The Hebrew noun qir'ah means a meeting or encounter — specifically the act of going out to meet someone coming toward you. It is related to the verb qara (to meet, encounter, befall) and typically refers to a formal, anticipated meeting: welcoming a dignitary, meeting an approaching army, or encountering God.
Qir'ah carries the sense of preparation and formality. When the Israelites went out to meet God at Sinai, Moses led them to the qir'ah (Exod 19:17). The 'meeting' involved proper disposition, cleansing, and readiness. This same concept underlies the eschatological 'meeting' in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 — the Greek term apantesis parallels this Hebrew concept: going out to escort a returning dignitary into the city. The rapture is not mere extraction but solemn, prepared encounter with the returning King.