What does עָצָר (ʿāṣār) mean in the Bible?
עָצָר (ʿāṣār): Containment concept: physically enclosing space or restraining force, extending to governance and holding back action
Hebrew · H6113
עָצָר
To inclose ; by analogy, to hold back ; also to maintain , rule , assemble
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עָצָרH6113
Pronunciationʿāṣār
What does עָצָר (ʿāṣār) mean in the Bible?
עָצָר (ʿāṣār): Containment concept: physically enclosing space or restraining force, extending to governance and holding back action
Full entry for עָצָר (H6113) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6113?
The BSB source-word alignment has 46 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include both slave (4), was halted (3), . . . (2), are shut (2), confined (2).
Where does עָצָר (ʿāṣār) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 16:2. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Chronicles (7), 1 Kings (4), 2 Kings (4), Jeremiah (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 Itboth slave4×1 Kings 14:10, 1 Kings 21:21, 2 Kings 9:8, 2 Kings 14:26
was halted3×Numbers 16:48, Numbers 25:8, 2 Samuel 24:25
. . .2×Genesis 20:18, Daniel 10:8
are shut2×1 Kings 8:35, 2 Chronicles 6:26
confined2×Jeremiah 33:1, Jeremiah 39:15
may be halted2×2 Samuel 24:21, 1 Chronicles 21:22
[been] kept1×1 Samuel 21:5
am restricted1×Jeremiah 36:5
and I have1×Daniel 10:16
and were unable1×2 Chronicles 20:37
arrested [Hoshea]1×2 Kings 17:4
close the womb1×Isaiah 66:9
detained1×1 Samuel 21:7
had been halted1×Numbers 16:50
had completely closed1×Genesis 20:18
has prevented me1×Genesis 16:2
He holds back1×Job 12:15
he was still banished1×1 Chronicles 12:1
He will shut1×Deuteronomy 11:17
I close1×2 Chronicles 7:13
I stay1×Judges 13:16
is able1×2 Chronicles 2:6
keep1×Job 4:2
prevail1×2 Chronicles 14:11
recover1×2 Chronicles 13:20
refrained1×Job 29:9
retain1×Daniel 11:6
shall rule1×1 Samuel 9:17
shut up1×Jeremiah 20:9
slave1×Deuteronomy 32:36
slow1×2 Kings 4:24
stay here1×Judges 13:15
stops you1×1 Kings 18:44
was confined1×Nehemiah 6:10
was restrained1×Psalms 106:30
we should be able1×1 Chronicles 29:14
with1×2 Chronicles 22:9
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 16:2עֲצָרַ֤נִיtohas prevented meVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singularGenesis 20:18עָצֹ֤רtohad completely closedVerb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteGenesis 20:18עָצַר֙to. . .Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 16:48וַתֵּעָצַ֖רtowas haltedConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularNumbers 16:50נֶעֱצָֽרָה׃פtohad been haltedVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singularNumbers 25:8וַתֵּֽעָצַר֙towas haltedConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularDeuteronomy 11:17וְעָצַ֤רtoHe will shutConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 32:36עָצ֥וּרtoslaveVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularJudges 13:15נַעְצְרָה־tostay hereVerb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common pluralJudges 13:16תַּעְצְרֵ֙נִי֙toI stayVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 16:2
Aligned rows46
Books represented16
Genesis3Numbers3Deuteronomy2Judges21 Samuel32 Samuel21 Kings42 Kings41 Chronicles32 Chronicles7Nehemiah1Job3Psalms1Isaiah1Jeremiah4Daniel3
Source forms
עָצ֔וּר4x‘ā·ṣūr1 Chronicles 12:1, Jeremiah 33:1, Jeremiah 36:5, Jeremiah 39:15
וְעָצ֥וּר2xwə·‘ā·ṣūr1 Kings 21:21, 2 Kings 9:8
וְתֵעָצַ֥ר2xwə·ṯê·‘ā·ṣar2 Samuel 24:21, 1 Chronicles 21:22
יַעְצֹ֥ר2xya‘·ṣōr1 Samuel 9:17, 2 Chronicles 14:11
עָצ֥וּר2x‘ā·ṣūrDeuteronomy 32:36, 1 Kings 14:10
עָצַ֖רְתִּי2x‘ā·ṣar·tîDaniel 10:8, Daniel 10:16
אֶֽעֱצֹ֤ר1x’e·‘ĕ·ṣōr2 Chronicles 7:13
בְּהֵעָצֵ֥ר1xbə·hê·‘ā·ṣêr1 Kings 8:35
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular9xDeuteronomy 32:36, 1 Kings 14:10, 2 Kings 14:26, 1 Chronicles 12:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular4xNumbers 16:48, Numbers 25:8, 2 Samuel 24:25, Psalms 106:30
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular4x1 Samuel 9:17, 2 Chronicles 2:6, 2 Chronicles 14:11, Job 12:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person feminine singular2x2 Samuel 24:21, 1 Chronicles 21:22
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular2x1 Kings 21:21, 2 Kings 9:8
Preposition-b | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct2x1 Kings 8:35, 2 Chronicles 6:26
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular2xDaniel 10:8, Daniel 10:16
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural2x2 Chronicles 20:37, Job 29:9
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Containment concept: physically enclosing space or restraining force, extending to governance and holding back action
Strong'sH6113
Lexical occurrences46 versesWord forms2 forms28 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkGenesis 20:8-18Source Gloss
to inclose ; by analogy, to hold back ; also to maintain , rule , assemble
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 forms28
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense26×
Participle passive1Chr 12:1 · 1Kgs 14:10 · 1Sam 21:6 · 2Kgs 14:26 · Deut 32:36 · Jer 20:9 · Jer 33:1 · Jer 36:5 · Jer 39:15 · Neh 6:1010×
Imperfect1Sam 9:17 · 2Chr 2:5 · Job 12:15 · 1Chr 29:14 · 2Chr 7:13 · Dan 11:66×
Perfect2Chr 13:20 · Gen 20:18 · 2Chr 20:37 · Job 29:9 · Dan 10:8 · Dan 10:166×
Jussive2Chr 14:10 · 2Kgs 4:242×
Infinitive absoluteGen 20:181×
CohortativeJudg 13:151×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action2×
Participle active1Sam 21:81×
PerfectNum 17:151×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
God held back or prevented someone from committing a sinful act
Showing 1 selected witness from 46 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
עָצָר is a primitive root - no further derivation.