7123. qera
Lexical Summary
qera: Tear, piece, fragment

Original Word: קְרָא
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: qra'
Pronunciation: keh-rah
Phonetic Spelling: (ker-aw')
NASB: read, called, proclaimed, shouted, summoned
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H7121 (קָרָא - called)]

1. call, cry, read

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
call, cry, read

(Aramaic) corresponding to qara' -- call, cry, read.

see HEBREW qara'

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to qara
Definition
to call, read out or aloud
NASB Translation
called (1), proclaimed (1), read (7), shouted (1), summoned (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[קְרָא] verb call, read out, aloud (see Biblical Hebrew I. קרא); —

Pe`al Imperfect3masculine singular יִקְרֵה Daniel 5:7, 1singular אֶקְרֵא Daniel 5:17; 3masculine plural יִקְרוֺן Daniel 5:15; Infinitive לְמִקְרֵא Daniel 5:8; Daniel 5:16; Participle active קָרֵא Daniel 3:4 +; —

1 call, proclaim, בְּהַיִל: Daniel 3:4; Daniel 4:11; Daniel 5:7

2 read out, aloud, accusative כְּתָבָא Daniel 5:7,8,15,16,17 (ל person).

Pe`îl (WCG 225) Perfect3masculine singular קֱרִי Ezra 4:18,23 it was read, קֳדָם person

Hithpe`el be summoned, Imperfect3masculine singular יִתְקְרֵי Daniel 5:12.

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s 7123, קְרָא, appears eleven times in the Old Testament, all within the post-exilic books of Ezra and Daniel. Whether rendered “read,” “proclaim,” or “call,” the verb consistently conveys a public declaration that carries authority and demands a response. The contexts range from royal correspondence and imperial decrees to heavenly announcements and crisis moments in the Babylonian court.

Spectrum of Usage

1. Reading an official document aloud (Ezra 4:18; Ezra 4:23; Daniel 5:7-17).
2. Heralding an imperial mandate (Daniel 3:4).
3. Voicing a divine judgment (Daniel 4:14).
4. Summoning a person gifted to interpret revelation (Daniel 5:12).

Royal and Administrative Decrees (Ezra 4)

Ezra 4:18 records Artaxerxes’ reply to the Persian officials: “The letter you sent us has been read and translated in my presence.” The simple act of reading legitimizes the contents before the king, illustrating how proclamation turns policy into enforceable reality. When the same letter is later read to local authorities (Ezra 4:23), construction on the temple is forcefully halted. The passage warns that ungodly decrees, once “read,” can hinder God’s work, yet His larger redemptive plan remains intact.

Imperial Heralds and Idolatry (Daniel 3)

At the plain of Dura, “the herald loudly proclaimed, ‘O peoples, nations, and men of every language…’” (Daniel 3:4). The verb underscores the sweeping scope of Nebuchadnezzar’s command to worship the golden image. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s refusal shows that allegiance to God supersedes even the most public and powerful human proclamation.

Heavenly Voice of Judgment (Daniel 4)

In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream a watcher “called out in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree…’” (Daniel 4:14). Here קְרָא conveys an irrevocable decree from heaven. Earthly kings may issue edicts, but the Most High’s proclamation determines their fates, reminding readers that divine sovereignty governs human history.

The Writing on the Wall (Daniel 5)

Six of the eleven occurrences cluster in Daniel 5, where Belshazzar’s terror hinges on the inability of Babylon’s sages “to read the inscription.” The repetition of קְרָא emphasizes the contrast between human incompetence and the Spirit-endowed insight of Daniel. When Daniel finally stands before the king he declares, “Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him” (Daniel 5:17). Reading becomes revelation, and proclamation becomes judgment: Babylon will fall that very night.

Theological Themes

• Authority of the spoken word: Whether human or divine, the act of calling out renders a message binding.
• Revelation and interpretation: Genuine understanding of God’s declarations requires spiritual illumination.
• Accountability: Once proclaimed or read, a message leaves hearers without excuse; response is mandatory.
• Sovereignty: Earthly proclamations are subservient to God’s ultimate decree.

Ministry Implications

1. Public reading of Scripture remains central in congregational life (cf. 1 Timothy 4:13), echoing Ezra 4’s courtroom atmosphere.
2. Preachers and teachers are heralds who must accurately “read” God’s message and proclaim it with clarity and courage, following Daniel’s example.
3. Disciples are called to discern between competing voices—imperial, cultural, or divine—and obey the superior authority of God’s Word.

Christological and New Testament Resonance

The motif of authoritative proclamation foreshadows the gospel call. Jesus arrives in Galilee “proclaiming the gospel of God” (Mark 1:14), and the apostles become heralds to the nations. Just as Daniel alone could read the mysterious writing, Christ alone fully reveals the Father (John 1:18) and breaks the sealed scroll (Revelation 5:5-9).

Pastoral Reflections

Believers today navigate a world filled with competing edicts. The narrative arc of קְרָא encourages steadfastness: listen first to heaven’s decree, announce it faithfully, and trust God to accomplish His purposes even amid opposition.

Key References

Ezra 4:18; Ezra 4:23

Daniel 3:4

Daniel 4:14

Daniel 5:7-8, 12, 15-17

Forms and Transliterations
אֶקְרֵ֣א אקרא יִקְר֔וֹן יִקְרֵ֞ה יִתְקְרֵ֖י יקרה יקרון יתקרי לְמִקְרֵ֔א לְמִקְרֵ֗א למקרא קֱרִ֖י קֱרִ֧י קָרֵ֣א קָרֵ֤א קָרֵ֨א קרא קרי ’eq·rê ’eqrê ekRe kaRe keRi lə·miq·rê lemikRe ləmiqrê qā·rê qārê qĕ·rî qĕrî yikReh yikRon yiq·rêh yiq·rō·wn yiqrêh yiqrōwn yiṯ·qə·rê yitkeRei yiṯqərê
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Ezra 4:18
HEB: עֲלֶ֑ינָא מְפָרַ֥שׁ קֱרִ֖י קָדָמָֽי׃
NAS: to us has been translated and read before
KJV: hath been plainly read before
INT: us has been translated and read before

Ezra 4:23
HEB: ק) מַלְכָּ֔א קֱרִ֧י קֳדָם־ רְח֛וּם
NAS: document was read before
KJV: letter [was] read before
INT: Artaxerxes of King was read before Rehum

Daniel 3:4
HEB: וְכָרוֹזָ֖א קָרֵ֣א בְחָ֑יִל לְכ֤וֹן
NAS: loudly proclaimed: To you the command is given,
KJV: Then an herald cried aloud,
INT: the herald proclaimed loudly the command

Daniel 4:14
HEB: קָרֵ֨א בְחַ֜יִל וְכֵ֣ן
NAS: He shouted out and spoke as follows:
KJV: He cried aloud, and said
INT: shouted aloud follows

Daniel 5:7
HEB: קָרֵ֤א מַלְכָּא֙ בְּחַ֔יִל
NAS: The king called aloud to bring
KJV: The king cried aloud to bring
INT: called the king aloud

Daniel 5:7
HEB: אֱ֠נָשׁ דִּֽי־ יִקְרֵ֞ה כְּתָבָ֣ה דְנָ֗ה
NAS: man who can read this inscription
KJV: Whosoever shall read this
INT: man who read inscription this

Daniel 5:8
HEB: כָהֲלִ֤ין כְּתָבָא֙ לְמִקְרֵ֔א [וּפִשְׁרָא כ]
NAS: in, but they could not read the inscription
KJV: not read the writing,
INT: could the inscription read interpretation make

Daniel 5:12
HEB: כְּעַ֛ן דָּנִיֵּ֥אל יִתְקְרֵ֖י וּפִשְׁרָ֥ה יְהַֽחֲוֵֽה׃
NAS: now be summoned and he will declare
KJV: let Daniel be called, and he will shew
INT: now Daniel be summoned the interpretation will shew

Daniel 5:15
HEB: כְתָבָ֤ה דְנָה֙ יִקְר֔וֹן וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ לְהוֹדָעֻתַ֑נִי
NAS: in before me that they might read this
KJV: in before me, that they should read this
INT: inscription this read interpretation and make

Daniel 5:16
HEB: ק) כְּתָבָ֜א לְמִקְרֵ֗א וּפִשְׁרֵהּ֙ לְהוֹדָ֣עֻתַ֔נִי
NAS: you are able to read the inscription
KJV: thou canst read the writing,
INT: be able the inscription to read interpretation and make

Daniel 5:17
HEB: בְּרַ֗ם כְּתָבָא֙ אֶקְרֵ֣א לְמַלְכָּ֔א וּפִשְׁרָ֖א
NAS: however, I will read the inscription
KJV: yet I will read the writing
INT: however the inscription will read to the king the interpretation

11 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7123
11 Occurrences


’eq·rê — 1 Occ.
qā·rê — 3 Occ.
qĕ·rî — 2 Occ.
lə·miq·rê — 2 Occ.
yiq·rêh — 1 Occ.
yiq·rō·wn — 1 Occ.
yiṯ·qə·rê — 1 Occ.

7122
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