קָרָה (qa.rah)
qa.rah
cold
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun qarah denotes cold, specifically the physical sensation or state of being chilled. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears sparingly, occurring in only four verses across Job, Psalms, and Proverbs. The word captures a tangible reality rather than an abstract concept, often serving as a metaphor for distress or desolation when paired with heat or fire.
Its usage highlights the stark contrast between comfort and suffering. For instance, in Psalm 102:4, the psalmist describes his bones scorched like a torch, linking physical pain to the experience of cold. Similarly, Proverbs 25:20 uses the image of taking off clothing in cold weather to illustrate inappropriate comfort for someone in grief. These contexts show qarah as a concrete symbol of vulnerability and hardship.
Translators typically render qarah simply as "cold" or "chill," preserving its directness. The word does not carry complex theological layers but serves as a vivid, everyday image to convey emotional or physical suffering. Its brevity in Scripture underscores the power of simple sensory language to express deep human experience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qarah brings us back to the body, reminding us that our physical senses are deeply tied to our emotional reality. When Scripture speaks of cold, it is not merely describing weather but a state of vulnerability and exposure. It captures the raw feeling of being chilled without protection, a sensation that naturally triggers a longing for warmth and safety.
In Proverbs 25:20, this physical chill becomes a metaphor for emotional pain. The text compares offering songs to a grieving heart to removing clothes in freezing weather. This image helps us understand that comfort is not always about adding more noise or activity; sometimes it requires recognizing the other person’s deep need for shelter and rest.
Psalm 147:17 reminds us that God controls these elements, hurling hail and cold with power. Yet, even in the harshest conditions, this word points to our shared human fragility. It invites us to look around and see those who feel exposed, offering them the warmth of presence rather than just advice.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- coldness2×
- in the/ coldness1×
- coldness/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קָרָֽה\׃1×
- קָ֭רָה1×
- קָ֝רָת֗/וֹ1×
- בַּ/קָּרָֽה\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 25:20
As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
This verse uses the physical sensation of cold to illustrate how inappropriate comfort can worsen someone's grief, highlighting the need for empathy.
-
Psalms 147:17
He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can stand before his cold?
Here, the word emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty over nature, showing that even the most biting cold is under His command.
-
Job 24:7
They lie all night naked without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.
The text links this physical exposure to the injustice faced by the poor, who lack basic clothing and shelter against the chill.