Abarim Publications' online Biblical Hebrew Dictionary
קרב
There are two roots קרב (qarab) that are technically separate. Their meanings, however, seem quite kindred:
קרב I
The verb קרב (qarab I) means to come near or approach. This common verb occurs 279 times in the Old Testament, and is used in contexts ranging from spatial approach (Genesis 37:18) to emotional alignment (Leviticus 4:11). The objects neared vary from buildings to people to God, and the motivations behind the verb range from curiosity to a military engagement. Its derivations are:
- The adjective קרב (qareb), meaning near or approaching (Ezekiel 40:46).
- The masculine noun קרב (qerab), meaning battle or war (a hostile approach - Job 38:23).
- The feminine noun קרבה (qirba), meaning approach (Isaiah 58:2).
- The adjective קרוב (qarob), meaning near (Genesis 19:20) or kinsman/neighbor (Exodus 32:27).
- The masculine noun קרבן (qorban), meaning offering (Leviticus 1:2, Numbers 31:50).
- The masculine noun קרבן (qurban), denoting a special wood-offering requested for the second temple (Nehemiah 10:35).
קרב II
The root קרב (qrb II) isn't used in the Bible and only one derivative is extant. But it nevertheless expresses the kind of intimacy we see in the first root. The sole remnant of this root is the masculine noun קרב (qereb), denoting the internal. It's translated as midst, among or inner (Genesis 24:3, Amos 7:8), and it may represent the inward parts of a human or animal body (Genesis 25:22, Exodus 12:9), or it may represent the seat of the inner most thoughts of man (1 Kings 3:28).