קְרִיאָה (qe.ri.ah)
qe.ri.ah
proclamation
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun qeri’ah denotes a public proclamation or an official announcement. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Jonah 3:2, where God instructs Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach against it. In this context, the word refers to the urgent message delivered to the city’s inhabitants.
Derived from the root qara’, meaning “to call” or “to proclaim,” qeri’ah emphasizes the act of making something known loudly and publicly. Unlike a private conversation, this term implies a formal declaration intended for a broad audience. The biblical usage highlights the seriousness of the message being sent to a foreign capital.
Translators typically render qeri’ah as “proclamation” or “preaching.” This choice captures the authoritative nature of Jonah’s mission. The single occurrence underscores the weight of divine communication reaching even the most unlikely recipients, marking a pivotal moment in the narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qeri’ah describes a loud, public proclamation rather than a quiet conversation. In Jonah 3:2, God commands Jonah to deliver this urgent message to Nineveh. This shows that divine truth is often meant for everyone, not just a select few.
When you read about this proclamation, remember that God’s word carries authority and purpose. It reaches even those who seem far from faith. Your own voice can participate in this kind of sharing by speaking truth with love and clarity in your daily life.
This single occurrence reminds us that God uses ordinary people to deliver important messages. Whether you are sharing hope or simply being honest, your words matter to Him. He values the courage it takes to speak what He has placed on your heart.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ proclamation1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/קְּרִיאָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Jonah 3:2
“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I give you.”
This verse uses qeri’ah to describe the specific, authoritative message God gave Jonah to announce publicly in Nineveh.