יֵרָקוֹן
𐤉𐤓𐤒𐤅𐤍
yêrâqôwn
H3420 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state, condition, or appearance characterized by a pale or greenish color. In the Hebrew Bible, יֵרָקוֹן refers either to a pale, yellowish-green hue seen as a sign of ill health or disease in people (such as the complexion associated with disease or fright), or a blighted, pale appearance in plants due to drought or malnutrition. The term thus indicates abnormal pallor or sickliness, as opposed to vital or healthy coloration.
Semantic Range
paleness, sickly or greenish-yellow hue in humans (signifying fright, disease); blanched, pale, or greenish color in plants or objects (indicating drought, blight, or impurity); greenish or yellowish appearance of skin, fabric, or masonry due to affliction
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root י־ר־ק (ירק), which means 'to be green' or 'green thing, vegetation.' The form יֵרָקוֹן is a noun formed with a typical Hebrew nominal ending, denoting 'greenness; paleness.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical Hebrew, יֵרָקוֹן occurs in Leviticus 13:49 and 14:37, where it describes the color of a surface affliction (often interpreted as mold, mildew, or similar phenomena), particularly the greenish or yellowish hue indicative of impurity and contagion. The term reflects a broad perception in ancient Israel that certain colors—such as greenish or yellow—on skin, fabric, or building materials signaled danger, sickness, or impurity. English translations usually render the term with 'greenish' or 'pale,' but such translations may not fully convey the underlying sense of 'sickly pallor' or abnormal coloration implied in the Hebrew. In regard to plant life, the word refers to a blanched or sickly coloration suggesting drought or blight, not to healthy green growth. The related word יֶרֶק generally refers to verdant green vegetation, so the term יֵרָקוֹן signifies a deviation from normal, healthy green.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from יֶרֶק; paleness, whether of persons (from fright), or of plants (from drought); greenish, yellow.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ירק (y-r-q) — to be green, to become green, green growth
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3387 | יָרוֹק | he will grow green |
| H3417 | יָרָק | and she spat |
| H3418 | יֶרֶק | like green vegetation |
| H3419 | יָרָק | the green produce |
| H3422 | יְרַקְרַק | sickly yellow-green |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3420-02 |
וּ/בַ/יֵּרָק֑וֹן | uvayeraqon | HC/Rd/Ncmsa |
and with mildew | and in the sickly greenness | 3 |
H3420-01 |
לְ/יֵרָקֽוֹן | leyeraqon | HR/Ncmsa |
to-pallor | to greenish-pallor | 1 |
H3420-04 |
יֵרָק֜וֹן | yeraqon | HNcmsa |
mildew | sickly greenness | 1 |
H3420-03 |
וְ/יֵרָק֜וֹן | veyeraqon | HC/Ncmsa |
and mildew | greenish pallor | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3420-02 |
Deuteronomy 28:22 | וּ/בַ/יֵּרָק֑וֹן | uvayeraqon | HC/Rd/Ncmsa |
and with mildew | and in the sickly greenness |
H3420-04 |
1 Kings 8:37 | יֵרָק֜וֹן | yeraqon | HNcmsa |
mildew | sickly greenness |
H3420-01 |
Jeremiah 30:6 | לְ/יֵרָקֽוֹן | leyeraqon | HR/Ncmsa |
to-pallor | to greenish-pallor |
H3420-02 |
Amos 4:9 | וּ/בַ/יֵּרָקוֹן֒ | uvayeraqon | HC/Rd/Ncmsa |
and with mildew | and in the sickly greenness |
H3420-02 |
Haggai 2:17 | וּ/בַ/יֵּֽרָקוֹן֙ | uvayeraqon | HC/Rd/Ncmsa |
and with mildew | and in the sickly greenness |
H3420-03 |
2 Chronicles 6:28 | וְ/יֵרָק֜וֹן | veyeraqon | HC/Ncmsa |
and mildew | greenish pallor |