What does יָקָר (yāqār) mean in the Bible?
יָקָר (yāqār): Denotes objective worth or subjective esteem; ranges from material preciousness to honor and reputation.
Hebrew · H3368
יָקָר
Valuable (objectively or subjectively)
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יָקָרH3368
Pronunciationyāqār
What does יָקָר (yāqār) mean in the Bible?
יָקָר (yāqār): Denotes objective worth or subjective esteem; ranges from material preciousness to honor and reputation.
Full entry for יָקָר (H3368) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3368?
The BSB source-word alignment has 35 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and precious (6), precious (6), of precious (3), costly (2), with precious (2).
Where does יָקָר (yāqār) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 1 Samuel 3:1. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Kings (7), 2 Chronicles (5), Proverbs (5), Psalms (4).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand precious6×1 Kings 10:2, 1 Kings 10:10, 1 Kings 10:11, 2 Chronicles 9:1
precious6×2 Chronicles 32:27, Psalms 36:7, Psalms 116:15, Proverbs 24:4
of precious3×1 Chronicles 29:2, Proverbs 1:13, Ezekiel 28:13
costly2×1 Kings 5:17, 1 Kings 7:10
with precious2×1 Chronicles 20:2, 2 Chronicles 3:6
a precious1×Isaiah 28:16
and was set with precious1×2 Samuel 12:30
are among your honored women1×Psalms 45:9
in precious1×Job 28:16
in splendor1×Job 31:26
is more precious1×Proverbs 3:15
like the glory1×Psalms 37:20
no cold1×Zechariah 14:6
outweighs1×Ecclesiastes 10:1
prizes1×Proverbs 12:27
rare1×1 Samuel 3:1
the precious1×Lamentations 4:2
were constructed with costly1×1 Kings 7:9
were costly1×1 Kings 7:11
words that are noble1×Jeremiah 15:19
your very1×Proverbs 6:26
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 3:1יָקָר֙torareAdjective - masculine singular2 Samuel 12:30יְקָרָ֔הtoand was set with preciousAdjective - feminine singular1 Kings 5:17יְקָר֛וֹתtocostlyAdjective - feminine plural1 Kings 7:9יְקָרֹת֙towere constructed with costlyAdjective - feminine plural1 Kings 7:10יְקָר֖וֹתtocostlyAdjective - feminine plural1 Kings 7:11יְקָר֛וֹתtowere costlyAdjective - feminine plural1 Kings 10:2יְקָרָ֑הtoand preciousAdjective - feminine singular1 Kings 10:10יְקָרָ֑הtoand preciousAdjective - feminine singular1 Kings 10:11יְקָרָֽה׃toand preciousAdjective - feminine singular1 Chronicles 20:2יְקָרָ֔הtowith preciousAdjective - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row1 Samuel 3:1
Aligned rows35
Books represented15
1 Samuel12 Samuel11 Kings71 Chronicles22 Chronicles5Job2Psalms4Proverbs5Ecclesiastes1Isaiah1Jeremiah1Lamentations1Ezekiel2Daniel1Zechariah1
Source forms
יָקָ֣ר4xyā·qārJob 28:16, Proverbs 1:13, Proverbs 12:27, Proverbs 24:4
יְקָרָ֑ה4xyə·qā·rāh1 Kings 10:2, 1 Kings 10:10, 2 Chronicles 9:1, 2 Chronicles 9:9
יָקָ֛ר2xyā·qārEcclesiastes 10:1, Jeremiah 15:19
יְקָרָ֔ה2xyə·qā·rāh2 Samuel 12:30, 1 Chronicles 20:2
יְקָרָ֖ה2xyə·qā·rāh2 Chronicles 3:6, Daniel 11:38
יְקָרָֽה׃2xyə·qā·rāh1 Kings 10:11, 2 Chronicles 9:10
יְקָר֛וֹת2xyə·qā·rō·wṯ1 Kings 5:17, 1 Kings 7:11
יְקָר֖וֹת2xyə·qā·rō·wṯ1 Kings 7:10, Zechariah 14:6
Parsing patterns
Adjective - feminine singular16x2 Samuel 12:30, 1 Kings 10:2, 1 Kings 10:10, 1 Kings 10:11
Adjective - masculine singular10x1 Samuel 3:1, Job 28:16, Job 31:26, Psalms 36:7
Adjective - feminine plural5x1 Kings 5:17, 1 Kings 7:9, 1 Kings 7:10, 1 Kings 7:11
Adjective - feminine singular construct1xIsaiah 28:16
Article | Adjective - masculine plural1xLamentations 4:2
Preposition-b | Adjective - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular1xPsalms 45:9
Preposition-k | Adjective - masculine singular construct1xPsalms 37:20
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Denotes objective worth or subjective esteem; ranges from material preciousness to honor and reputation.
Source Gloss
valuable (objectively or subjectively)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Denotes objective worth or subjective esteem; ranges from material preciousness to honor and reputation.
valuable (objectively or subjectively) BDB: precious Usage: brightness, clear, costly, excellent, fat, honourable women, precious, reputation.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Describes something of great value or worth that should be treasured
Emphasizes the objective and subjective value of wisdom as more desirable than material wealth
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 36 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.