What does יָקַר (yāqar) mean in the Bible?
יָקַר (yāqar): Heaviness metaphorically conveys value and preciousness; costliness derives from rarity and weight.
Hebrew · H3365
יָקַר
Properly, apparently, to be heavy , i.e. (figuratively) valuable ; causatively, to make rare (figuratively, to inhibit )
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יָקַרH3365
Pronunciationyāqar
What does יָקַר (yāqar) mean in the Bible?
יָקַר (yāqar): Heaviness metaphorically conveys value and preciousness; costliness derives from rarity and weight.
Full entry for יָקַר (H3365) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3365?
The BSB source-word alignment has 11 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include be precious (2), esteemed (1), is costly (1), is precious (1), precious (1).
Where does יָקַר (yāqar) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 1 Samuel 18:30. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (3), 1 Samuel (2), 2 Kings (2), Isaiah (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itbe precious2×2 Kings 1:13, 2 Kings 1:14
esteemed1×1 Samuel 18:30
is costly1×Psalms 49:8
is precious1×Psalms 72:14
precious1×1 Samuel 26:21
precious to me1×Psalms 139:17
scarcer1×Isaiah 13:12
Seldom1×Proverbs 25:17
they valued me1×Zechariah 11:13
you are precious1×Isaiah 43:4
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 18:30וַיִּיקַ֥רtoesteemedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 26:21יָקְרָ֥הtopreciousVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular2 Kings 1:13תִּֽיקַר־tobe preciousVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular2 Kings 1:14תִּיקַ֥רtobe preciousVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularPsalms 49:8וְ֭יֵקַרtois costlyConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singularPsalms 72:14וְיֵיקַ֖רtois preciousConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singularPsalms 139:17יָּקְר֣וּtoprecious to meVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralProverbs 25:17הֹקַ֣רtoSeldomVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularIsaiah 13:12אוֹקִ֥ירtoscarcerVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singularIsaiah 43:4יָקַ֧רְתָּtoyou are preciousVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row1 Samuel 18:30
Aligned rows11
Books represented6
1 Samuel22 Kings2Psalms3Proverbs1Isaiah2Zechariah1
Source forms
אוֹקִ֥יר1x’ō·w·qîrIsaiah 13:12
הֹקַ֣ר1xhō·qarProverbs 25:17
וְיֵיקַ֖ר1xwə·yê·qarPsalms 72:14
וַיִּיקַ֥ר1xway·yî·qar1 Samuel 18:30
וְ֭יֵקַר1xwə·yê·qarPsalms 49:8
יָקְרָ֥ה1xyā·qə·rāh1 Samuel 26:21
יָּקְר֣וּ1xyā·qə·rūPsalms 139:17
יָקַ֧רְתָּ1xyā·qar·tāIsaiah 43:4
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular2xPsalms 49:8, Psalms 72:14
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular2x2 Kings 1:13, 2 Kings 1:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1x1 Samuel 18:30
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular1xProverbs 25:17
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular1xIsaiah 13:12
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular1xZechariah 11:13
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular1xIsaiah 43:4
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural1xPsalms 139:17
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Heaviness metaphorically conveys value and preciousness; costliness derives from rarity and weight.
Strong'sH3365
Lexical occurrences11 versesWord forms2 forms8 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 43:1-7Source Gloss
properly, apparently, to be heavy , i.e. (figuratively) valuable ; causatively, to make rare (figuratively, to inhibit )
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Heaviness metaphorically conveys value and preciousness; costliness derives from rarity and weight.
properly, apparently, to be heavy, i.e. (figuratively) valuable; causatively, to make rare (figuratively, to inhibit) BDB: be precious Usage: be (make) precious, be prized, be set by, withdraw.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms8
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense6×
Perfect1Sam 26:21 · Isa 43:4 · Ps 139:17 · Zech 11:134×
Jussive2Kgs 1:131×
Imperfect2Kgs 1:141×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action2×
ImperfectIsa 13:121×
Sequential imperfectProv 25:171×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
God values and treasures his people as inherently costly and valuable
Withdrawing from frequent visits makes one's presence rare and therefore valued
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 11 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
יָקַר is a primitive root - no further derivation.