the Sixth Week after Easter
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!
Bible Dictionaries
Encounter, Befall
Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words
or Qârâ' (קָרָא, Strong's #7122), “to encounter, befall.” Qârâ' represents an intentional confrontation, whereby one person is immediately before another person. This might be a friendly confrontation, in which friend intentionally “meets” friend; so the kings of the valley came out to “meet” Abram upon his return from defeating the marauding army of Chedorlaomer (Gen. 14:17). A host may go forth to “meet” a prospective ally (Josh. 9:11; 2 Sam. 19:15). In cultic contexts, one “meets” God or “is met” by God (Exod. 5:3).
Qârâ' may also be used of hostile “confrontation.” In military contexts, the word often represents the “confrontation” of two forces to do battle (Josh. 8:5); so Israel is told: “Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel” (Amos 4:12). This verb infrequently may represent an “accidental meeting,” so it is sometimes translated “befall” (Gen. 42:4).
These files are public domain.
Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Encounter, Befall'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/vot/e/encounter-befall.html. 1940.
