the Berasit Hebrew Dictionary

קרא

This word is often used interchangeably with shem, with disastrous results.

examine Genesis 2:19-20 and Genesis 4:26

The ancient Hebrew phrase קרא את שמ (qera et shem) can be literally translated as “study the characteristics”.

This phrase is very important in terms of the overall theme of the opening chapters of Genesis, as well as in certain critical instances relating to certain characters within the narrative.

The phrase occurs twice in Genesis 4:26 in reference to Jehovah

Prior to this the phrase occurs in Genesis 4:17 and 4:25. It also appears in Gen 5:2, 5:3, 5:29, 11:9, 12:8, 12:18, 13:4, 16:11, 16:13, 16:15, 17:5, 17:15, 17:19, and on and on.

Gen 3:20 contains a variant phrase qera adam shem

In fact, the vast majority of instances of the word 'qera' occur within the phrase including shem. The noticable exceptions to this rule are the three instances of qera in the first chapter of Genesis.

1. Genesis 1:5
   • קרא אלהימ אור יומ חשכ קרא לילה אהיה ערב אהיה בקר יומ אהד
   • qera elohim avar yowm hoshek qera layla ahyah ereb ahyah boqer yowm ehad
   • studied The Elohim light cycle darkness studied night are evening are morning cycle one
2. Genesis 1:8
   • קרא אלהימ רקיע שמימ אהיה ערב אהיה בקר יומ שני
   • qera elohim raqi shemim ahyah ereb ahyah boqer yowm sheni
   • studied The Elohim structure The Legendary Ones are evening are morning cycle second
3. Genesis 1:10
   • קרא אלהימ יבשה ארצ מקוה מימ קרא מימ אראה אלהימ כי טוב
   • qera elohim yibsheh Aretz miqveh mayim qera mayim arah elohim ki towb
   • studied The Elohim the land Earth hope The Mayim studied The Mayim looked The Elohim caused improvement

LexID 7121