קָרַע (qa.ra)
qa.ra
to tear
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 57 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb qa.ra means to tear or rend something apart, whether literally or figuratively. In the Old Testament it appears most frequently in the historical books like Kings and Samuel, where characters often rip their garments as a public sign of intense grief or shock. This physical act serves as an outward expression of inner turmoil, marking moments of profound loss or mourning.
Beyond clothing, the word describes tearing away sovereignty, as when God declares He will tear the kingdom from Saul (1 Samuel 15:28). It also applies to wild beasts tearing prey and even to God rending open the heavens (Isaiah 63:19). The imagery is consistently violent and decisive, emphasizing a forceful separation that cannot be easily undone.
Translators usually render this word as "rend" or "tear," preserving its raw physicality. While modern readers might view garment-tearing as an archaic custom, the underlying concept of a visible, dramatic response to crisis remains clear. The verb captures a moment where boundaries are broken and order is disrupted by overwhelming emotion or divine action.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In the Old Testament, tearing clothes was a raw, physical response to overwhelming grief or shock. When Jacob tore his garments after believing Joseph dead, or when Joshua fell face down at the Ark, they were not just expressing sadness. They were making their inner turmoil visible to everyone around them. This act showed that some losses are too deep for words alone.
Yet this word also carries a heavier weight in Scripture. God uses the image of tearing to describe His own decisive actions, such as when He tore the kingdom from Saul because of disobedience. It reminds us that while human hearts break under pressure, God’s purposes remain firm and sovereign. Even in our deepest pain, we can trust that He holds the final authority over our lives.
For your faith today, this word invites honesty before God. You do not need to hide your brokenness or pretend everything is fine when it is not. Bringing your tears and your confusion into His presence is an act of faith. He sees your pain, and He is faithful to sustain you through every season of loss.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 57 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he tore14×
- torn of3×
- they tore3×
- and/ you tore2×
- and/ they tore2×
- and/ she tore2×
- and/ he will tear2×
- and/ he tore/ them2×
- [were] torn2×
- I will tear away2×
- you tear open1×
- to/ tear1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/יִּקְרַ֣ע5×
- וַ/יִּקְרַ֖ע5×
- קָרְע֖וּ2×
- קְרוּעֵ֣י2×
- קְרֻעִ֔ים2×
- נִקְרָ֔ע2×
- יִקָּרֵֽעַ\׃2×
- וַ/תִּקְרַ֤ע2×
- וַ/יִּקְרַ֨ע2×
- וַ/יִּקְרַ֤ע2×
- תִקְרְעִ֤י1×
- קֹרֵ֤עַ1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 37:34
Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
This verse shows the word used for Jacob’s profound personal grief, marking a moment where his family was shattered by loss.
-
I Samuel 15:28
Samuel said to him, “Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you.
Here the meaning shifts from human emotion to divine judgment, as God declares He will tear the kingdom away from Saul.
-
Joshua 7:6
Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before Yahweh’s ark until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.
Joshua tears his clothes and falls face down, demonstrating how corporate sin can lead a leader to seek immediate mercy before the Ark.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word qa.ra mean?
Why did ancient Israelites tear their clothes?
Does this word only refer to human actions?
How is this different from other words for breaking?
Every Occurrence (57 verses across 20 books)
Genesis 3 verses
Reuben returned to the pit, and saw that Joseph wasn’t in the pit; and he tore his clothes.
Genesis 37:34Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
Genesis 44:13Then they tore their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey, and returned to the city.