Word study
Near
19 Hebrew and 3 Greek words behind this English word
The original-language words that the Berean Standard Bible translates with one of these: near, neared. English often uses one word where Hebrew or Greek has several, each with its own shade of meaning. Under each word are verses where it is translated this way; choose the word itself for its full study: every verse, how else it is translated, the forms it takes and what the dictionaries say.
At a glance
How often each original word is translated “near” or one of its forms.
Compare the Hebrew words side by side Compare the Greek words side by side
Hebrew and Aramaic words (Old Testament)
- קָרוֹב qârôbneartranslated this way 43 times of its 74 uses · Strong’s H7138Adjective · Translated: near 38, nearest 4, nearby 3, next 2Full study and all 72 verses →
Genesis 45:10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen and be near me— you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own.
Leviticus 10:3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.’” But Aaron remained silent.
- קָרַב qârabcome near, approachtranslated this way 39 times of its 276 uses · Strong’s H7126Verb · Translated: present 65, bring 18, approached 16, presented 14Full study and all 258 verses →
Genesis 47:29 When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt,
Exodus 12:48 If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, all the males in the household must be circumcised; then he may come near to celebrate it, and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it.
- עַל alheighttranslated this way 27 times of its 4,859 uses · Strong’s H5921Preposition · Translated: on 777, over 297, in 218, against 216Full study and all 3,996 verses →
Genesis 14:6 and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert.
Exodus 14:9 The Egyptians— all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops— pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon.
- נָגַשׁ nâgashdraw near, approachtranslated this way 21 times of its 123 uses · Strong’s H5066Verb · Translated: approached 24, approach 12, come near 9, Bring 9Full study and all 110 verses →
Genesis 27:26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Please come near and kiss me, my son.”
Exodus 19:15 “Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”
- עִם imwithtranslated this way 14 times of its 940 uses · Strong’s H5973Preposition · Translated: with 246, with you 84, with him 61, against 39Full study and all 838 verses →
Genesis 25:11 After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who lived near Beer-lahai-roi.
Leviticus 25:47 If a foreigner residing among you prospers, but your countryman dwelling near him becomes destitute and sells himself to the foreigner or to a member of his clan,
- אֵצֶל êtselconjunction, proximitytranslated this way 8 times of its 55 uses · Strong’s H681Preposition · Translated: beside 29, near 7, side 5, next 5Full study and all 53 verses →
Deuteronomy 11:30 Are not these mountains across the Jordan, west of the road toward the sunset, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah opposite Gilgal near the Oak of Moreh?
Judges 19:14 So they continued on their journey, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin.
- אֵל êlmotion totranslated this way 7 times of its 4,199 uses · Strong’s H413Preposition · Translated: to 1,941, to me 285, to you 149, to him 137Full study and all 3,455 verses →
Genesis 20:4 Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?
Genesis 24:11 As evening approached, he made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town at the time when the women went out to draw water.
- קָרֵב qârêbapproachingtranslated this way 5 times of its 11 uses · Strong’s H7131Adjective · Translated: comes near 2Full study and all 11 verses →
Numbers 1:51 Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever it is to be pitched, the Levites are to set it up. Any outsider who goes near it must be put to death.
2 Samuel 18:25 So he called out and told the king. “If he is alone,” the king replied, “he bears good news.” As the first runner drew near,
- אֵת êthwithtranslated this way 4 times of its 640 uses · Strong’s H854Preposition · Translated: with 144, with you 64, with him 62, with me 35Full study and all 585 verses →
Exodus 33:21 The LORD continued, “There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock,
Judges 3:19 But upon reaching the idols near Gilgal, he himself turned back and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” “Silence,” said the king, and all his attendants left him.
- פָּנִים pânîmface, beforetranslated this way 3 times of its 1,836 uses · Strong’s H6440Noun · Translated: before 448, face 222, presence 147, before you 123Full study and all 1,671 verses →
Genesis 23:17 So Ephron’s field at Machpelah near Mamre, the cave that was in it, and all the trees within the boundaries of the field were deeded over
- יַרְדֵּן YardênJordantranslated this way 3 times of its 177 uses · Strong’s H3383Noun · Translated: Jordan 168, near the jordan 3, along the jordan 2, far as the jordan 2Full study and all 164 verses →
Numbers 22:1 Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.
Joshua 22:10 And when they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan.
- שַׁעַר shaargatetranslated this way 3 times of its 362 uses · Strong’s H8179Noun · Translated: gate 195, gates 84, gateway 30, within your gates 15Full study and all 299 verses →
2 Samuel 23:15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”
1 Chronicles 11:17 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”
- נָגַע nâgatouch, reach, striketranslated this way 3 times of its 144 uses · Strong’s H5060Verb · Translated: touches 35, touched 20, touch 19, Whoever touches 6Full study and all 136 verses →
Psalm 32:6 Therefore let all the godly pray to You while You may be found. Surely when great waters rise, they will not come near.
Psalm 88:3 For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.
- אֵלוֹן êlônterebinthtranslated this way 2 times of its 9 uses · Strong’s H436Noun · Translated: Oak 5, near the oaks 2, Oaks 1, great tree 1Full study and all 9 verses →
Genesis 13:18 So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the Oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.
Genesis 14:13 Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the Oaks of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were bound by treaty to Abram.
- עֻמָּה ummâhjuxtapositiontranslated this way 2 times of its 31 uses · Strong’s H5980Preposition-l · Translated: close 3, as 3, beside 3, near 2Full study and all 26 verses →
Exodus 28:27 Make two additional gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, on its front, near its seam just above its woven waistband.
Exodus 39:20 They made two additional gold rings and attached them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, on its front, near the seam just above its woven waistband.
- פֶּתַח pethachopening, doorway, entrancetranslated this way 2 times of its 157 uses · Strong’s H6607Noun · Translated: entrance 107, door 14, doorway 13, doors 5Full study and all 150 verses →
Exodus 40:29 He placed the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, just as the LORD had commanded him.
Jeremiah 19:2 and go out to the Valley of Ben-hinnom near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. Proclaim there the words I speak to you,
- קֶרֶב qerebinward part, midsttranslated this way 2 times of its 213 uses · Strong’s H7130Noun · Translated: within 27, among you 18, among 16, midst 16Full study and all 211 verses →
Joshua 9:7 But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell near us. How can we make a treaty with you?”
Joshua 10:1 Now Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and devoted it to destruction — doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king — and that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living near them.
- לֶחִי LechîLechitranslated this way 2 times of its 4 uses · Strong’s H3896Noun · Translated: near 2, Lehi 2Full study and all 4 verses →
Judges 15:9 Then the Philistines went up, camped in Judah, and deployed themselves near the town of Lehi.
2 Samuel 23:11 And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines had banded together near a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them.
- חָצֵר châtsêrenclosure, courttranslated this way 2 times of its 184 uses · Strong’s H2691Noun · Translated: courtyard 61, court 43, villages 28, along with their villages 19Full study and all 161 verses →
Nehemiah 3:25 and Palal son of Uzai made repairs opposite the angle and the tower that juts out from the upper palace of the king near the courtyard of the guard. Next to him, Pedaiah son of Parosh
Psalm 10:8 He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush he slays the innocent; his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless.
Greek words (New Testament)
- ἐγγύς engýsneartranslated this way 26 times of its 29 uses · Strong’s G1451Adverb · Translated: near 26, nearby 1, imminent 1, soon 1Full study and all 29 verses →
Matthew 24:32 Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near.
Mark 13:28 Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near.
- ἐγγίζω engízōI come near, approachtranslated this way 21 times of its 40 uses · Strong’s G1448Verb · Translated: near 11, approached 8, approaching 6, drew near 4Full study and all 39 verses →
Matthew 3:2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”
- προσέρχομαι prosérchomaiI come near, consent totranslated this way 3 times of its 85 uses · Strong’s G4334Verb · Translated: came 52, went 13, come 4, draw near 3Full study and all 84 verses →
Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
Hebrews 10:1 For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship .
How to study a word well
- Start from the verse, not the dictionary. Find which Hebrew or Greek word stands in the verse you are studying. One English word often translates several different original words.
- Read every place the word is used. A word means what its writers used it to mean. The list of verses and the count by book show its range, and who uses it most.
- Look at how it is translated. A word rendered five different ways has a wider meaning than any one English word can carry.
- Notice the form. A command is not a statement, and a passive verb is something done to the subject. The form in your verse is part of the meaning.
- See what it keeps company with. The words that appear beside it again and again show how the Bible itself connects ideas.
- Then read the dictionaries. They give the considered view of scholars, with their evidence.
- Come back to the verse. Context decides. A word does not carry every one of its meanings into every verse, and where a word came from does not settle what it means in a sentence written centuries later.
Scripture text and translation counts: Berean Standard Bible. Full entry: Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906, public domain), in the digital edition Brown-Driver-Briggs Enhanced by unfoldingWord (Joel Ruark, J. de Joode), based on data by Eliran Wong and Stephen Ku; its additions are used under CC BY 4.0. Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary: Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project, CC BY 4.0. Hebrew-to-English verse numbering: original work of the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible available at https://github.com/openscriptures/morphhb, CC BY 4.0. We reformatted the data, linked the references to this site’s Bible text and left out words in other scripts that the source holds only as images. These are historical reference works; an entry gives its authors’ view, and a word’s meaning in any verse depends on how it is used there.