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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/Read/Meet

Hebrew #7121 קרא to call out, summon

Hebrew #7122 קרא to meet, encounter, happen 

Hebrew #7123 קרא to read, recite

In particular, the word and sense of "reading" is used of "the Days":

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

Deuteronomy 17:18 RBT

When it means "read":

ספר התורה ... ויקראהו

"a book of the Torah...and he is reading Himself."

(2 Kings 22:8)

 הספר החתום אשר יתנו אתו אל יודע הספר לאמר קרא נא זה ואמר לא אוכל כי חתום הוא

"the Sealed-Close Book which his eternal self is giving toward he who knows the Book, to say, 'Read, pray, this one!' And he said, 'I am not able!' For he who is sealed-close is Himself."

(Isaiah 29:11) 

It is a very frequent word, found about 750 times. Understanding the right meaning typically involves surrounding grammatical cues.

Does it mean to name?

The verb קרא (qārāʾ) does not, in itself, signify the creation or composition of a name. Rather, it denotes the act of calling out, summoning, or designating by name, often accompanied by the noun שם (shēm, “name”). For example, “he called his name X” (ויקרא שמו...) indicates that a name was assigned, but the act itself is one of addressing, not inventing. This usage is distinct from other, more specialized terms that might imply creative naming or etymology.

The gloss "give name to" (cf. Brown-Driver-Briggs #7121) is somewhat misleading in this context. The Hebrew קרא (qal stem) generally means “call,” “call out,” or “summon,” rather than the creative or compositional act of giving or inventing a name. The references listed show קרא + ל being used to introduce a name (e.g., “he called his name X”). However, קרא does not carry any sense of "giving" but rather, "calling out."

It is found especially with the preposition 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 present, it is inaccurate to translate it in the "naming" sense.

Below is a breakdown of this usage:

1. Summoning a Person (General Use)

  • קרא ל [person] → "Summon (someone)"

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

  • קרא ל נפשו → "Summon oneself" (reflexive)

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

  • קרא ל [infinitive purpose] → "Summon in order to..."

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

  • קרא ל [thing] → "Demand, require"

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

2. Summoning with Other Prepositions

  • קרא אל [person] → "Call toward (someone)"

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

  • קרא אל [location] → "Call toward (a place)"

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

  • קרא מן [location] → "Summon from (a place)"

    • Example: Hosea 11:1; Judges 4:6

  • קרא בשם → "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)

    • קרא ל [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

  • ל + person → Summoning (directly or reflexively)
  • ל + infinitive → Summoning for a purpose
  • ל + thing → Calling for/demanding something
  • בשם → Calling/appointing by name
  • אל + person → Calling to (addressing)
  • מן + location → Calling from (summoning from a place)
  • ב + thing → Reading in/within (this preposition "in" is often changed to "upon" as in "called upon")