 18:12 (J),1 Samuel 25:37;Jeremiah 23:9;Job 20:14 ("" ), compareIsaiah 19:1 (of nation personified)into his bodyPsalm 109:18 (simile); as seat of life1 Kings 17:21,22, compare (of idol)Habakkuk 2:19 (see also ).
= belly, of kineGenesis 41:21;Genesis 14:21
(within it, etc.)Genesis 18:24;Judges 18:7;Amos 3:9 + 18:t compareIsaiah 25:11Isaiah 5:25.Psalm 101:2;Psalm 101:7; templePsalm 48:10;Psalm 74:4.
(earth)Genesis 45:6;Genesis 48:16;Amos 2:3;Isaiah 5:8;Isaiah 24:13 ("" ), + 10 t. ( ).
,in the midst, among,from among: especially (1) people (96 t.; 80 t. as singular collective, 15 t. pluralAmos 7:8;Genesis 24:3;Exodus 23:25;Deuteronomy 31:17;Jeremiah 46:21;1 Samuel 4:3;Joshua 7:12;Judges 10:16 +,Deuteronomy 17:10 +,Amos 7:10Judges 1:32,33;Judges 3:5,Deuteronomy 4:34 etc (2)Joshua 1:11;Numbers 14:44 6t. (3)Deuteronomy 18:2;1 Samuel 16:13, and ()Deuteronomy 17:15;Deuteronomy 18:18. (4)Exodus 31:14 (II.) (5)Psalm 110:2 compare (of wicked)Psalm 55:16Proverbs 15:31. (6)Psalm 82:1 -71 Kings 20:39into the midst of the battle, the thick of the fight; Palam 1Ki 138:7. (8) of nations,Deuteronomy 29:15,Lamentations 3:45, compareJoshua 24:17;Micah 5:6;Micah 5:7.
Psalm 74:11 (Qr ) thy handfrom within thy bosom, (anthropomorphism of ; see I ).
,Habakkuk 3:2 (twice in verse)
;
1 Kings 3:28;Jeremiah 4:14;Jeremiah 9:7;Proverbs 26:24;Psalm 62:5;Psalm 94:19; ""Proverbs 14:33,Jeremiah 31:33; seat ofPsalm 39:4;Psalm 55:5;Psalm 109:22;Lamentations 1:20; ofEzekiel 11:19;Ezekiel 36:26,27;Zechariah 12:1;Isaiah 26:6;Psalm 51:12, compareIsaiah 19:3,14;Psalm 36:2 (read Vrss Hup Now Che Bae and others)
(no perp.)Isaiah 16:11 ("" )Psalm 64:7 ("" )Psalm 5:10;Psalm 103:1 (only here plural; "" ); —Psalm 49:12 read , or , Ew Gr Ol Bi Che Bae and others (for )
technical term in P ofentrails of sacrificial animals (DiLeviticus 1:9,13;Leviticus 3:3 (twice in verse);Leviticus 3:9 (twice in verse);Leviticus 3:14 (twice in verse);Leviticus 4:8 (twice in verse);Leviticus 4:11;Leviticus 7:3;Leviticus 8:16,21,25;Leviticus 9:14.
Topical Lexicon
Core Semantic Fieldsקֶרֶב (qéreḇ) denotes “the inside” in three concentric arenas: the interior of the body, the seat of thoughts and emotions, and the center or midst of a social group, land, or event. The word’s concrete sense of “internal organs” readily expands to the figurative “inner life” and to the spatial “midst,” so that the heart of a person and the heart of a nation are both described with the same term. Approximately two-hundred-twenty-seven occurrences testify to its breadth and theological weight.
Physical Interior
In early narrative and legal texts קֶרֶב describes literal anatomy:
•Exodus 29:13 “Take all the fat that covers the entrails…”
•Numbers 19:5 “The heifer is to be burned in his sight—its hide, flesh, blood, and offal.”
Such usage anchors sacrificial ritual in the reality of bodily life; the innards are offered to God because “the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11). The term can also mark the womb (Ruth 1:11;Isaiah 48:9), highlighting God’s sovereignty over conception and birth.
Inner Person and Emotions
From the physical “inside” the word moves naturally to the moral and psychological “inside.”Psalm 51:6 confesses, “Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” Joy (Psalm 103:1), pain (Lamentations 1:20), turmoil (Psalm 55:4-5), and deceit (Jeremiah 9:5) can all reside in the קֶרֶב. Because God “tests the mind and the heart” (Psalm 7:9), the integrity of the believer’s inner life is indispensable to covenant faithfulness.
The Midst of the Community
קֶרֶב frequently marks the center of corporate life. Deuteronomy repeats the expression “in your midst” to underscore Israel’s obligation to purge idolatry (Deuteronomy 13:5), care for the vulnerable (Deuteronomy 24:14), and maintain ceremonial purity (Deuteronomy 23:14). The same vocabulary can describe national crisis: “There will be an outcry in the midst of Egypt” (Isaiah 19:2). Whether blessing or judgment, what happens “in the midst” defines the identity of the people.
Divine Presence
Perhaps the most theologically charged usage is God’s declaration to dwell “in the midst” of His covenant community:
•Exodus 25:8 “Make a sanctuary for Me, and I will dwell among them.”
•Leviticus 26:12 “I will walk among you and be your God.”
•Numbers 14:14 “You, O LORD, are seen face to face, and Your cloud stands over them.”
The tabernacle and temple visualize this promise, with the Holy of Holies at the literal and symbolic center. Later prophets reaffirm the reality: “The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty Savior” (Zephaniah 3:17). The intimacy of divine presence carries both comfort and accountability: holiness is demanded because the Holy One resides within (Deuteronomy 23:14).
Covenant Faithfulness and Judgment
The same centrality that confers blessing also intensifies judgment when sin festers. “Disaster will come upon you; you will not know from where it rises, and calamity will fall upon you in an instant” (Isaiah 47:11). Ezekiel announces that sword, famine, and pestilence will strike “in the midst” of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 5:12). Removing sin from the center becomes a recurring prophetic burden.
Prophetic and Eschatological Hope
The future hope of a purified, restored people is likewise framed with קֶרֶב:
•Jeremiah 31:33 “I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts.”
•Zechariah 2:10 “Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I am coming, and I will dwell in your midst.”
Divine indwelling shifts from tabernacle to heart, prefiguring the new covenant ministry of the Spirit (Jeremiah 31:31-34;Ezekiel 36:27).
Wisdom and Instruction
Proverbs connects internal disposition to outward conduct: “The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being” (Proverbs 20:27). Internalized wisdom safeguards life (Proverbs 4:21-22) and guards against adultery (Proverbs 7:5). By urging truth and mercy to be bound “around your neck” and written “on the tablet of your heart” (Proverbs 3:3), the sage roots righteousness in the קֶרֶב.
Messianic Foreshadowing
Psalm 40:6-8 (cf.Hebrews 10:5-10) places messianic obedience “within” the Servant: “I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.” The incarnate Son dwells “in the midst” of humanity (John 1:14), fulfills the promise of God’s presence (Matthew 1:23), and stands “in the midst of the lampstands” to shepherd His churches (Revelation 1:13).
Practical Ministry Implications
1. Personal holiness: Because God’s throne is established in the believer’s heart (1 Corinthians 3:16), ministers call believers to cultivate purity in the קֶרֶב.
2. Corporate health: Churches must guard doctrine and discipline so that Christ may walk “in the midst” unhindered (Revelation 2:1-5).
3. Missional witness: A congregation in which Christ truly dwells becomes a sign of Emmanuel to the watching world (John 13:35).
Intercanonical Connections
The Greek ἔντος (“within”) and μέσος (“midst”) carry forward the resonance of קֶרֶב. Jesus warns the Pharisees that greed and wickedness are “within” (Luke 11:39) and promises that “where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). Paul prays that Christ may dwell “in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:17), sealing the trajectory from the tabernacle’s center to the church’s inner life.
In sum, קֶרֶב unites body and soul, individual and community, present and eschaton. It invites believers to welcome the Lord at the deepest level, to keep His Word at the center, and to manifest His holy presence to the ends of the earth.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּ֝קֶ֗רֶב בְּ֭קִרְבָּהּ בְּקִרְבְּךָ֔ בְּקִרְבְּךָ֖ בְּקִרְבְּךָ֗ בְּקִרְבְּךָ֙ בְּקִרְבְּךָ֣ בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֑ם בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֔ם בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֖ם בְּקִרְבִּ֑י בְּקִרְבִּ֔י בְּקִרְבִּ֗י בְּקִרְבִּֽי׃ בְּקִרְבִּי֙ בְּקִרְבֵּ֑נוּ בְּקִרְבֵּ֔ךְ בְּקִרְבֵּ֔נוּ בְּקִרְבֵּ֖ך בְּקִרְבֵּ֖ךְ בְּקִרְבֵּ֖נוּ בְּקִרְבֵּ֥נוּ בְּקִרְבֵּֽךְ׃ בְּקִרְבֶּ֑ךָ בְּקִרְבֶּ֔ךָ בְּקִרְבֶּֽךָ׃ בְּקִרְבָּ֑הּ בְּקִרְבָּ֔הּ בְּקִרְבָּ֔ם בְּקִרְבָּ֖הּ בְּקִרְבָּ֣הּ בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃ בְּקִרְבָּֽם׃ בְּקִרְבּ֑וֹ בְּקִרְבּ֔וֹ בְּקִרְבּ֖וֹ בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃ בְּקֶ֖רֶב בְּקֶ֙רֶב֙ בְּקֶ֣רֶב בְּקֶ֤רֶב בְּקֶ֥רֶב בְקִרְבְּךָ֖ בְקִרְבְּךָ֙ בְקִרְבִּ֖י בְקִרְבִּ֗י בְקִרְבֵּ֔ךְ בְקִרְבֵּ֔נוּ בְקִרְבֵּ֣נוּ בְקִרְבָּ֔הּ בְקִרְבָּהּ֙ בְקִרְבּ֜וֹ בְקֶ֤רֶב בְקֶֽרֶב־ בקרב בקרב־ בקרבה בקרבה׃ בקרבו בקרבו׃ בקרבי בקרבי׃ בקרבך בקרבך׃ בקרבכם בקרבם בקרבם׃ בקרבנו הַקֶּ֔רֶב הַקֶּ֖רֶב הַקֶּ֗רֶב הַקֶּ֥רֶב הַקֶּֽרֶב׃ הַקֶּרֶב֒ הקרב הקרב׃ וְהַקֶּ֥רֶב וְקִרְבִּ֖י וְקִרְבּ֖וֹ וְקִרְבּ֥וֹ וְקֶ֥רֶב וּ֝בְקִרְבָּ֗ם וּ֝בְקִרְבּ֗וֹ וּבְקִרְבּ֖וֹ וּבְקֶ֥רֶב ובקרב ובקרבו ובקרבם והקרב וקרב וקרבו וקרבי מִֽקִּרְבְּכֶֽם׃ מִקִּרְבְּךָ֤ מִקִּרְבֵּ֗ךְ מִקִּרְבֶּ֑ךָ מִקִּרְבֶּ֔ךָ מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃ מִקִּרְבָּ֑הּ מִקִּרְבָּ֔ם מִקִּרְבּ֣וֹ מִקִּרְבּֽוֹ׃ מִקֶּ֖רֶב מִקֶּ֙רֶב֙ מִקֶּ֣רֶב מִקֶּ֥רֶב מקרב מקרבה מקרבו מקרבו׃ מקרבך מקרבך׃ מקרבכם׃ מקרבם קְ֝רָבַ֗י קִרְבֶּ֔נָה קִרְבֶּ֗נָה קִרְבָּ֤ם קִרְבָּ֪ם קִרְבּ֖וֹ קִרְבּֽוֹ׃ קִרְבּוֹ֙ קרבו קרבו׃ קרבי קרבם קרבנה bə·qe·reḇ ḇə·qe·reḇ ḇə·qe·reḇ- bə·qir·bāh ḇə·qir·bāh bə·qir·bām bə·qir·be·ḵā bə·qir·bə·ḵā ḇə·qir·bə·ḵā bə·qir·bə·ḵem bə·qir·bê·nū ḇə·qir·bê·nū bə·qir·bêḵ ḇə·qir·bêḵ bə·qir·bî ḇə·qir·bî bə·qir·bōw ḇə·qir·bōw beKerev bekirBah bekirBam bekirBech bekirbeCha bekirbeChem bekirBenu bekirBi bekirBo bekirbov bəqereḇ ḇəqereḇ ḇəqereḇ- bəqirbāh ḇəqirbāh bəqirbām bəqirbêḵ ḇəqirbêḵ bəqirbeḵā bəqirbəḵā ḇəqirbəḵā bəqirbəḵem bəqirbênū ḇəqirbênū bəqirbî ḇəqirbî bəqirbōw ḇəqirbōw hakkeRev haq·qe·reḇ haqqereḇ keraVai kirBam kirBenah kirBo mikKerev mikkirBah mikkirBam mikkirBech mikkirBecha MikkirbeChem mikkirBo miq·qe·reḇ miq·qir·bāh miq·qir·bām miq·qir·be·ḵā miq·qir·bə·ḵā miq·qir·bə·ḵem miq·qir·bêḵ miq·qir·bōw miqqereḇ miqqirbāh miqqirbām miqqirbêḵ miqqirbeḵā miqqirbəḵā miqqirbəḵem miqqirbōw qə·rā·ḇay qərāḇay qir·bām qir·be·nāh qir·bōw qirbām qirbenāh qirbōw ū·ḇə·qe·reḇ ū·ḇə·qir·bām ū·ḇə·qir·bōw ūḇəqereḇ ūḇəqirbām ūḇəqirbōw uveKerev uvekirBam uvekirBo vehakKerev vekerev vekirBah vekirBech vekirbeCha vekirBenu vekirBi vekirBo wə·haq·qe·reḇ wə·qe·reḇ wə·qir·bî wə·qir·bōw wəhaqqereḇ wəqereḇ wəqirbî wəqirbōw
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