H7126 H7126
To draw near or approach; in Hifil, to bring near or present an offering; statively, to be near or at hand.
One of the most theologically dense verbs in the Hebrew Bible, qarab spans the entire spectrum of nearness — from a person walking up to another, to the solemn act of presenting a sacrifice before God. In its Hifil stem, which accounts for nearly half of all occurrences, the word becomes the standard technical term for offering sacrifices in the Levitical system, reflected across languages from Arabic yuqarribu to Korean 드리다 and Swahili -toa. Yet the word never loses its earthy, spatial core: Moses is told to 'draw near' the burning bush, armies 'approach' for battle, and the day of the LORD 'is near.' The Piel intensifies the action into deliberate, purposeful bringing-close, as in Ezekiel's symbolic joining of the two sticks.
Senses
1. offer, present sacrificially — The dominant Hifil cultic sense: presenting a sacrifice, grain offering, or animal to Yahweh according to prescribed ritual. Leviticus uses this form overwhelmingly (Lev 1:13-14; 3:3-9), and the multilingual evidence is striking — Arabic Form II yuqarribu mirrors the Hebrew causative exactly, while Korean 드리다/바치다 and Hindi चढ़ाना all select dedicated 'offering' vocabulary rather than generic 'approach' words, confirming a lexicalized ritual sense distinct from mere physical movement. 122×
AR["وَ-يُقَرِّبُ","وَتُقَرِّبُونَ"]·ben["এবং-উৎসর্গ-করবে","এবং-উৎসর্গ-করুক","এবং-তোমরা-উৎসর্গ-করবে","তবে-সে-উৎসর্গ-করবে"]·DE["dann-er-soll-opfern","und-du-soll-opfern","und-er-soll-bringen-nahe"]·EN["and-he-shall-bring-near","and-you-shall-offer","then-he-shall-offer"]·FR["alors-il-devra-offrir","et-il-devra-apporter-près-de","et-vous-offrirez"]·heb["ו-הקריב"]·HI["और-चढ़ाए","और-चढ़ाओ","और-चढ़ाओगे","और-तुम-चढ़ाओगे","तो-वह-चढ़ाए"]·ID["Dan-ia-akan-mempersembahkan","Dan-persembahkanlah","dan-ia-akan-mempersembahkan","dan-mempersembahkan","dan-persembahkan","dan-persembahkanlah","lalu-persembahkanlah","maka-ia-akan-mempersembahkan"]·IT["allora-egli-dovra-offrire","e-egli-dovra-portare-vicino","e-offrirai"]·jav["Lan-kedah-sami-nyaosaken","Lan-ngaturaken","Lan-sami-ngaturi","lan-ngaturaken","lan-sami-ngaturi"]·KO["그리고-그-가-가져오라","그리고-그-가-가져와라","그리고-너희는-바칠지니","그리고-드리라","그리고-드릴-것이다-너희는"]·PT["E-oferecereis","E-oferecerá","e-oferecereis","e-oferecerá"]·RU["и-принесите","и-принесёт","и-принесёте"]·ES["Y-ofreceréis","Y-presentará","y-ofreceréis","y-presentará"]·SW["Na-ataleta","Na-mtaleta","na-ataleta","na-mtaleta","na-mtatoa"]·TR["ve-sunacak","ve-sunacaksınız"]·urd["اور-تقریب-کرے","اور-قریب-لائے","اور-پیش-کرو-گے","اور-پیش-کروگے"]
2. draw near, approach — The basic Qal intransitive meaning: to draw near, come close, approach a person, place, or situation. This is the root spatial sense from which all others develop. Found in narrative (Lev 9:5-8, Moses commanding Aaron to approach the altar) and prophetic speech alike. Arabic iqtaraba and Swahili -karibia both preserve this core 'move-toward' semantics, as does Korean 가까이 오다. 95×
AR["اقْتَرَبْتُمْ","اقْتَرِبُوا","اقْتَرِبُوا-","اقْتَرِبِي","الْمُقْتَرِبُ","اِقْتَرِبوا","تَقْتَرِبُوا","تَقْتَرِبْ","فَ-تَقَدَّمْتُمْ","فَتَقَدَّمَتْ","وَ-اقْتَرَبَ","وَ-اقْتَرَبَا","وَ-تَقَدَّمُوا","وَاقْتَرَبْتُمْ","وَتَقَدَّمَ","يَقْتَرِبُونَ"]·ben["এবং-কাছে-আসল","এবং-কাছে-আসলেন","এবং-কাছে-এলে","এবং-কাছে-এলেন","এবং-তারা-কাছে-আসল","এবং-তোমরা-কাছে-এসেছিলে","এবং-নিকটে-এল","কাছে-আস","কাছে-এসো","কাছে-যাবে","তারা-কাছে-আসবে","যে-কাছে-আসে"]·DE["der-approaching","draw-nahe","nahen","sie-soll-sich-naehern","und-drew-nahe","und-du-naeherte-sich","und-sie-drew-nahe"]·EN["Come-near","Draw-near","and-drew-near","and-they-drew-near","and-you-approached","draw-near","draw-near-","the-approaching","they-shall-approach"]·FR["[קרבו]","draw-près-de","et-drew-près-de","et-ils-drew-près-de","et-tu-approached","ils-devra-approach","le-approaching","s’approcher"]·heb["ה-קריב","הקריב","ו-הקריב","ו-תקרבון","קרבו","קרבו-"]·HI["और-आईं","और-आए","और-निकट-आए","और-निकट-आया","और-पास-आए","जो-निकट-आए","जो-पास-आए","निकट-आओ","निकट-आओगे","पास-आओ","वे-निकट-आएं"]·ID["Dan-kamu-mendekat","Dan-mendekat","Mendekatlah","boleh-mendekat","dan-kamu-mendekat","dan-mendekat","dan-mendekatlah","kamu-mendekat","mendekatlah","yang-mendekat"]·IT["avvicinarsi","draw-vicino","e-drew-vicino","e-essi-drew-vicino","e-tu-si-avvicino","essi-dovra-avvicinarsi","il-avvicinandosi"]·jav["Lan-majeng","Lan-sami-majeng","Lan-sami-sowan","Lan-sowan","Nyedhakana","Nyelaki-a","celakipun-","ingkang-nyedhak","ingkang-nyedhaki","lan-panjenengan-nyelaki","lan-panjenengan-sadaya-nyedhaki","lan-sami-nyedhak","nyedhaka","nyelak","sami-nyedhak"]·KO["가까이-오라","가까이-오라-","가까이할-것이다-너는","가까이할-것이다-너희는","그-가까이-오는-자","그들이-가까이-올-것이다","그리고-가까이-왔다","그리고-너희가-가까이-왔다"]·PT["Aproximai-vos","E-aproximaram-se","E-aproximou-se","aproximai","aproximai-vos","aproximai-vos-","chegarão","e-aproximastes-vos","e-aproximou-se","o-aproximando","que-se-aproxima","te-aproximarás","vos-aproximareis","¶ E-aproximastes-vos"]·RU["И-приблизились-вы","Приблизьтесь","и-подошли","и-приблизились","и-приблизились-вы","и-приблизилось","и-приблизился","приближайся","приближайтесь","приближатся","приближающийся","приблизьтесь","приблизьтесь-"]·ES["Acercaos","Y-os-acercasteis","Y-se-acercaron","Y-se-acercó","acercaos-","el-que-se-acerque","os-acercaréis","que-se-acerque","se-acercarán","te-acercarás","y-os-acercasteis","y-se-acercó"]·SW["-karibia","Karibieni","Mkakaribia","Na-akakaribia","Na-wakakaribia","anayekaribia","karibieni","kukaribisha","mkakaribia","mtakaribia","na-wakakaribia","utakaribia","wakaribieni"]·TR["Yaklasin","ve-yaklaştı","ve-yaklaştılar","ve-yaklaştınız","yaklasin-","yaklaşacaksın","yaklaşacaksınız","yaklaşan","yaklaşsınlar","yaklaştılar"]·urd["اور-تم-قریب-آئے","اور-قریب-آئی","اور-قریب-آئیں","اور-قریب-آئے","اور-قریب-آیا","جا","جاؤ","جو-قریب-آئے","قریب-آؤ","نزدیک-آئیں","نزدیک-آئے-جو","نزدیک-آنے-والا"]
3. bring near, cause to approach — Hifil causative in non-cultic contexts: to bring someone or something near physically, to cause another to approach. Distinct from sense 1 because no sacrifice is in view — rather, Moses brings the Levites before the congregation (Num 8:9-10), or Pharaoh's army is brought near (Exod 14:10). Spanish distinguishes this well: hizo acercar ('caused to come near') versus ofrecer ('to offer'). 55×
AR["فَ-قَرَّبَ","فَقَرَّبَهُ","وَ-قَرَّبَ","وَ-قَرَّبَكَ","وَ-يُقَرِّبُ","وَ-يُقَرِّبُهَا"]·ben["আর-কাছে-আনলেন","এবং-উপস্থিত-করবে","এবং-কাছে-আনলেন","এবং-তিনি-কাছে-এনেছেন","এবং-নিকটে-আনল"]·DE["und-brachte-nahe","und-er-brachte","und-er-brachte-nahe","und-soll-bringe-dar","und-soll-bringen-nahe"]·EN["and-brought-near","and-he-brought","and-he-brought-near","and-shall-bring-near"]·FR["et-apporta-près","et-apporta-près-de","et-devra-apporter-près-de","et-il-apporta","et-il-apporta-près","et-il-apporta-près-de"]·heb["ו-הקריב","וַ-יַּקְרֵב"]·HI["और-उसने-निकट-लाया","और-निकट-लाए","और-निकट-लाया","और-लाया"]·ID["Dan-ia-mendekatkan","Dan-mendekatkan","dan-Dia-mendekatkan","dan-akan-membawa-dekat","dan-akan-mempersembahkan","dan-dia-akan-mempersembahkan","dan-mempersembahkan","dan-mendekatkan","ia-mendekatkan"]·IT["e-dovra-portare-vicino","e-dovra-presenta","e-egli-porto","e-egli-porto-vicino","e-egli-portò-vicino-a","e-porto-vicino","e-portò-vicino-a"]·jav["Lan-celakaken","Lan-mbekta","Lan-nyaosaken","Lan-nyedakaken","Lan-piyambakipun-nyaosaken","lan-mindhah","lan-nyelakaken","lan-piyambakipun-nyaosaken"]·KO["그리고-가까이-가져오리라","그리고-가까이-가져올-것이다","그리고-가까이-가져왔다","그리고-가까이-데려왔다","그리고-가까이-하게-했다","그리고-가져왔다","그리고-나아오게-하였다"]·PT["E-aproximou","E-fará-aproximar","E-fez-chegar","E-oferecerá","e-aproximou","e-fará-aproximar","¶ E-aproximou"]·RU["И-приблизил","и-приблизил","и-приблизит","и-придвинул","и-принесёт"]·ES["E-hizo-acercar","Y-acercó","Y-hizo-acercar","Y-presentó","Y-te-acercó","e-hizo-acercar","y-acercó","y-traerá"]·SW["Na-akaleta","Na-akamleta","Na-akawaleta","Na-amekuleta-karibu","Uhkrib","na-akaileta","na-akalileta-karibu","na-akaondoa","na-akawaleta","na-akayaleta-karibu"]·TR["Ve-yaklaştırdı","ve-sunacak","ve-sundu","ve-yaklaştıracak","ve-yaklaştırdı"]·urd["اور-قریب-لائے","اور-قریب-لایا","اور-لایا","اور-نزدیک-کیا"]
Exod 14:10, Exod 14:20, Exod 28:1, Exod 29:3, Exod 29:4, Exod 29:8, Exod 29:10, Exod 40:12, Exod 40:14, Lev 8:6, Lev 8:13, Lev 8:18 (+38 more)
4. bring near intensively — Piel intensive: a deliberate, emphatic bringing-near or presenting, used sparingly for weighty moments. In Job 31:37 Job declares he would 'approach' God like a prince; in Ps 65:4 God is the one who actively 'brings near' the chosen one to dwell in his courts. The Swahili causative -karibisha ('to cause to welcome/approach') captures the intentional force well. Only 6 occurrences, each theologically charged. 6×
AR["أَقتَرِبُهُ","قَدِّمُوا","قَرَّبوا","قَرَّبْتُ","وَ-تُقَرِّبُهُ","وَقَرِّبْهُمَا"]·ben["আমি-কাছে-এনেছি","আর-নিকটে-আন","ও-নিকটে-আনো","কাছে-নিয়ে-আস","কাছে-যাব-তাঁর","নিকটে-এনেছে"]·DE["nahen","nahte-sich","und-Mitte","und-nahte-sich"]·EN["I-have-brought-near","I-would-approach-Him","Present","and-bring-near","they-bring-near"]·FR["[וקרב]","[ותקרב]","[קרבו]","approcher","s’approcher"]·heb["אקרבנו","ו-קרב","ו-תקרב","קירבו","קירבתי","קרבו"]·HI["और-जोड़","और-निकट-लाता-है","निकट-आऊँगा-उसे-मैं","निकट-लाए","निकट-लाओ","मैंने-निकट-लाया"]·ID["Aku-mendekatkan","Kemukakanlah","aku mendekatinya","dan-Engkau-bawa-mendekat","dan-dekatkanlah","mereka-mendekatkan"]·IT["avvicinare","avvicinarsi","e-avvicinarsi","e-si-avvicino'"]·jav["Ingsun-nyedhakaken","Majeng-a","kula-badhe-nyaosaken","lan-cedhak-aken","saha-Panjenengan-parani","sami-nyedhakaken"]·KO["가까이-했느니라","그리고-가까이-하시는","그리고-가까이하라","내가-가까이-가리라-그에게","내놓으라"]·PT["Aproximei","E-aproxima","apresentai","aproximar-me-ia-dele","aproximaram","e-fazes-aproximar"]·RU["и-приближённый","и-приблизь","приблизил-Я","приблизили","приблизился-бы-к-нему","приблизьте"]·ES["Acerqué","Y-acerca","acercaron","me-acercaré-a-él","presenten","y-acercarás"]·SW["Karibieni","Nimeleta-karibu","Zikaribishe","na-kumkaribisha","ningemkaribia","wamekaribia"]·TR["Sunun","Yaklastirdim","ve-birleştir","ve-yaklaştırdığın","yaklaştırdılar","yaklaşırım-ona"]·urd["اور-قریب-لا","قریب-لائے","میں اس کے پاس جاؤں گا","میں-نے-قریب-کی","وَ-تُو-قریب-لاتا-ہے","پیش-کرو"]
5. be near, be at hand — Qal stative sense: to be near, be at hand, describing a state of proximity rather than motion. Often temporal — 'the day is near' (Lam 4:18), or 'the year of release is at hand' (Deut 15:9). Arabic stative qaruба (with u-vowel) matches this Hebrew stative pattern, and Korean 가까웠다 similarly shifts from action to state. Only 4 occurrences, but an important semantic distinction from the active 'approach.' 4×
AR["قَدْ-اقْتَرَبَتْ","قَرُبَ","قَرُبَتْ","قَرُبُوا"]·ben["কাছে-এসেছে","নিকটে"]·DE["Mitte","draw-nahe","ist-nahe","nahen"]·EN["draw-near","is-near","they-draw-near","was-near"]·FR["[קרבו]","draw-près-de","est-près-de","milieu"]·heb["קרב","קרבה","קרבו"]·HI["निकट-आ-गया-है","निकट-आए","निकट-आया","वे-निकट"]·ID["mendekat","mereka-dekat","sudah-dekat"]·IT["avvicinarsi","draw-vicino","e-vicino","mezzo"]·jav["celak","piyambakipun-cedhak","sampun-caket","sampun-celak"]·KO["가까워졌네","가까워졌도다","가까웠다"]·PT["aproxima-se","aproximaram-se","aproximou-se"]·RU["близки-они","приближается","приблизились","приблизился"]·ES["Se-acerca","están-cerca","se-acercan","se-acercó"]·SW["Umekaribia","wamekaribia","zimekaribia"]·TR["yaklaştı","yaklaştılar","yaklaşıyor"]·urd["قریب-آ-گیا","قریب-ہیں","قریب-ہے"]
6. sense 6 — A single occurrence at Exod 22:8 where the sense is ambiguous or transitional — the context describes approaching for judicial adjudication ('shall come near to God/the judges'). Cross-lingual renderings (Spanish acercará, German soll-kommen-nahe) treat it as basic approach, but the forensic setting may warrant a specialized juridical sub-sense. 1×
AR["فَ-يَتَقَدَّمُ"]·ben["এবং-কাছে-আসুক"]·DE["und-soll-kommen-nahe"]·EN["and-shall-come-near"]·FR["et---venir-près"]·heb["ו-נקרב"]·HI["और-लाया-जाए"]·ID["maka-mendekat"]·IT["e-shall-venire-vicino"]·jav["sarta-ngarepaken"]·KO["그리고-나아오리라"]·PT["e-aproximar-se-á"]·RU["то-приблизится"]·ES["y-se-acercará"]·SW["na-kuletwa"]·TR["ve-yaklaşacak"]·urd["تو-لایا-جائے"]
Related Senses
H0776 1. land, country, territory (2323×)H8033 1. There (locative adverb) (835×)H7760a 1. put, place, set physically (444×)H8064 1. heavens / sky (329×)H5439 1. around, all around (spatial) (319×)G3772 1. heaven, sky, heavens (278×)H4057b 1. wilderness, desert region (270×)H3220 1. sea, body of water (269×)H0520a 1. cubit (unit of length) (246×)H0127 1. ground, land (territory) (210×)G2889 1. world (185×)H3383 1. Jordan River (proper noun) (183×)G1093 1. earth, the world (176×)H5800a 1. forsake, abandon (Qal active) (166×)H8121 1. sun (celestial body) (133×)H6828 1. north, cardinal direction (120×)H2351 1. outside, exterior space (119×)H5104 1. river, stream (119×)H7341 1. width, breadth (101×)G1563 1. there (95×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
I. [קָרֵב], קָרַב, vb. come near, approach (NH approach, be offered; Assyrian ḳarâbu, approach; Arabic قَرِبَ, قَرُبَ be near, approach; so Ethiopic ቀርበ: Sab. קרב approach a woman (sexually, v. 1 a infr.), DHMHofmus. No. 6. 1. 2, but also gen. דֿ רחק וקרב he who is far and he who is near CISiv, no. 95, 7, 8 cf. SabDenkmNo. 12, 9, 10; Aramaic קְרֵב, ܩܪܶܒ, approach; also, = oblation, Sab. קרבן…