Lexical Summary qareh: To encounter, to meet, to happen Original Word: קָרֶה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance uncleanness by chance, accidental disqualificationFrom qarah; an (unfortunate) occurrence, i.e. Some accidental (ceremonial) disqualification -- uncleanness that chanceth. see HEBREW qarah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom qarah Definition chance, accident NASB Translation emission (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [קָרֶה] noun [masculine] chance, accident; — construct מִקְּרֵה לַיְלַה Deuteronomy 23:11 by reason of the chance of the night (i.e.nocturnal pollution, compare Leviticus 15:16). Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Settingקָרֶה appears once, in Deuteronomy 23:10, within Moses’ instructions for Israel’s field camp when the nation goes out to war. The verse regulates the man who has become “unclean by a nighttime occurrence”. The singular usage situates the term amid a larger unit (Deuteronomy 23:9-14) that stresses holiness in Israel’s temporary military encampments. Ritual Purity in the War Camp 1. Purpose 2. Procedure 3. Broader Holiness Pattern Historical and Practical Dimensions • Military Hygiene Ancient armies often suffered disease from unsanitary camps. Moses’ directives, including excrement disposal (Deuteronomy 23:12-13), combined practical hygiene with spiritual symbolism. • Moral Neutrality Later rabbinic writings frequently debated culpability for nocturnal emissions. Scripture itself treats the event as involuntary, requiring only ritual cleansing, not sin offering—affirming God’s compassion toward human frailty. Theological Significance • God’s Immanence and Transcendence “For the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp” (Deuteronomy 23:14). Divine presence demands purity, yet His grace provides a path to restoration. • Symbolic Foreshadowing Water-washing outside the camp anticipates the fuller cleansing found in Messiah. Hebrews 13:11-13 draws on “outside the camp” imagery to depict Christ bearing reproach to sanctify His people. New Testament Resonances • Bodily Functions and Sanctification While the New Covenant does not impose identical ceremonial laws (Acts 15:19-20), believers are still called to holiness of body and spirit (2 Corinthians 7:1). The principle of guarding the community’s purity remains. • Spiritual Warfare Instructions given to a literal war camp now inform the Church’s spiritual campaign (Ephesians 6:10-18). Vigilance, self-discipline, and preparedness parallel the ancient soldier’s need for ritual readiness. Pastoral and Ministry Applications 1. Sensitivity to Human Weakness Church leaders can extend empathy toward involuntary bodily conditions, distinguishing ceremonial impurity from moral guilt. 2. Corporate Holiness Congregations should cultivate environments where personal sanctification supports collective witness, acknowledging that private matters can affect public ministry. 3. Discipline Balanced with Grace Moses’ statute joined exclusion with a clear path back. Modern discipline likewise aims at restoration (Galatians 6:1). Historical Reception • Second Temple Judaism maintained evening immersion practices, illustrating ongoing respect for Deuteronomy 23:10. Translation Notes English versions vary (“nocturnal emission,” “something happens at night,” “night occurrence”), yet all capture an unforeseen bodily incident. The’s “nighttime occurrence” preserves the original nuance of an unplanned event. Summary קָרֶה in Deuteronomy 23:10 highlights God’s desire for a pure people even amid the exigencies of war. The single term encapsulates principles of cleanliness, holiness, and compassionate accommodation that continue to inform spiritual life and pastoral care today. Forms and Transliterations מִקְּרֵה־ מקרה־ mikkereh miq·qə·rêh- miqqərêh-Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 23:10 HEB: יִהְיֶ֥ה טָה֖וֹר מִקְּרֵה־ לָ֑יְלָה וְיָצָא֙ NAS: of a nocturnal emission, then he must go KJV: that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, INT: is not clean emission of a nocturnal go 1 Occurrence |
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