קָרַב (qa.rav)
qa.rav
to present: come
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 234 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb qarav means to come near or draw close. It describes physical movement toward someone or something, but also marks the arrival of time, as when the days of Israel’s life drew near to their end (Genesis 47:29). In the Torah, it frequently appears in instructions for worship, where people are told to bring offerings or approach the sanctuary.
The word carries a strong sense of intention. It is not accidental proximity but purposeful movement. The sources highlight its use in Leviticus and Numbers, where priests and worshippers present gifts before God. This active "bringing near" distinguishes it from simply being close by; it implies an act of dedication or presentation.
Qarav also describes God drawing near to help those in distress (Psalm 69:18). This reciprocal closeness—people approaching God in worship and God approaching people in aid—forms a key theme in the biblical text. Translators often render it as "bring," "offer," or "draw near," depending on whether the subject is human or divine.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qarav describes purposeful movement toward someone or something. It is not accidental proximity but intentional approach. In worship, this means bringing gifts to God with clear intent. In life, it marks moments when time draws near to its end or when we face those who threaten us.
God invites us to come close to Him in prayer and sacrifice. He also draws near to help those in distress. This reciprocal closeness shows that relationship requires effort from both sides. When you feel distant, remember that God is already moving toward you with care and attention.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 234 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he will present15×
- you will present11×
- and/ you will bring near11×
- and/ they drew near11×
- draw near10×
- and/ he brought near10×
- and/ he presented8×
- you will bring near7×
- he will present7×
- and/ they brought near7×
- to/ present6×
- and/ you will present6×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הִקְרַבְתֶּ֨ם6×
- וְ/הִקְרִ֥יב5×
- יִקְרַ֣ב4×
- וַ/יַּקְרֵב֙4×
- וְ/הִקְרִ֨יב4×
- תַּקְרִ֥יבוּ3×
- תַּקְרִ֥יב3×
- לְ/הַקְרִ֖יב3×
- יַקְרִ֧יבוּ3×
- יַקְרִ֥יב3×
- וַ/יַּקְרֵ֥ב3×
- וַ/יַּקְרֵ֞ב3×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 3:5
He said, “Don’t come close. Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.”
God commands Moses to stop approaching because the ground is holy, showing that divine presence demands reverence before any human action.
-
Leviticus 1:3
“‘If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without defect. He shall offer it at the door of the Tent of Meeting, that he may be accepted before Yahweh.
The instruction to bring a male without defect at the Tent of Meeting highlights that worship requires intentional presentation of one's best to God.
-
Genesis 47:29
The time came near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please don’t bury me in Egypt,
Israel calls Joseph because his time of death is near, illustrating how qarav marks the approach of significant life events like mortality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does qarav mean in the Bible?
How is qarav different from other words for approaching?
Where does qarav appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (234 verses across 26 books)
Genesis 5 verses
When he had come near to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to…
Genesis 20:4Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation?
Genesis 27:41Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. Esau said in his heart, “The days of…
Genesis 37:18They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to kill him.
Genesis 47:29The time came near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, “If now I have found favor in…