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)
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.
עָקָר H6135
Pronunciation ʿāqār
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] barren 2× Genesis 25:21, Genesis 29:31
barren 2× Genesis 11:30, Judges 13:2
The barren woman 2× 1 Samuel 2:5, Psalms 113:9
are barren 1× Judges 13:3
barren man 1× Deuteronomy 7:14
O barren woman 1× Isaiah 54:1
on the barren 1× Job 24:21
or be barren 1× Exodus 23:26
or woman 1× Deuteronomy 7:14
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 11:30 עֲקָרָ֑ה to barren Adjective - feminine singular Genesis 25:21 עֲקָרָ֖ה to [was] barren Adjective - feminine singular Genesis 29:31 עֲקָרָֽה׃ to [was] barren Adjective - feminine singular Exodus 23:26 וַעֲקָרָ֖ה to or be barren Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular Deuteronomy 7:14 עָקָ֥ר to barren man Adjective - masculine singular Deuteronomy 7:14 וַֽעֲקָרָ֖ה to or woman Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular Judges 13:2 עֲקָרָ֖ה to barren Adjective - feminine singular Judges 13:3 עֲקָרָה֙ to are barren Adjective - feminine singular 1 Samuel 2:5 עֲקָרָה֙ to The barren woman Adjective - feminine singular Job 24:21 עֲ֭קָרָה to on the barren Adjective - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 11:30
Aligned rows 12
Books represented 8
Genesis 3 Exodus 1 Deuteronomy 2 Judges 2 1 Samuel 1 Job 1 Psalms 1 Isaiah 1
Source forms
עֲקָרָ֖ה 3x ‘ă·qā·rāh Genesis 25:21, Judges 13:2, Isaiah 54:1
עֲקָרָה֙ 2x ‘ă·qā·rāh Judges 13:3, 1 Samuel 2:5
וַעֲקָרָ֖ה 1x wa·‘ă·qā·rāh Exodus 23:26
וַֽעֲקָרָ֖ה 1x wa·‘ă·qā·rāh Deuteronomy 7:14
עָקָ֥ר 1x ‘ā·qār Deuteronomy 7:14
עֲקָרָ֑ה 1x ‘ă·qā·rāh Genesis 11:30
עֲ֭קָרָה 1x ‘ă·qā·rāh Job 24:21
עֲקָרָֽה׃ 1x ‘ă·qā·rāh Genesis 29:31
Parsing patterns
Adjective - feminine singular 8x Genesis 11:30, Genesis 25:21, Genesis 29:31, Judges 13:2
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular 2x Exodus 23:26, Deuteronomy 7:14
Adjective - feminine singular construct 1x Psalms 113:9
Adjective - masculine singular 1x Deuteronomy 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 definition Source: 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.
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