Original Word: קְרָב
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: qrab
Pronunciation: keh-RAHV
Phonetic Spelling: (ker-awb')
KJV: battle, war
NASB: war, battle
Word Origin: [from H7126 (קָרַב - offer)]

1. hostile encounter

battle, war

From qarab; hostile encounter -- battle, war.

see HEBREW qarab

Word Origin
from qarab
Definition
a battle, war
NASB Translation
battle (4), war (5).

קְרָב noun [masculine] battle, war (hostile approach; Aramaism = קְרָב, compare Lag^{Bn 175}); — abs ׳ק Zechariah 14:3 +; plural קְרָבוֺת Psalm 68:31; — "" מִלְחָמָח Job 38:23; Psalm 144:1; ׳יוֺם ק Zechariah 14:3; Psalm 78:9; ׳כְּלֵיק Ecclesiastes 9:18; his heart was war Psalm 55:22 (see 19 see √ Qal 1 a); plural Psalm 68:31 people that delight in battles; — 2 Samuel 17:11 read בְּקִרְבָּם ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 Th Dr and most.

Meaning and Nuances

קְרָב (qerav) speaks of armed conflict at close quarters—whether literal clashes between armies or figurative struggles of the soul. The term evokes the heat of engagement when decisive action is required and outcomes are life-altering.

Occurrences and Literary Contexts

• 2 Samuel 17:11 portrays Absalom mustering “in battle” against David, underscoring how political ambition can plunge a nation into destructive confrontation.
• Job 38:23 presents treasuries of snow “for the day of war and battle,” reminding the reader that even the elements are at the LORD’s command when He judges.
• Psalm 55:18 records David’s confidence: “He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me,” revealing deliverance that comes not by weapons but by covenant grace.
• Psalm 55:21 contrasts soothing words with “war in his heart,” exposing deceit that hides hostility behind a veneer of peace.
• Psalm 68:30 pleads, “Rebuke the beast in the reeds… scatter the nations who delight in war,” linking קְרָב to international arrogance confronted by divine authority.
• Psalm 78:9 recounts Ephraim’s archers who “turned back on the day of battle,” illustrating how unbelief produces retreat even among the armed.
• Psalm 144:1 celebrates the LORD “who trains my hands for battle,” affirming that military skill is ultimately God-given.
• Ecclesiastes 9:18 observes, “Wisdom is better than weapons of war,” setting moral insight above martial prowess.
• Zechariah 14:3 looks forward: “Then the LORD will go out to fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle,” anchoring hope in a final, victorious intervention.

The Divine Warrior

Scripture often couples קְרָב with God’s personal engagement. From the Exodus pattern (implicit background) to Zechariah’s eschatological vision, the LORD enters the fray on behalf of His people. He is not a distant observer; He is the commander whose presence decides the conflict. Psalm 144:1 personalizes this truth by depicting a king trained directly by his covenant God.

Human Conflict Under God’s Governance

Even rebellious warfare (2 Samuel 17; Psalm 55) unfolds within the divine plan. David’s prayers transform external strife into an occasion for deeper reliance. The psalmist’s repeated use of קְרָב in Psalm 55 exposes a spiritual dimension: the fiercest struggle may come through betrayal and internal discord rather than swords alone.

Failure and Accountability

Psalm 78 chronicles Israel’s history to show that turning back in battle is rooted in forsaking God’s covenant. Military collapse is therefore diagnostic; it reveals a prior collapse of faith.

Wisdom versus Weapons

Ecclesiastes 9:18 and Job 38:23 frame קְרָב within the paradox of divine wisdom. Meteorological reserves and moral insight both outweigh human arsenals. Scripture thus reorients attention from strategy to submission, from hardware to holiness.

Eschatological Hope

Zechariah 14:3 gathers every previous implication into a prophetic climax. The same LORD who trains, delivers, and judges will one day rise to wage the ultimate קְרָב, vindicating righteousness and ushering in peace.

Ministry Implications

1. Spiritual warfare: Believers recognize that every earthly clash mirrors an unseen conflict (Ephesians 6 by extension). Prayer, praise, and obedience become primary weapons.
2. Leadership: Pastors and elders are called to prepare congregations for battle, not with anger but with truth, faith, and love, modeling David’s dependence in Psalm 144.
3. Missions: The gospel advances into hostile territory; courage rests on the certainty that the decisive battle belongs to the LORD (Zechariah 14:3).
4. Peacemaking: Ecclesiastes 9:18 urges churches to prize wisdom over aggression, laboring to reconcile where possible while standing firm where necessary.
5. Discipleship: Psalm 78 warns against the retreat of the faithless; teaching the mighty acts of God equips the next generation to stand “in the day of battle.”

קְרָב therefore calls the reader to view all conflict—physical or spiritual—through the lens of divine sovereignty, covenant faithfulness, and ultimate victory in the Lord.

בַּקְרָֽב׃ בקרב׃ וּֽקֲרָב־ וקרב־ לַקְרָ֑ב לקרב מִקֲּרָב־ מקרב־ קְ֝רָ֗ב קְרָ֑ב קְרָֽב׃ קְרָב֥וֹת קרב קרב׃ קרבות bakRav baq·rāḇ baqrāḇ keRav keraVot lakRav laq·rāḇ laqrāḇ mikkarov miq·qă·rāḇ- miqqărāḇ- qə·rā·ḇō·wṯ qə·rāḇ qərāḇ qərāḇōwṯ ū·qă·rāḇ- ukarov ūqărāḇ-Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts