qa.ra describes ripping garments and other things, and figuratively taking a kingdom away or opening the heavens.

The predominant use describes tearing garments, often alongside sackcloth, ashes, weeping, or mourning. It also describes the kingdom being taken from a ruler or house, while several passages apply it to material objects such as an altar, scroll, veils, and amulets; Isaiah uses it in the plea that the heavens be torn open.

1. Ripping garments in grief or distress · dominant

   Qal sequential imperfect forms describe people tearing garments when confronted with loss, alarming news, or distress: in Genesis 37:29 the APB renders Reuben's response to Joseph's absence as “he tore his garments,” and in Esther 4:1 Mordecai tears his garments before putting on sackcloth and ashes. Passive participles also describe garments already torn, as in 2 Kings 18:37.

   Genesis 37:29Genesis 37:342 Samuel 1:11Esther 4:12 Kings 19:12 Kings 18:37
2. Taking a kingdom away · common

   In statements about rule, Qal forms portray the kingdom as removed from Solomon, Saul, or David's house and given to another. In 1 Kings 11:11 the APB renders the announced action, “I will surely tear the kingdom from you and give it to your servant”; 1 Samuel 15:28 similarly concerns the kingdom of Israel being taken from Saul.

   1 Kings 11:111 Kings 11:121 Kings 11:311 Kings 14:81 Samuel 15:281 Samuel 28:17
3. Tearing or cutting material things · occasional

   The term can concern objects other than clothing. Niphal perfect forms describe an altar that “was torn” in 1 Kings 13:5, while in Jeremiah 36:23 the APB renders the action on the scroll as “he tore it”; Ezekiel 13:20-21 describes amulets and veils being torn away.

   1 Kings 13:5Exodus 28:32Ezekiel 13:20Ezekiel 13:21Jeremiah 36:23Jeremiah 22:14
4. Tearing open the heavens · rare

   In Isaiah 63:19, a Qal perfect form occurs in a plea addressed to God: the APB renders, “If only you had torn open the heavens and come down.” The clause applies the action to the heavens rather than to clothing or a portable object.

   Isaiah 63:19

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses, the APB commonly uses “tore,” “torn,” or “tear” for garments and objects, including the altar and scroll. In kingdom statements it renders removal as “tear the kingdom from,” and Isaiah 63:19 has “torn open the heavens”.