Bible Word Study
קְרָא
qᵉrâʼ · null
קְרָא
Definition
The Aramaic noun קְרָא (qᵉrâʼ) fundamentally means a 'call,' 'proclamation,' or 'reading.' In the book of Ezra, it refers to official documents that are read aloud, such as the letter from Rehum to King Artaxerxes (Ezra 4:18) and the king's subsequent decree (Ezra 4:23). In Daniel, it describes a royal proclamation or summons, like the command for all officials to assemble for the dedication of Nebuchadnezzar's image (Daniel 3:4) or the urgent call for the wise men to interpret the writing on the wall (Daniel 5:7, 12).
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament (Ezra 4:18-23, Daniel 3:4, 4:14, 5:7-8, 5:12, 5:15). Its usage consistently pertains to formal, authoritative communication. In Ezra, it denotes written documents that are officially read. In Daniel, it refers to vocal proclamations or summonses issued by Babylonian kings, often in contexts of royal decree, divine judgment, or the need for supernatural interpretation.
Etymology
קְרָא is the Aramaic cognate of the Hebrew verb קָרָא (qārāʼ, H7121), meaning 'to call, proclaim, read.' The Aramaic noun developed directly from this common Semitic root (Q-R-'), which conveys the core idea of vocal declaration. Its meaning in Biblical Aramaic narrowed to specifically denote the content or act of a formal, often royal, proclamation.
Semantic Range
This word highlights the theme of divine communication and authority within human governance. In Daniel, the royal 'proclamations' (קְרָא) often set the stage for God to reveal His superior sovereignty, as seen when Daniel is called to interpret the writing on the wall (Daniel 5). Understanding this term enriches reading by showing how God works through—and in response to—the official decrees of pagan empires to accomplish His purposes. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a קְרָא was not a casual request but a binding royal edict. Its use in the court settings of Ezra and Daniel reflects the formal, bureaucratic nature of the Persian and Babylonian empires. A proclamation from the king was an exercise of absolute power, requiring immediate compliance. This contrasts with modern, more democratic concepts of public announcements. כְּרוֹז (kᵉrôz, H3744) — A herald's 'proclamation'; often a public cry. קָרָא (qārāʼ, H7121) — The Hebrew root verb meaning 'to call, proclaim, read.'
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]