קֹרֵא

קֹרֵא

a caller, i.e. partridge (from its cry)

Definition

The Hebrew noun קֹרֵא (qôrêʼ) literally means 'a caller' or 'one who cries out,' derived from the verb 'to call.' In its two biblical occurrences, it is used as a name for the partridge, a bird known for its distinctive call. This metaphorical usage highlights a characteristic behavior—the bird's cry—to identify the species. The word does not appear to carry additional symbolic meanings beyond this identification in its specific contexts (1 Samuel 26:20, Jeremiah 17:11).

Biblical Usage

This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times referring to the partridge bird. In 1 Samuel 26:20, David uses it in a metaphor, comparing himself to a hunted partridge pursued by King Saul. In Jeremiah 17:11, the prophet uses the partridge as an image of someone who gains wealth unjustly, which will ultimately abandon them. Both usages leverage the bird's nature, but in different rhetorical contexts: one for pursuit, the other for unreliable gain.

Etymology

קֹרֵא is the active participle of the common verb קָרָא (qārāʼ, H7121), meaning 'to call, cry out, proclaim.' Literally, it means 'a caller' or 'one who calls.' The application to the partridge is a straightforward example of a noun formed from a characteristic action—the bird's call. A variant spelling, קוֹרֵא (qôrêʼ, H6981), appears in Jeremiah 17:11, showing minor orthographic variation.

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a simple animal name, its use in Scripture contributes to meaningful metaphors. In 1 Samuel 26:20, it illustrates the vulnerability and persecution of the righteous (David). In Jeremiah 17:11, it becomes a potent image for the folly of ill-gotten gain and the futility of trusting in wealth instead of God. Understanding the Hebrew root ('to call') subtly reinforces the imagery of something that makes a claim (a cry, or an unjust acquisition) that ultimately proves empty or leads to danger. The partridge was a well-known game bird in the ancient Near East. Its behavior of being easily flushed and hunted made it a fitting symbol for someone being pursued (1 Samuel 26:20). The reference in Jeremiah 17:11 to a partridge that 'gathers young which she has not brought forth' may reflect an ancient observation or folk belief about the bird brooding eggs it did not lay, serving as a proverbial image for unsustainable profit. This cultural understanding is key to interpreting the metaphor. There are no direct Hebrew synonyms for 'partridge' in the Biblical text. For the concept of a bird or fowl, more general terms like עוֹף (ʿôp̱, H5775) — a general term for bird or flying creature — are used.

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