קָרָא

From the study of Exodus 14:27

Range of meaning

An infinitive with a preposition, 'to meet, toward, in front of'. Used for going out to meet someone, friendly (Gen 18:2) or hostile (Num 21:23, 'went out against Israel').

Against the English

KJV and WEB: 'fled against it' (old English: 'against' = 'toward, so as to meet'). NIV: 'toward it'. ESV: 'fled into it'. BSB: 'As the Egyptians were retreating', which drops the direction altogether.

How it drifted

The KJV's 'against' once meant 'toward, facing'. A modern reader may take it as 'fled in opposition to it' or misread the scene.

Used elsewhere in the period

The usual Hebrew idiom for going to encounter someone. The LXX says the Egyptians fled 'under the water' (hypo to hydōr), stressing that they were submerged.

From the study of 2 Samuel 19:16

Range of meaning

From the verb qara' II, 'to meet, encounter, befall.' Used as a preposition-like form meaning 'to meet,' 'toward,' or 'against.' It covers going out to welcome someone (Gen 18:2; 1 Sam 18:6), and also going out to fight them (1 Sam 17:48).

Against the English

'To meet' everywhere. It is accurate, though English 'meet' can sound casual. Here it means a formal welcoming party.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used of the women who went out to meet Saul and David after Goliath's defeat (1 Sam 18:6), and of Abigail meeting David (1 Sam 25:20, 32). In the ancient Near East, going out to meet a ruler on the road, before he reached the town, was a public sign of loyalty and submission.

From the study of Amos 4:12

Range of meaning

An infinitive of the verb qārāʾ II, 'to encounter, happen upon', with the preposition le-. It works almost as a preposition meaning 'toward, to meet, opposite'. It describes movement toward someone for a face-to-face encounter. That can be friendly: welcoming guests (Gen 18:2), greeting a returning king or a victor (1 Sam 18:6), Israel brought out of the camp 'to meet God' at Sinai (Exod 19:17). It can also be hostile: armies 'going out to meet' an enemy in battle array (1 Sam 4:1; 17:2, 21; Judg 20:31; 2 Kgs 23:29).

Against the English

English 'meet' tends to suggest an appointment, an introduction or a reunion. The Hebrew word is about direction and confrontation: you go out and face what is coming toward you.

How it drifted

In popular use, 'meet your God' has become a personal, after-death appointment. That flattens the military and theophany overtones (a theophany is a visible appearing of God) that the Hebrew carries.

Used elsewhere in the period

Exod 19:17 (out of the camp 'to meet God', liqraʾt hāʾĕlōhîm) is the closest verbal parallel. Battle uses are common in Samuel–Kings. HALOT and BDB both list the 'meet in hostility' sense alongside the friendly one.