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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יָקַר H3365
Pronunciation yāqar
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 It be precious 2× 2 Kings 1:13, 2 Kings 1:14
esteemed 1× 1 Samuel 18:30
is costly 1× Psalms 49:8
is precious 1× Psalms 72:14
precious 1× 1 Samuel 26:21
precious to me 1× Psalms 139:17
scarcer 1× Isaiah 13:12
Seldom 1× Proverbs 25:17
they valued me 1× Zechariah 11:13
you are precious 1× Isaiah 43:4
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 18:30 וַיִּיקַ֥ר to esteemed Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 1 Samuel 26:21 יָקְרָ֥ה to precious Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular 2 Kings 1:13 תִּֽיקַר־ to be precious Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular 2 Kings 1:14 תִּיקַ֥ר to be precious Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular Psalms 49:8 וְ֭יֵקַר to is costly Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular Psalms 72:14 וְיֵיקַ֖ר to is precious Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular Psalms 139:17 יָּקְר֣וּ to precious to me Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Proverbs 25:17 הֹקַ֣ר to Seldom Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular Isaiah 13:12 אוֹקִ֥יר to scarcer Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular Isaiah 43:4 יָקַ֧רְתָּ to you are precious Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row 1 Samuel 18:30
Aligned rows 11
Books represented 6
1 Samuel 2 2 Kings 2 Psalms 3 Proverbs 1 Isaiah 2 Zechariah 1
Source forms
אוֹקִ֥יר 1x ’ō·w·qîr Isaiah 13:12
הֹקַ֣ר 1x hō·qar Proverbs 25:17
וְיֵיקַ֖ר 1x wə·yê·qar Psalms 72:14
וַיִּיקַ֥ר 1x way·yî·qar 1 Samuel 18:30
וְ֭יֵקַר 1x wə·yê·qar Psalms 49:8
יָקְרָ֥ה 1x yā·qə·rāh 1 Samuel 26:21
יָּקְר֣וּ 1x yā·qə·rū Psalms 139:17
יָקַ֧רְתָּ 1x yā·qar·tā Isaiah 43:4
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular 2x Psalms 49:8, Psalms 72:14
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular 2x 2 Kings 1:13, 2 Kings 1:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 1x 1 Samuel 18:30
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular 1x Proverbs 25:17
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular 1x Isaiah 13:12
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular 1x Zechariah 11:13
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular 1x Isaiah 43:4
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural 1x Psalms 139:17
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Heaviness metaphorically conveys value and preciousness; costliness derives from rarity and weight.
Strong's H3365
Lexical occurrences 11 verses Word forms 2 forms 8 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Isaiah 43:1-7 Source Gloss
properly, apparently, to be heavy , i.e. (figuratively) valuable ; causatively, to make rare (figuratively, to inhibit )
Extended definition Source: 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 groups 2 Aligned forms 8
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 6×
Perfect 1Sam 26:21 · Isa 43:4 · Ps 139:17 · Zech 11:13 4×
Jussive 2Kgs 1:13 1×
Imperfect 2Kgs 1:14 1×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 2×
Imperfect Isa 13:12 1×
Sequential imperfect Prov 25:17 1×
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.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain