7138. qarob
Lexical Summary
qarob: Near, close, at hand

Original Word: קָרוֹב
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: qarowb
Pronunciation: kah-ROVE
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-robe')
KJV: allied, approach, at hand, + any of kin, kinsfold(-sman), (that is) near (of kin), neighbour, (that is) next, (them that come) nigh (at hand), more ready, short(-ly)
NASB: near, nearest, close, neighbors, soon, who are near, about
Word Origin: [from H7126 (קָרַב - offer)]

1. near (in place, kindred or time)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
allied, approach, at hand, any of kin, that is near of kin, neighbor, that is next,

Or qarob {kaw-robe'}; from qarab; near (in place, kindred or time) -- allied, approach, at hand, + any of kin, kinsfold(-sman), (that is) near (of kin), neighbour, (that is) next, (them that come) nigh (at hand), more ready, short(-ly).

see HEBREW qarab

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from qarab
Definition
near
NASB Translation
about (1), close (2), close relative (1), closer (1), draws near (1), hand (1), kinsmen (1), lately (1), near (47), nearby (1), nearest (6), neighbors (2), ones near (1), related (1), relative (1), relatives (1), short (1), shortly (1), soon (2), who are near (2), who is near (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
קָרֹב, קָרוֺב78

adjective near; — absolute קָרֹב Exodus 12:4 +, וֺב- 2 Samuel 19:48 +; plural קְרֹבִים 1 Kings 8:59, קְרוֺבִים Isaiah 33:13 +; feminine plural קְרֹבוֺת Ezekiel 22:5, etc.; — near (often opposed to רָחוֺק) :

1 of city Genesis 19:20 (+ לָנוּס שָׁ֫מָּה), Jeremiah 48:24, ׳הַקּ Deuteronomy 21:3 the nearest (+אֶל), compare (of elders) Deuteronomy 21:6; of land 1 Kings 8:46 2Chronicles 6:36; road Exodus 13:17; = contiguous, כֶּרֶם 1 Kings 21:2 (+ אֵצֶל בֵּיתִי).

2 of person:

a. + אֶל person Genesis 45:10; Deuteronomy 13:8; Deuteronomy 22:2; Joshua 9:16; 1 Chronicles 12:41 (van d. H. v40); אֶל ׳הַקּ Exodus 12:4 the nearest to; with suffix קְרֹבוֺ Exodus 32:27, i.e. his neighbour.

b. absolute (opposed to or + רחוק, oft,= near and far, i.e. all without distinction), Ezekiel 6:12; Isaiah 57:19; Proverbs 27:10; plural Isaiah 33:13; Jeremiah 25:26; Daniel 9:7; Esther 9:20; Exodus 22:5; ׳ק of distress, personified, Psalm 22:12.; — Ezekiel 23:5,12 Co Berthol read קְרוּאִים famous; Toy רַבִּים (compare Jeremiah 39:13); Hpt in Toy Krae conjectures קְרוֺדִים (Assyrian ‡urâ du, warrior).

c. of near relationship, + אֶל person2 Sam Jeremiah 19:43; Leviticus 21:2,3; Leviticus 25:25 (all H), Numbers 27:11 (P); ל pers Nehemiah 13:4; Ruth 2:20; + מִן compare Ruth 3:12; of intimacy, קְרֹנוֺ Psalm 15:3 ("" רֵעֵהוּ), קְרוֺבַי Job 19:14 ("" מְיֻדָּעַי) Psalm 38:12 ("" אֹהֲנַי וְרֵעַי); near, in office, Esther 1:14.

d. near to ׳עַם קְרֹבוֺ י Psalm 148:14 (Ri Bae קְרכָו the people of those near him).

e. near to ׳י in ceremon function, with אֶל Ezekiel 43:19, with ל Ezekiel 42:13, suffix Leviticus 10:3.

f. of God (׳י), + אֶל person Deuteronomy 4:7; Deuteronomy 30:14; ל pers Psalm 34:19; Psalm 145:18; abs Jeremiah 12:2; Isaiah 50:8; Isaiah 55:6 Psalm 119:151; אֱלֹהֵי מִקָּרֹב Jeremiah 23:23 a God from near by (opposed to מֵרָחוֺק ׳א ); ׳ק of ׳צֶרֶק י Isaiah 51:5, ׳יֶשַׁע י Psalm 85:10 (+ ל of person); — ׳ק שִׁמְךָ Psalm 75:2, read ׳קֹרְאֵי בְּשׁ Dy Che Gr Dr, compare Bae ᵐ5 SyeVer Du.

g. of word, + אֶל person Deuteronomy 30:14; prayer, + ׳אֶליֿ 1 Kings 8:59.

3 of time : יוֺם אֵידָם ׳ק Deuteronomy 32:35; especially of ׳יוֺם י Zephaniah 1:7,14 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 30:3 (perhaps del as ᵐ5 Co Krae), Ezekiel 30:3; Isaiah 13:6; Obadiah 15; Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1; Joel 4:14, compare Ezekiel 7:7; + infinitive אֵירמֿוֺאָב לָבוֺא ׳ק Jeremiah 48:16, compare Isaiah 13:22; Isaiah 56:1; ׳מְחִתָּה ק Proverbs 10:14 imminent ruin; מִקָּרוֺכ Deuteronomy 32:17 recently, so Ezekiel 11:3 ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Co Siegf Berthol (for Mt בְּקָרוֺב) Ezekiel 7:8 soon; Job 20:5 of the briefest; — מִמְּנֵי חשֶׁח ׳אוֺר ק Job 17:12 is dubious; Thes (my) light is near to (prope abest a, as Arabic , but not proven in Hebrew) darkness; Di light (they say) is near (breaking away) from darkness, will soon leave it behind; But אוֺר קְרוֺבָם מֶּןיֶֿחְשַׁךְ the light of their intimate friend shall not (?)grow dark.

Topical Lexicon
General Scope of קָרוֹב (qarov)

The term signifies nearness in place, time, relation, or condition. Scripture employs it to describe physical proximity, impending events, familial kinship, and spiritual closeness between the LORD and His people.

Categories of Usage

1. Spatial proximity: “Joshua and all Israel drew near to them in battle” (Joshua 8:11).
2. Temporal imminence: “Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near” (Isaiah 13:6).
3. Relational kinship: “Boaz is one of our close relatives” (Ruth 2:20).
4. Covenant-spiritual nearness: “You are near, O LORD” (Psalm 119:151).

The Nearness of God

Psalm 34:18 – “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.”
Psalm 145:18 – “The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.”

These declarations anchor Israel’s confidence that God is never remote from repentant believers, prefiguring the New Testament assurance that He “is not far from any one of us” (Acts 17:27).

The Nearness of His Word

Deuteronomy 30:14 celebrates a gracious accessibility: “But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may obey it.” Paul later cites this text in Romans 10:8 to proclaim the ready availability of the gospel.

The Nearness of Salvation and Judgment

Prophets use קָרוֹב to announce both hope and warning:
• Salvation: “He who vindicates Me is near” (Isaiah 50:8).
• Judgment: “For the Day of the LORD is near for all nations” (Obadiah 1:15; cf. Joel 1:15; Zephaniah 1:7; Ezekiel 30:3).

The immediacy presses hearers toward repentance and faith, underscoring divine justice and mercy.

Covenantal Kinship and Redemption

In relational contexts קָרוֹב identifies the “near” family member:
Ruth 2:20 – Naomi blesses the LORD for providing a “close relative” (Boaz), foreshadowing Christ as the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer.
Leviticus 18:6 regulates sexual purity among “close relatives,” guarding covenant holiness.

The same proximity that enables redemption also calls for moral boundaries.

Neighbor and Community Life

Proverbs 27:10 exhorts: “Better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.” Social ethics value immediate, reliable support, reflecting God’s design for communal care.

Contrasting Lip and Heart

Jeremiah laments hypocrisy: “You are near in their mouths but far from their hearts” (Jeremiah 12:2). Authentic worship must align confession with true devotion.

Worship and Priestly Approach

Numbers 16:10 uses קָרוֹב of Levites “drawing near to the LORD” in tabernacle service, prefiguring believers’ priestly access through Christ (Hebrews 10:22).

Eschatological Perspective

The prophets’ refrain that “the day is near” cultivates vigilant hope. The imminence theme carries into the New Testament urgency of Christ’s return (James 5:8).

Pastoral and Ministry Implications

• Encourage faith: God’s nearness comforts the oppressed and contrite.
• Urge readiness: Impending judgment demands continual repentance.
• Foster community: Near neighbors and kin embody God’s provision.
• Model worship: Priestly nearness inspires reverent service and holiness.

Representative References

Exodus 32:26; Leviticus 18:6; Numbers 32:17; Deuteronomy 4:7; Deuteronomy 30:14; Joshua 8:11; Ruth 2:20; 1 Kings 8:46; Ezra 9:7; Nehemiah 13:4; Job 17:12; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 73:28; Psalm 119:151; Psalm 145:18; Proverbs 10:14; Proverbs 27:10; Isaiah 13:6; Isaiah 50:8; Jeremiah 12:2; Ezekiel 30:3; Joel 1:15; Obadiah 1:15; Zephaniah 1:7.

See Also

Hebrew רָחוֹק (rahoq, “far”), Greek ἐγγύς (engys, “near”).

Forms and Transliterations
בְקָר֖וֹב בִּקְרֹבַ֣י בקרבי בקרוב הַקְּרֹב֛וֹת הַקְּרֹבִ֖ים הַקְּרֹבִ֣ים הַקְּרֹבִ֤ים הַקְּרֹבָ֖ה הַקְּרוֹבִ֖ים הַקְּרוֹבָ֣ה הַקָּרֹ֖ב הַקָּרֹ֣ב הַקָּרֹ֥ב הקרב הקרבה הקרבות הקרבים הקרובה הקרובים וְגַ֣ם וְהַקְּרֹבֽוֹת׃ וְהַקָּרֹ֣ב וְהַקָּרוֹב֙ וְלַקָּר֛וֹב וְקָר֣וֹב וְקָר֤וֹב וְקָר֥וֹב וּ֝קְרוֹבַ֗י וגם והקרב והקרבות׃ והקרוב ולקרוב וקרוב וקרובי מִקָּר֑וֹב מִקָּר֗וֹב מִקָּרֹ֛ב מִקָּרֹ֣ב מקרב מקרוב קְרֹֽבוֹ׃ קְרֹב֗וֹ קְרֹבִ֣ים קְרֹבִ֥ים קְרֹבִים֙ קְרֹבָ֛ה קְרֹבָֽה׃ קְרֹבֽוֹ׃ קְרוֹבִ֖ים קְרוֹבִ֥ים קְרוֹבִֽים׃ קְרוֹבָ֑ה קְרוֹבָ֑י קְרוֹבָ֤ה קְרוֹבָֽה׃ קָ֝ר֗וֹב קָר֑וֹב קָר֖וֹב קָר֛וֹב קָר֣וֹב קָר֤וֹב קָר֥וֹב קָרֽוֹב׃ קָרוֹב֙ קרבה קרבה׃ קרבו קרבו׃ קרבים קרוב קרוב׃ קרובה קרובה׃ קרובי קרובים קרובים׃ ḇə·qā·rō·wḇ ḇəqārōwḇ bikroVai biq·rō·ḇay biqrōḇay hakkaRo hakkeroVah hakkeroVim hakkeroVot haq·qā·rōḇ haq·qə·rō·ḇāh haq·qə·rō·ḇîm haq·qə·rō·ḇō·wṯ haq·qə·rō·w·ḇāh haq·qə·rō·w·ḇîm haqqārōḇ haqqərōḇāh haqqərōḇîm haqqərōḇōwṯ haqqərōwḇāh haqqərōwḇîm karOv keRoov keroVah keroVai keroVim keroVo mikkaRo mikkaRov miq·qā·rō·wḇ miq·qā·rōḇ miqqārōḇ miqqārōwḇ qā·rō·wḇ qārōwḇ qə·rō·ḇāh qə·rō·ḇîm qə·rō·ḇōw qə·rō·w·ḇāh qə·rō·w·ḇāy qə·rō·w·ḇîm qərōḇāh qərōḇîm qərōḇōw qərōwḇāh qərōwḇāy qərōwḇîm ū·qə·rō·w·ḇay ukroVai ūqərōwḇay veGam vehakkaRo vehakkarOv vehakkeroVot vekaRov velakkaRov wə·ḡam wə·haq·qā·rō·wḇ wə·haq·qā·rōḇ wə·haq·qə·rō·ḇō·wṯ wə·laq·qā·rō·wḇ wə·qā·rō·wḇ wəḡam wəhaqqārōḇ wəhaqqārōwḇ wəhaqqərōḇōwṯ wəlaqqārōwḇ wəqārōwḇ
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 19:20
HEB: הָעִ֨יר הַזֹּ֧את קְרֹבָ֛ה לָנ֥וּס שָׁ֖מָּה
NAS: town is near [enough] to flee
KJV: Behold now, this city [is] near to flee
INT: town likewise is near flee there

Genesis 45:10
HEB: גֹּ֗שֶׁן וְהָיִ֤יתָ קָרוֹב֙ אֵלַ֔י אַתָּ֕ה
NAS: of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children
KJV: of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children,
INT: of Goshen become shall be near about you

Exodus 12:4
HEB: ה֗וּא וּשְׁכֵנ֛וֹ הַקָּרֹ֥ב אֶל־ בֵּית֖וֹ
NAS: then he and his neighbor nearest to his house
KJV: let him and his neighbour next unto his house
INT: he and his neighbor nearest to his house

Exodus 13:17
HEB: פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים כִּ֥י קָר֖וֹב ה֑וּא כִּ֣י ׀
NAS: even though it was near; for God said,
KJV: although that [was] near; for God
INT: of the Philistines even near he though

Exodus 32:27
HEB: וְאִ֥ישׁ אֶת־ קְרֹבֽוֹ׃
KJV: and every man his neighbour.
INT: his friend man his neighbour

Leviticus 10:3
HEB: יְהוָ֤ה ׀ לֵאמֹר֙ בִּקְרֹבַ֣י אֶקָּדֵ֔שׁ וְעַל־
NAS: By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy,
KJV: I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before
INT: the LORD saying near will be treated and

Leviticus 21:2
HEB: אִם־ לִשְׁאֵר֔וֹ הַקָּרֹ֖ב אֵלָ֑יו לְאִמּ֣וֹ
NAS: for his relatives who are nearest to him, his mother
KJV: But for his kin, that is near unto him, [that is], for his mother,
INT: for his relatives are nearest to him his mother

Leviticus 21:3
HEB: וְלַאֲחֹת֤וֹ הַבְּתוּלָה֙ הַקְּרוֹבָ֣ה אֵלָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֥ר
NAS: sister, who is near to him because
KJV: a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath had no husband;
INT: sister his virgin is near to him because

Leviticus 25:25
HEB: וּבָ֤א גֹֽאֲלוֹ֙ הַקָּרֹ֣ב אֵלָ֔יו וְגָאַ֕ל
NAS: part of his property, then his nearest kinsman
KJV: away [some] of his possession, and if any of his kin come
INT: come kinsman his nearest and buy

Numbers 24:17
HEB: אֲשׁוּרֶ֖נּוּ וְלֹ֣א קָר֑וֹב דָּרַ֨ךְ כּוֹכָ֜ב
NAS: I behold him, but not near; A star
KJV: him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come
INT: behold not near shall come A star

Numbers 27:11
HEB: נַחֲלָת֗וֹ לִשְׁאֵר֞וֹ הַקָּרֹ֥ב אֵלָ֛יו מִמִּשְׁפַּחְתּ֖וֹ
NAS: his inheritance to his nearest relative
KJV: unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family,
INT: his inheritance relative to his nearest in family

Deuteronomy 4:7
HEB: ל֥וֹ אֱלֹהִ֖ים קְרֹבִ֣ים אֵלָ֑יו כַּיהוָ֣ה
NAS: is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD
KJV: who [hath] God [so] nigh unto them, as the LORD
INT: after A god near to is the LORD

Deuteronomy 13:7
HEB: אֲשֶׁר֙ סְבִיבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם הַקְּרֹבִ֣ים אֵלֶ֔יךָ א֖וֹ
NAS: who are around you, near you or far
KJV: which [are] round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off
INT: who are around near about or

Deuteronomy 21:3
HEB: וְהָיָ֣ה הָעִ֔יר הַקְּרֹבָ֖ה אֶל־ הֶחָלָ֑ל
NAS: It shall be that the city which is nearest to the slain man,
KJV: And it shall be, [that] the city [which is] next unto the slain man,
INT: shall be that the city is nearest to the slain

Deuteronomy 21:6
HEB: הָעִ֣יר הַהִ֔וא הַקְּרֹבִ֖ים אֶל־ הֶחָלָ֑ל
NAS: of that city which is nearest to the slain man
KJV: of that city, [that are] next unto the slain
INT: city which is nearest to the slain

Deuteronomy 22:2
HEB: וְאִם־ לֹ֨א קָר֥וֹב אָחִ֛יךָ אֵלֶ֖יךָ
NAS: your countryman is not near you, or if you do not know
KJV: And if thy brother [be] not nigh unto thee, or if thou know
INT: If is not near your countryman about

Deuteronomy 30:14
HEB: כִּֽי־ קָר֥וֹב אֵלֶ֛יךָ הַדָּבָ֖ר
NAS: is very near you, in your mouth
KJV: [is] very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth,
INT: for near But the word

Deuteronomy 32:17
HEB: יְדָע֑וּם חֲדָשִׁים֙ מִקָּרֹ֣ב בָּ֔אוּ לֹ֥א
NAS: [gods] who came lately, Whom your fathers
KJV: [gods that] came newly up,
INT: known New lately came did not

Deuteronomy 32:35
HEB: רַגְלָ֑ם כִּ֤י קָרוֹב֙ י֣וֹם אֵידָ֔ם
NAS: of their calamity is near, And the impending things
KJV: of their calamity [is] at hand, and the things that shall come
INT: their foot for is near the day of their calamity

Joshua 9:16
HEB: וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֗וּ כִּי־ קְרֹבִ֥ים הֵם֙ אֵלָ֔יו
NAS: with them, that they heard that they were neighbors and that they were living
KJV: with them, that they heard that they [were] their neighbours, and [that] they dwelt
INT: heard for were neighbors like about

Ruth 2:20
HEB: לָ֣הּ נָעֳמִ֗י קָר֥וֹב לָ֙נוּ֙ הָאִ֔ישׁ
NAS: to her, The man is our relative, he is one of our closest relatives.
KJV: unto her, The man [is] near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
INT: said Naomi is our relative to her the man of our closest

Ruth 3:12
HEB: יֵ֥שׁ גֹּאֵ֖ל קָר֥וֹב מִמֶּֽנִּי׃
NAS: there is a relative closer than I.
KJV: a kinsman nearer than I.
INT: there relative closer than

2 Samuel 19:42
HEB: יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כִּֽי־ קָר֤וֹב הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֵלַ֔י
NAS: the king is a close relative to us. Why
KJV: Because the king [is] near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry
INT: of Israel Because close the king to us

1 Kings 8:46
HEB: רְחוֹקָ֖ה א֥וֹ קְרוֹבָֽה׃
NAS: far off or near;
KJV: of the enemy, far or near;
INT: far or near

1 Kings 21:2
HEB: כִּ֣י ה֤וּא קָרוֹב֙ אֵ֣צֶל בֵּיתִ֔י
NAS: because it is close beside
KJV: of herbs, because it [is] near unto
INT: because it is close beside my house

77 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7138
77 Occurrences


biq·rō·ḇay — 1 Occ.
haq·qā·rōḇ — 4 Occ.
haq·qə·rō·w·ḇāh — 2 Occ.
haq·qə·rō·ḇîm — 6 Occ.
haq·qə·rō·ḇō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
qā·rō·wḇ — 32 Occ.
qə·rō·ḇōw — 1 Occ.
qə·rō·ḇāh — 6 Occ.
qə·rō·w·ḇāy — 1 Occ.
qə·rō·ḇîm — 6 Occ.
qə·rō·ḇōw — 2 Occ.
miq·qā·rōḇ — 2 Occ.
miq·qā·rō·wḇ — 2 Occ.
ū·qə·rō·w·ḇay — 1 Occ.
wə·ḡam — 1 Occ.
wə·haq·qā·rōḇ — 1 Occ.
wə·haq·qā·rō·wḇ — 1 Occ.
wə·haq·qə·rō·ḇō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
wə·qā·rō·wḇ — 5 Occ.
wə·laq·qā·rō·wḇ — 1 Occ.

7137
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