Part of Speech: Verb
Strong's Number: H7126
Original Word: qarab
Usage Notes: "to offer, come near, approach." This word appears in nearly all branches of the Semitic languages from the earliest times and at all periods. Hebrew also attests the verb at all periods and about 295 times. (It appears 9 times in biblical Aramaic.) In general qarab signifies "approach or coming near someone or something" apart from any sense of intimacy. In Gen 12:11 (the first biblical occurrence) the word is used of spatial proximity, of being spatially close to something: "And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife…." Usually the word represents being so close to something (or someone) that the subject can see (Exod 32:19), speak to (Num 9:6), or even touch (Exod 36:2) the object or person in question.
This verb also is used of temporal nearness, in the sense that something is about to occur. Qarab can be used of the imminence of joyous occasions, such as religious feasts: "Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand…" (Deut 15:9). The word is also used of the imminence of foreboding events: "…Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand [literally, "my father will soon die"]…" (Gen 27:41).
Qarab is used in a number of technical senses. In all these instances personal involvement is suggested; the idea is not simply being close to something (someone) but being actively and personally involved with it (him). In military contexts the word signifies armed conflict. In Deut 2:37 the Lord commended Israel because "unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not." Yet in Deut 2:19 He allowed them to "come nigh" that land: "And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them…." The later passage (Deut 2:37) uses the word technically, to close in battle. Therefore, Israel did not come close to the land of Ammon; they did not close in battle with them (cf. Josh 8:5). In some passages this martial coloring is not immediately obvious to the casual reader but is nonetheless present: "When the wicked… came upon me to eat up my flesh…" (Psa 27:2). Psa 27:3 ("though a host should encamp against me") substantiates that this use of the verb is "to close in battle" (cf. Psa 91:10; Psa 119:150).
Qarab is used technically of having sexual relations. In Gen 20:4 before Abimelech states his innocence with regard to Sarah we read he "had not come near her" (cf. Deut 22:14; Isa 8:3).
In another technical use the word represents every step one performs in presenting his offering and worship to God. This idea first appears in Exod 3:5 where God tells Moses not to "draw near" before removing his sandals. Later Israel's meeting with God's representative was a drawing near to God (Exod 16:9). At Sinai they draw near to receive God's Law (Deut 5:23, 27). In the causative stem the verb often represents the sacrificial presentation of offerings (Lev 1:14) through the priests (Lev 1:5) to the Lord (Lev 1:13). Israel also came near the Lord's representative in serious legal cases so that God the great King and Judge could render a decision (Josh 7:14). In the eschaton all peoples are to gather before God; they are "to come near" Him to hear and receive His judgment (Isa 41:1; Isa 48:16).
Usage Number: 2
Part of Speech: Noun
Strong's Number: H7133
Original Word: qorban
Usage Notes: "offering; oblation." This noun occurs about 80 times in biblical Hebrew. The word is also found in Ethiopic and old South Arabic. The first occurrence of the word is used of an "offering" presented as a sacrifice: "If any man of you bring an offering unto the Lord, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock" (Lev 1:2). Some other related nouns appear less frequently: qarôb, "neighbor" (Exod 32:27); qirbâ, occurs twice with the meaning of drawing near to worship God and offer sacrifice (Psa 73:28; Isa 58:2); qurban, which appears twice, means "supply, offering" (Neh 10:35; Neh 13:31), it appears to be a late pronunciation of qorban. The word qerab, which appears 8 times, is an Aramaic loan word; it means "war, battle," or the actual engaging in battle (Psa 55:18).
Usage Number: 3
Part of Speech: Adjective
Strong's Number: H7138
Original Word: qarôb
Usage Notes: "near." This word occurs about 77 times. Qarôb can represent nearness in space (Gen 19:20, the first biblical occurrence) and an epistemological nearness (Deut 30:14). The adjective also appears in Ezek 6:12: "He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword…."
The adjective qareb parallels qarôb in meaning. Qareb, which occurs 11 times, means "near"; it represents intimate proximity (usually in a cultic context referring to cultic activity). One appearance is in Ezek 45:4: "The holy portion of the land shall be for the priests the ministers of the sanctuary, which shall come near to minister unto the Lord…."
