What does עָקַר (ʿāqar) mean in the Bible?
עָקַר (ʿāqar): Total removal or incapacitation—from literal uprooting to disabling livestock to annihilating enemies or nations.
Hebrew · H6131
עָקַר
To pluck up (especially by the roots); specifically, to hamstring ; figuratively, to exterminate
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עָקַרH6131
Pronunciationʿāqar
What does עָקַר (ʿāqar) mean in the Bible?
עָקַר (ʿāqar): Total removal or incapacitation—from literal uprooting to disabling livestock to annihilating enemies or nations.
Full entry for עָקַר (H6131) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6131?
The BSB source-word alignment has 7 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and hamstring (1), and he hamstrung (1), hamstrung (1), he hamstrung (1), to uproot (1).
Where does עָקַר (ʿāqar) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 49:6. Its strongest book concentrations include Joshua (2), 1 Chronicles (1), 2 Samuel (1), Ecclesiastes (1).
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 hamstring1×Genesis 49:6
and he hamstrung1×1 Chronicles 18:4
hamstrung1×2 Samuel 8:4
he hamstrung1×Joshua 11:9
to uproot1×Ecclesiastes 3:2
will be uprooted1×Zephaniah 2:4
You are to hamstring1×Joshua 11:6
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 49:6עִקְּרוּ־toand hamstringVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person common pluralJoshua 11:6תְּעַקֵּ֔רtoYou are to hamstringVerb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singularJoshua 11:9עִקֵּ֔רtohe hamstrungVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular2 Samuel 8:4וַיְעַקֵּ֤רtohamstrungConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Chronicles 18:4וַיְעַקֵּ֤רtoand he hamstrungConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularEcclesiastes 3:2לַעֲק֥וֹרtoto uprootPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructZephaniah 2:4תֵּעָקֵֽר׃סtowill be uprootedVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 49:6
Aligned rows7
Books represented6
Genesis1Joshua22 Samuel11 Chronicles1Ecclesiastes1Zephaniah1
Source forms
וַיְעַקֵּ֤ר2xway·‘aq·qêr2 Samuel 8:4, 1 Chronicles 18:4
לַעֲק֥וֹר1xla·‘ă·qō·wrEcclesiastes 3:2
עִקֵּ֔ר1x‘iq·qêrJoshua 11:9
עִקְּרוּ־1x‘iq·qə·rū-Genesis 49:6
תְּעַקֵּ֔ר1xtə·‘aq·qêrJoshua 11:6
תֵּעָקֵֽר׃ס1xtê·‘ā·qêrZephaniah 2:4
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2x2 Samuel 8:4, 1 Chronicles 18:4
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct1xEcclesiastes 3:2
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular1xZephaniah 2:4
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular1xJoshua 11:6
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural1xGenesis 49:6
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular1xJoshua 11:9
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Total removal or incapacitation—from literal uprooting to disabling livestock to annihilating enemies or nations.
Source Gloss
to pluck up (especially by the roots); specifically, to hamstring ; figuratively, to exterminate
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Total removal or incapacitation—from literal uprooting to disabling livestock to annihilating enemies or nations.
to pluck up (especially by the roots); specifically, to hamstring; figuratively, to exterminate BDB: hamstring Usage: dig down, hough, pluck up, root up.
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 forms4
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action3×
PerfectGen 49:6 · Josh 11:92×
ImperfectJosh 11:61×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action1×
ImperfectZeph 2:41×
Word Origins
עָקַר is a primitive root - no further derivation.