ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA HEBREA
Qara (קָרָא) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
Qara (קָרָא) is a foundational Hebrew verb meaning 'to call out,' used across Scripture for naming, summoning, crying out, proclaiming, and reading aloud.
Significado de la palabra
Qara (קָרָא) is one of the most frequent and versatile verbs in the Hebrew Bible, appearing 483 times across 452 verses. At its core, it means to call out to someone, particularly by name. The basic sense is address by name, but its range extends far beyond that: it covers crying out, proclaiming, reading aloud, summoning, inviting, appointing, and giving names to things.
The verb occurs in several stems (binyanim). In the Qal (active) stem, it covers calling, crying out, proclaiming, reading aloud, summoning, inviting, commissioning, and naming. In the Niphal (passive/reflexive), it describes self-naming, being called, being proclaimed, being read aloud, or being summoned. In the Pual, it refers to being called, named, or chosen. The KJV captures this breadth with words like 'call,' 'cry,' 'proclaim,' 'read,' 'name,' 'preach,' 'publish,' and 'renowned.'
Uso en las Escrituras
The early chapters of Genesis showcase several of qara's primary uses. In Genesis 1:5, 1:8, and 1:10, God calls (qara) elements of creation into their names—Day, Night, Heaven, Earth, and Seas—demonstrating naming as an act of ordering and giving identity. In Genesis 2:19-20, Adam exercises the same authority over the animals by calling (naming) them, and in Genesis 2:23 the woman is called (yiqqārēʾ) 'Woman' because she was taken from Man. Genesis 3:9 shows another key use: the Lord God called (qara) unto the man, asking 'Where art thou?'—a summoning that initiates dialogue after the fall. Genesis 3:20 and 4:17 extend naming into human relationships and civic life, as Adam names his wife Eve and Cain names a city after his son.
Throughout the rest of the Hebrew Bible, qara carries these foundational senses into worship, prophecy, and proclamation. Reading aloud (qara) becomes central to the public reading of Torah and prophetic scrolls. Prophets are said to cry out (qara) God's message to the people, and Israel is called (qara) by God's name as His covenant people. Because of this range, qara ties together themes of speech, identity, and divine address across the canon.
La palabra en detalle
- H7121 Qara (קָרָא) is a common Hebrew verb (483 occurrences) meaning 'to call' in the broad sense—addressing by name, crying out, proclaiming, reading aloud, summoning, and naming. It appears in Qal, Niphal, and Pual stems. The Genesis 1–4 passages already display its core range: divine naming of creation, human naming of animals, God's summoning of Adam (Gen 3:9), and the naming of persons and places.
Versículos de ejemplo
- Genesis 1:5 God calls (qara) the light 'Day' and the darkness 'Night.' Naming here is an act of ordering creation and assigning identity to what He has made.
- Genesis 2:19 Adam is brought the creatures 'to see what he would call them.' Qara here is naming—an exercise of human stewardship and authority over the living world.
- Genesis 3:9 'Jehovah God called (qara) unto the man.' Qara shifts from naming to summoning; God initiates dialogue by addressing Adam after the fall.
- Genesis 4:17 Cain 'called the name of the city' after his son Enoch. Qara names civic landmarks, showing the verb's role in shaping culture and memory.
Preguntas frecuentes
What does qara (קָרָא) literally mean?
Literally, qara means 'to call out to,' especially to address someone by name. From that core it extends to cry out, proclaim, read aloud, summon, and give a name to something.
Is qara only about naming?
No. While naming is prominent in Genesis 1–4, qara also covers reading aloud (Torah reading), crying out for help, summoning someone, and proclaiming a message. Its breadth is why the KJV uses many different English words for it.
How many times does qara appear in the Bible?
Qara occurs 483 times across 452 verses in the Hebrew Bible, making it one of the most frequently used Hebrew verbs and a key term for understanding speech, identity, and divine address.