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עָקָר

𐤏𐤒𐤓

ʻâqâr

H6135 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root עקר to uproot, to pluck up, to remove from source

Definition

Barren, unable to bear children; describing a person (typically a woman, occasionally a man) whose reproductive capacity is understood to be absent or obstructed. The term refers to a physiological state of infertility, often with a sense of permanence or hopelessness in the ancient context. While primarily used for women, it can characterize a man or be used more generally for barrenness in a household or land (in rare metaphorical extensions).

Semantic Range

barren of offspring, infertile, unable to reproduce, sterile (of women or men); metaphorically—unfruitful, unproductive

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root עקר (ʿ-q-r), meaning 'to uproot, to pluck up, to tear away.' The word עָקָר is the adjective form indicating the result of the root action: one 'uprooted' from the generative process, hence 'barren' or 'infertile.' While the verb primarily refers to physical uprooting, its transferred meaning relates to absence of fruitful reproductive capacity.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עָקָר is most often used in reference to women who are unable to have children (e.g., Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah)—a status with significant social and familial implications in Israelite society, given the central role of lineage and inheritance. The state of barrenness sometimes sets the stage for accounts of divine intervention. Only rarely does the word describe men (e.g., Lev.21:20), and then in the sense of impotence or inability to father children. Translation traditions (e.g., KJV 'barren') mask the broader semantic scope by focusing almost exclusively on women, but the term is not gender-exclusive in Hebrew usage. In later periods, and in rabbinic Hebrew, עָקָר can be used for both genders and even metaphorically for unfruitfulness in other domains (e.g., land, trees), yet in the biblical corpus, its primary focus remains on human infertility. Contrast with terms referring to temporary ('closed womb') rather than permanent infertility. The significance and tragic weight of being called עָקָר is shaped by cultural-vocational expectations and the narrative emphasis within the Hebrew Bible.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָקַר; sterile (as if extirpated in the generative organs); ([idiom] male or female) barren (woman).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עקר (ʿ-q-r) — to uproot, to pluck up, to remove from source

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6131 עָקַר he thoroughly uprooted
H6132 עֲקַר were uprooted
H6133 עֵקֶר to root-stock of
H6134 עֵקֶר and Eker
H6136 עִקַּר stump-of

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6135-02 עֲקָרָ֑ה aqarah HAafsa barren barren woman 8
H6135-04 וַ/עֲקָרָ֖ה vaaqarah HC/Aafsa or barren and barren woman 2
H6135-01 עָקָ֥ר aqar HAamsa barren-male barren man 1
H6135-03 עֲקֶ֬רֶת aqeret HAafsc the barren woman barren (feminine singular) 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6135-02 Genesis 11:30 עֲקָרָ֑ה aqarah HAafsa barren barren woman
H6135-02 Genesis 25:21 עֲקָרָ֖ה aqarah HAafsa barren barren woman
H6135-02 Genesis 29:31 עֲקָרָֽה aqarah HAafsa was barren barren woman
H6135-04 Exodus 23:26 וַ/עֲקָרָ֖ה vaaqarah HC/Aafsa or barren and barren woman
H6135-01 Deuteronomy 7:14 עָקָ֥ר aqar HAamsa barren-male barren man
H6135-04 Deuteronomy 7:14 וַֽ/עֲקָרָ֖ה vaaqarah HC/Aafsa or barren-female and barren woman
H6135-02 Judges 13:2 עֲקָרָ֖ה aqarah HAafsa barren barren woman
H6135-02 Judges 13:3 עֲקָרָה֙ aqarah HAafsa are barren barren woman
H6135-02 1 Samuel 2:5 עֲקָרָה֙ aqarah HAafsa the barren barren woman
H6135-02 Isaiah 54:1 עֲקָרָ֖ה aqarah HAafsa O barren one barren woman
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