Skip to content

Genesis 1:5

And he is summoning15b elohim to the Light of hot-one, and to the Dark one he has summoned night-hers.16 And he is becoming evening, and he is becoming morning of a hot-one one.

Footnote:

15b

To Summon

Hebrew #7121 קרא to call out, summon, to read.

"...and he has written to himself an eternal self duplicate of This Flowing Teaching ("Torah") upon a book from and to the faces of the Joined Priests. And she has become in company with himself, and he has summoned [קרא] within himself all the Days of the Living ones of himself."

Deuteronomy 17:18 RBT

The definition "to call out, summon" is the primary meaning. Especially with the prep ל and person "calling to". "Day" is not an abstract idea, but a being, (cf. "Sons of Day" 1 Thes. 5:5) When there is a prepostion is present, it is inaccurate to translate it in the "naming" sense.

The function of the verb קרא ("to call, summon") when followed by the preposition לְ (lamed) varies based on context. Below is a breakdown of this usage:

1. Summoning a Person (General Use)

  • קָרָא לְ [person] → "Summon (someone)"

    • Example: Genesis 12:18 (Pharaoh summons Abram)
    • This is the most common pattern, appearing approximately 100 times.

  • קָרָא לְ נַפְשׁוֹ → "Summon oneself" (reflexive)

    • Example: 1 Kings 1:28, 32 (David summoning someone for himself)

  • קָרָא לְ [infinitive purpose] → "Summon in order to..."

    • Example: Joshua 24:9; Judges 12:1; 1 Samuel 28:15 (calling for a specific reason)

  • קָרָא לְ [thing] → "Demand, require"

    • Example: Proverbs 18:6 (a fool’s lips "call for" a beating)

2. Summoning with Other Prepositions

  • קָרָא אֶל [person] → "Call to (someone)"

    • Example: Exodus 10:24; Joshua 4:4
    • Often used when the focus is on addressing rather than summoning.

  • קָרָא אֶל [location] → "Call to (a place)"

    • Example: 2 Samuel 9:2 (calling to a place)

  • קָרָא מִן [location] → "Summon from (a place)"

    • Example: Hosea 11:1; Judges 4:6

  • קָרָא בְּשֵׁם → "Summon by name"

    • Example: Isaiah 45:4 ("Summoned by thy name")

3. Specific Uses of Summoning

  • Summon = Invite (especially to a feast)

    • Example: Exodus 34:15; Judges 14:15
    • Can also include an infinitive purpose (e.g., inviting someone to eat or celebrate).

  • Call and Appoint Someone (Commissioning)

    • קָרָא לְ [person] → "Appoint (someone)"
    • Example: Isaiah 48:15; 49:1
    • If followed by בְּשֵׁם, it means "appoint by name" (Exodus 31:2; Isaiah 43:1).

  • Absolute Use (Without a Direct Object)

    • Example: Amos 7:4; Isaiah 22:12 ("Summoned")
    • Used when the action of calling is emphasized rather than the recipient.

Summary

  • לְ + person → Summoning (directly or reflexively)
  • לְ + infinitive → Summoning for a purpose
  • לְ + thing → Calling for/demanding something
  • בְּשֵׁם → Calling/appointing by name
  • אֶל + person → Calling to (addressing)
  • מִן + location → Calling from (summoning from a place)