What does עָקָר (ʿāqār) mean in the Bible?
עָקָר (ʿāqār): Barrenness as involuntary deprivation of generative capacity; theologically, crisis of covenant promise and divine blessing.
Hebrew · H6135
עָקָר
Sterile (as if extirpated in the generative organs)
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עָקָרH6135
Pronunciationʿāqār
What does עָקָר (ʿāqār) mean in the Bible?
עָקָר (ʿāqār): Barrenness as involuntary deprivation of generative capacity; theologically, crisis of covenant promise and divine blessing.
Full entry for עָקָר (H6135) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6135?
The BSB source-word alignment has 12 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include [was] barren (2), barren (2), The barren woman (2), are barren (1), barren man (1).
Where does עָקָר (ʿāqār) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 11:30. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (3), Deuteronomy (2), Judges (2), 1 Samuel (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 It[was] barren2×Genesis 25:21, Genesis 29:31
barren2×Genesis 11:30, Judges 13:2
The barren woman2×1 Samuel 2:5, Psalms 113:9
are barren1×Judges 13:3
barren man1×Deuteronomy 7:14
O barren woman1×Isaiah 54:1
on the barren1×Job 24:21
or be barren1×Exodus 23:26
or woman1×Deuteronomy 7:14
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 11:30עֲקָרָ֑הtobarrenAdjective - feminine singularGenesis 25:21עֲקָרָ֖הto[was] barrenAdjective - feminine singularGenesis 29:31עֲקָרָֽה׃to[was] barrenAdjective - feminine singularExodus 23:26וַעֲקָרָ֖הtoor be barrenConjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singularDeuteronomy 7:14עָקָ֥רtobarren manAdjective - masculine singularDeuteronomy 7:14וַֽעֲקָרָ֖הtoor womanConjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singularJudges 13:2עֲקָרָ֖הtobarrenAdjective - feminine singularJudges 13:3עֲקָרָה֙toare barrenAdjective - feminine singular1 Samuel 2:5עֲקָרָה֙toThe barren womanAdjective - feminine singularJob 24:21עֲ֭קָרָהtoon the barrenAdjective - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 11:30
Aligned rows12
Books represented8
Genesis3Exodus1Deuteronomy2Judges21 Samuel1Job1Psalms1Isaiah1
Source forms
עֲקָרָ֖ה3x‘ă·qā·rāhGenesis 25:21, Judges 13:2, Isaiah 54:1
עֲקָרָה֙2x‘ă·qā·rāhJudges 13:3, 1 Samuel 2:5
וַעֲקָרָ֖ה1xwa·‘ă·qā·rāhExodus 23:26
וַֽעֲקָרָ֖ה1xwa·‘ă·qā·rāhDeuteronomy 7:14
עָקָ֥ר1x‘ā·qārDeuteronomy 7:14
עֲקָרָ֑ה1x‘ă·qā·rāhGenesis 11:30
עֲ֭קָרָה1x‘ă·qā·rāhJob 24:21
עֲקָרָֽה׃1x‘ă·qā·rāhGenesis 29:31
Parsing patterns
Adjective - feminine singular8xGenesis 11:30, Genesis 25:21, Genesis 29:31, Judges 13:2
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular2xExodus 23:26, Deuteronomy 7:14
Adjective - feminine singular construct1xPsalms 113:9
Adjective - masculine singular1xDeuteronomy 7:14
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Barrenness as involuntary deprivation of generative capacity; theologically, crisis of covenant promise and divine blessing.
Source Gloss
sterile (as if extirpated in the generative organs)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Barrenness as involuntary deprivation of generative capacity; theologically, crisis of covenant promise and divine blessing.
sterile (as if extirpated in the generative organs) BDB: barren Usage: (× male or female) barren (woman).
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
Sarai's inability to bear children, establishing infertility as obstacle to God's promise
Sarai's continued sterility prompts human intervention through Hagar, showing prolonged childlessness
Rachel's desperation over barrenness contrasts with Leah's fertility, highlighting reproductive anxiety
Metaphorical use of barrenness for Israel's desolation, with promise of restoration and future children
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 12 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
עָקָר is built from this root:
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.