קֶ֫רֶב (qe.rev)
qe.rev
entrails: among
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 186 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun qereb primarily denotes the inner part or midst of something, functioning as a spatial term for being "among" people or places. Its root meaning points to the nearest or central section of an object or group, which is why it frequently appears in phrases like "in the midst of the land" or "among the Canaanites." This usage establishes a sense of proximity and inclusion, marking where something or someone is situated relative to others.
Beyond physical location, qereb carries significant psychological weight by referring to the inner self as the seat of thought and emotion. Lexical sources identify it with the bowels or entrails, reflecting an ancient understanding of these organs as the center of human feeling and desire. This is evident in passages where God searches the "inward parts" or where a person's heart is described as being within their qereb, highlighting an internal reality that drives action.
The word also appears in ritual contexts, specifically referring to the entrails of sacrificial animals offered to God. In Leviticus and Exodus, these inner parts are treated with special care, often burned on the altar as a pleasing aroma. This technical usage underscores the seriousness of worship, where the most vital and hidden aspects of the offering are presented, mirroring the concept of bringing one's truest self before the divine.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qereb points to the innermost part of something, whether it is the midst of a crowd or the deepest seat of human emotion. In ancient thought, the entrails were not just physical organs but the center of feeling and desire. When Scripture speaks of God searching the qereb, it suggests that nothing remains hidden from Him. Your inner life, with all its fears and hopes, is known fully by the Creator who formed you.
This intimacy extends to how God dwells among His people. The phrase 'among us' carries a weight of presence and relationship. It is not about distance but nearness. In worship, the offering of the inner parts symbolized bringing one's truest self before God. This reminds us that faith is not merely outward ritual but an inward reality where we invite God into the core of our being.
When you feel isolated or misunderstood, remember that God is present in the midst of your circumstances. He does not stand afar off but enters into the heart of your situation. This promise of nearness offers comfort and stability, anchoring your spirit in the knowledge that you are never truly alone.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 186 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ [the] midst of38×
- in/ midst/ its18×
- the/ entrails15×
- in/ midst/ your15×
- from/ midst/ your13×
- from/ [the] midst of11×
- from/ among8×
- [is] in/ midst/ your7×
- in/ midst/ our5×
- in/ inner being/ my5×
- [are] in/ midst/ your4×
- in/ midst/ their3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/קֶ֥רֶב17×
- בְּ/קֶ֣רֶב15×
- מִ/קֶּ֥רֶב12×
- בְּ/קִרְבּֽ/וֹ\׃7×
- מִ/קֶּ֣רֶב6×
- בְּ/קִרְבּ֔/וֹ6×
- הַ/קֶּֽרֶב\׃5×
- בְּ/קֶ֖רֶב5×
- בְּ/קִרְבְּ/כֶ֑ם5×
- מִ/קִּרְבֶּֽ/ךָ\׃4×
- הַ/קֶּ֔רֶב4×
- בְּ/קִרְבּ֖/וֹ4×
Key Verses
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Genesis 18:12
Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
Sarah's laughter originates within her own inner being, showing how qereb describes the private seat of personal emotion and reaction.
-
Exodus 34:9
He said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, Lord, please let the Lord go among us, even though this is a stiff-necked people; pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”
Moses pleads for God to go among the stiff-necked people, highlighting the word's use for divine presence within a community.
-
Leviticus 1:9
but he shall wash its innards and its legs with water. The priest shall burn all of it on the altar, for a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
The washing and burning of the innards in sacrifice illustrates the ritual offering of the innermost parts as a pleasing aroma to God.
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Exodus 17:7
He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested Yahweh, saying, “Is Yahweh among us, or not?”
Israel questions if Yahweh is among them, using qereb to define the spatial and relational reality of God's presence with His people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word qereb mean?
Why does the Bible mention entrails in sacrifices?
How is qereb different from other words for heart?
Where does this word appear in the Old Testament?
Every Occurrence (186 verses across 22 books)
Genesis 7 verses
Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
Genesis 18:24What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who…
Genesis 24:3I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son…
Genesis 25:22The children struggled together within her. She said, “If it is like this, why do I live?” She went to inquire of…
Genesis 41:21and when they had eaten them up, it couldn’t be known that they had eaten them, but they were still ugly, as at the…
Genesis 45:6For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are yet five years, in which there will be no plowing…
Genesis 48:16the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my…