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
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
עָצָר H6113
Pronunciation ʿāṣār
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 It both slave 4× 1 Kings 14:10, 1 Kings 21:21, 2 Kings 9:8, 2 Kings 14:26
was halted 3× Numbers 16:48, Numbers 25:8, 2 Samuel 24:25
. . . 2× Genesis 20:18, Daniel 10:8
are shut 2× 1 Kings 8:35, 2 Chronicles 6:26
confined 2× Jeremiah 33:1, Jeremiah 39:15
may be halted 2× 2 Samuel 24:21, 1 Chronicles 21:22
[been] kept 1× 1 Samuel 21:5
am restricted 1× Jeremiah 36:5
and I have 1× Daniel 10:16
and were unable 1× 2 Chronicles 20:37
arrested [Hoshea] 1× 2 Kings 17:4
close the womb 1× Isaiah 66:9
detained 1× 1 Samuel 21:7
had been halted 1× Numbers 16:50
had completely closed 1× Genesis 20:18
has prevented me 1× Genesis 16:2
He holds back 1× Job 12:15
he was still banished 1× 1 Chronicles 12:1
He will shut 1× Deuteronomy 11:17
I close 1× 2 Chronicles 7:13
I stay 1× Judges 13:16
is able 1× 2 Chronicles 2:6
keep 1× Job 4:2
prevail 1× 2 Chronicles 14:11
recover 1× 2 Chronicles 13:20
refrained 1× Job 29:9
retain 1× Daniel 11:6
shall rule 1× 1 Samuel 9:17
shut up 1× Jeremiah 20:9
slave 1× Deuteronomy 32:36
slow 1× 2 Kings 4:24
stay here 1× Judges 13:15
stops you 1× 1 Kings 18:44
was confined 1× Nehemiah 6:10
was restrained 1× Psalms 106:30
we should be able 1× 1 Chronicles 29:14
with 1× 2 Chronicles 22:9
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 16:2 עֲצָרַ֤נִי to has prevented me Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular Genesis 20:18 עָצֹ֤ר to had completely closed Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Genesis 20:18 עָצַר֙ to . . . Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Numbers 16:48 וַתֵּעָצַ֖ר to was halted Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Numbers 16:50 נֶעֱצָֽרָה׃פ to had been halted Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Numbers 25:8 וַתֵּֽעָצַר֙ to was halted Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Deuteronomy 11:17 וְעָצַ֤ר to He will shut Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 32:36 עָצ֥וּר to slave Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular Judges 13:15 נַעְצְרָה־ to stay here Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural Judges 13:16 תַּעְצְרֵ֙נִי֙ to I stay Verb - 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 row Genesis 16:2
Aligned rows 46
Books represented 16
Genesis 3 Numbers 3 Deuteronomy 2 Judges 2 1 Samuel 3 2 Samuel 2 1 Kings 4 2 Kings 4 1 Chronicles 3 2 Chronicles 7 Nehemiah 1 Job 3 Psalms 1 Isaiah 1 Jeremiah 4 Daniel 3
Source forms
עָצ֔וּר 4x ‘ā·ṣūr 1 Chronicles 12:1, Jeremiah 33:1, Jeremiah 36:5, Jeremiah 39:15
וְעָצ֥וּר 2x wə·‘ā·ṣūr 1 Kings 21:21, 2 Kings 9:8
וְתֵעָצַ֥ר 2x wə·ṯê·‘ā·ṣar 2 Samuel 24:21, 1 Chronicles 21:22
יַעְצֹ֥ר 2x ya‘·ṣōr 1 Samuel 9:17, 2 Chronicles 14:11
עָצ֥וּר 2x ‘ā·ṣūr Deuteronomy 32:36, 1 Kings 14:10
עָצַ֖רְתִּי 2x ‘ā·ṣar·tî Daniel 10:8, Daniel 10:16
אֶֽעֱצֹ֤ר 1x ’e·‘ĕ·ṣōr 2 Chronicles 7:13
בְּהֵעָצֵ֥ר 1x bə·hê·‘ā·ṣêr 1 Kings 8:35
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular 9x Deuteronomy 32:36, 1 Kings 14:10, 2 Kings 14:26, 1 Chronicles 12:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular 4x Numbers 16:48, Numbers 25:8, 2 Samuel 24:25, Psalms 106:30
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 4x 1 Samuel 9:17, 2 Chronicles 2:6, 2 Chronicles 14:11, Job 12:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person feminine singular 2x 2 Samuel 24:21, 1 Chronicles 21:22
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular 2x 1 Kings 21:21, 2 Kings 9:8
Preposition-b | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct 2x 1 Kings 8:35, 2 Chronicles 6:26
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular 2x Daniel 10:8, Daniel 10:16
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural 2x 2 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's H6113
Lexical occurrences 46 verses Word forms 2 forms 28 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Genesis 20:8-18 Source 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 groups 2 Aligned forms 28
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 26×
Participle passive 1Chr 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 6:10 10×
Imperfect 1Sam 9:17 · 2Chr 2:5 · Job 12:15 · 1Chr 29:14 · 2Chr 7:13 · Dan 11:6 6×
Perfect 2Chr 13:20 · Gen 20:18 · 2Chr 20:37 · Job 29:9 · Dan 10:8 · Dan 10:16 6×
Jussive 2Chr 14:10 · 2Kgs 4:24 2×
Infinitive absolute Gen 20:18 1×
Cohortative Judg 13:15 1×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 2×
Participle active 1Sam 21:8 1×
Perfect Num 17:15 1×
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.
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