Lexical Summary
qarah: To encounter, to meet, to happen, to befall
Original Word:קָרָה
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:qarah
Pronunciation:kah-RAH
Phonetic Spelling:(kaw-raw')
KJV: appoint, lay (make) beams, befall, bring, come (to pass unto), floor, (hap) was, happen (unto), meet, send good speed
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to light upon (chiefly by accident)
2. causatively, to bring about
3. specifically, to impose timbers (for roof or floor)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
appoint, lay make beams, befall, bring, come to pass unto, floor, hap was, happen unto,
A primitive root; to light upon (chiefly by accident); causatively, to bring about; specifically, to impose timbers (for roof or floor) -- appoint, lay (make) beams, befall, bring, come (to pass unto), floor, (hap) was, happen (unto), meet, send good speed.
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] ("") II Late Hebrew
meet (rare),
misfortune specifically (nocturnal)
pollution, and so Aramaic
; Arabic
(
) is
go seek earnestly
,
receive hospitably as guest; Ethiopic II. 3,
present, offer as sacrifice); —
Perfect3masculine singular suffixDeuteronomy 25:18,Genesis 44:29 +;Imperfect, 3 masculine singularEcclesiastes 9:11 +Daniel 10:14 Kt (Qr ),Ruth 2:3, suffixNumbers 11:23,1 Samuel 28:10 (dagesh forte dirimens);Participle feminine pluralGenesis 42:29; —
encounter, meet, accusative of personDeuteronomy 25:18, compare (accusative of thing)Ruth 2:3her chance lighted upon field, etc.
befall, accusative of person, subject evilGenesis 44:29 (J),1 Samuel 28:10, s wordNumbers 11:23 (JE), indefiniteGenesis 42:29 (J)Isaiah 41:22 (absolute)Esther 4:7;Esther 6:13;Daniel 10:14 ( person);Ecclesiastes 9:11; subjectEcclesiastes 2:14; compareEcclesiastes 2:15.
Perfect3masculine singularExodus 3:18; 1singular2 Samuel 1:6;Imperfect3masculine singularNumbers 23:3,Numbers 23:4,16; 1singularNumbers 23:15; —
encounter, meet without pre-arrangement, usually of (God): with personExodus 3:18 (J), Pers.Numbers 23:4,16 v3 (all J E); object (om) v15.
chance to be present, location,2 Samuel 1:6 (+Infinitiveabs ).
ofcause ( the right thing good fortune)to occur, withPerfect3masculine singularGenesis 27:20Imperative masculine singularGenesis 24:12 (both J).
of Isrel,Perfect2masculine plural conesNumbers 35:11 ye shall (caus citiesto occur rightlyfor yourselves, i.e.)select citiesas suitable.
[] ; — with accusative of the building:Perfect3plural suffixNehemiah 3:3,6;Infinitive constructNehemiah 2:8; 2Chronicles 34:11;ParticiplePsalm 104:3 (figurative).
Topical Lexicon
קָרָה (qārâ): Happen, Meet, BefallSemantic Focus
קָרָה marks an event or encounter that seems sudden or accidental to human eyes. Scripture, however, consistently presents such “chance” moments as operating under the deliberate providence of God, whether for blessing (Genesis 24:12) or calamity (Deuteronomy 31:17).
Distribution and Major Settings
• Patriarchal narratives:Genesis 24; 42; 44
• National formation:Exodus 1; 5; 21
• Covenant consolidation:Joshua 23;Deuteronomy 31
• Monarchy and early prophets:1 Samuel 4; 6; 10; 13; 16
• Exilic-era literature:Esther 4; 9
• Wisdom and prophetic reflection:Ecclesiastes 2; 6; 8;Isaiah 51
Approximately twenty-seven appearances span law, narrative, wisdom, and prophecy, underscoring theological unity across genres.
Torah Foundations
1.Genesis 24 sets the tone: Abraham’s servant prays, “O LORD… please grant me success today” (Genesis 24:12). The narrative immediately records God’s answer, framing the meeting with Rebekah as foreordained.
2.Exodus 1:10 shows Pharaoh fearing what might “happen” should Israel align with Egypt’s enemies. Even pagan anxiety acknowledges unseen governance.
3.Exodus 21:13 legislates asylum for one who kills “if… God caused it to happen,” blending accidental death with divine sovereignty.
Historical Narratives
Saul’s confirmation (1 Samuel 10:2-6) hinges on three predicted encounters. Each fulfills Samuel’s prophecy, demonstrating that royal elevation rests on God-orchestrated meetings. The Philistines likewise test the ark’s return, concluding that only divine power, not random “chance,” accounts for their plague (1 Samuel 6:9).
Wisdom & Prophetic Use
Ecclesiastes wrestles with apparent randomness: “the same event happens to all” (Ecclesiastes 2:14). Isaiah laments, “These two things have befallen you” (Isaiah 51:19), yet drives the afflicted back to covenant hope.
Book of Esther
Though God’s name is absent, קָרָה saturates the plot. Haman reports “all that had happened” (Esther 4:7); later, “the reverse occurred” (Esther 9:1). The verb becomes a literary signal of unseen providence overturning evil.
Theological Themes
Divine Sovereignty over Contingency
Even events labelled “accident” (1 Samuel 6:9) are shown to be under God’s hand. The verb therefore shapes a biblical worldview in which nothing escapes divine rule.
Covenant Sanctions
Blessing and curse both “come upon” Israel (Joshua 23:15;Deuteronomy 31:17). קָרָה reinforces covenant accountability, linking obedience with favor and disobedience with judgment.
Mission and Guidance
Abraham’s servant models prayerful dependence: requesting that God “cause to happen” the right meeting. This anticipates New Testament guidance by the Spirit in arranging gospel encounters (Acts 8:26-40).
Ministry Significance
1. Assurance in Unforeseen Circumstances
Believers facing trials echo Joseph’s brothers’ fear that “harm may befall” (Genesis 42:4) yet rest in the truth that God orchestrates every outcome (Romans 8:28).
2. Prayer for Providential Appointments
Like Eliezer, Christians ask God to order their steps, expecting Him to arrange divine appointments in evangelism and discipleship.
3. Interpreting History through Providence
Esther teaches congregations to interpret cultural events not as random but as arenas for God’s redemptive action.
Select Passages
•Genesis 24:12 – petition for God-given encounter
•Exodus 21:13 – accidental death within divine allowance
•Joshua 23:15 – covenant blessings and curses “come upon”
•1 Samuel 6:9 – testing “chance” versus divine judgment
•Esther 9:1 – providential reversal
Summary
קָרָה dismantles the notion of blind chance. Whether meeting a spouse at a well, fleeing to a city of refuge, or facing national peril, every “happening” in Scripture reveals the Lord’s meticulous governance. For the church, the term invites confident mission, humble submission, and worship of the God who rules both the expected and the unforeseen.
Forms and Transliterations
אִקָּ֥רֶה אקרה הֲיִקְרְךָ֥ הִקְרָ֛ה הַ֥מְקָרֶֽה הַקְרֵה־ הַקֹּרֹ֥ת היקרך המקרה הקרה הקרה־ הקרת וְהִקְרִיתֶ֤ם וְקָרָ֣הוּ וַיִּ֣קֶר וַיִּקָּ֤ר וַיִּקָּ֥ר וּלְקָרוֹת֙ והקריתם ויקר ולקרות וקרהו יִקְּרֵ֥ךְ יִקְרֵ֔נִי יִקְרֶ֥ה יִקְרָ֥ה יִקָּרֵ֤ה יקרה יקרך יקרני לְ֠קָרוֹת לקרות נִקְרֵ֙יתִי֙ נִקְרָ֣ה נקרה נקריתי קֵר֔וּהוּ קָֽרְךָ֜ קָרָ֑הוּ קרהו קרוהו קרך תִּקְרֶ֑ינָה תקרינה ’iq·qā·reh ’iqqāreh hă·yiq·rə·ḵā hakkoRot hakreh ham·qā·reh Hamkareh hamqāreh haq·qō·rōṯ haq·rêh- haqqōrōṯ haqrêh- hayikreCha hăyiqrəḵā hikRah hiq·rāh hiqrāh ikKareh kaRahu kareCha keRuhu lə·qā·rō·wṯ Lekarot ləqārōwṯ nikRah nikReiti niq·rāh niq·rê·ṯî niqrāh niqrêṯî qā·rā·hū qā·rə·ḵā qārāhū qārəḵā qê·rū·hū qêrūhū tikReinah tiq·re·nāh tiqrenāh ū·lə·qā·rō·wṯ ulekarOt ūləqārōwṯ vaiYiker vaiyikKar vehikriTem vekaRahu way·yi·qer way·yiq·qār wayyiqer wayyiqqār wə·hiq·rî·ṯem wə·qā·rā·hū wəhiqrîṯem wəqārāhū yikkaReh yikkeRech yikRah yikReh yikReni yiq·qā·rêh yiq·qə·rêḵ yiq·rāh yiq·rê·nî yiq·reh yiqqārêh yiqqərêḵ yiqrāh yiqreh yiqrênî
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
