Lexical Summary aqar: barren, barren one, barren woman Original Word: עָקָר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sterile male or barren woman From aqar; sterile (as if extirpated in the generative organs) -- (X male or female) barren (woman). see HEBREW aqar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as eqer Definition barren NASB Translation barren (8), barren one (1), barren woman (1), barren woman (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs עָקָר adjective barren; — ׳ע of male Deuteronomy 7:14, עֲקָרָה of female Deuteronomy 7:14 (mankind and beasts), Exodus 23:26 (E; female); elsewhere of women Genesis 11:30; Genesis 25:21; Genesis 29:31 (all J), Judges 13:2,3; 1 Samuel 2:5; Job 24:21; Psalm 113:9 (עֲקֶרֶת construct); of personified Zion Isaiah 54:1. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope עָקָר (aqar) designates the condition of being barren, normally applied to a woman unable to bear children, but in two passages (Exodus 23:26; Deuteronomy 7:14) extended to men and even livestock. With twelve occurrences, the word is concentrated in narratives of the patriarchs, covenant legislation, poetic praise, and prophetic consolation. Occurrences and Narrative Setting 1. Genesis 11:30 introduces Sarai’s barrenness, a dramatic tension driving the Abrahamic story. Cultural and Historical Background In the Ancient Near East, children secured inheritance, labor, and social standing. Barrenness carried economic loss and social stigma, often interpreted as divine displeasure. Thus עָקָר marks not only physical inability but also shame and vulnerability, making the subsequent divine interventions all the more striking. Barrenness and the Promise Line Genesis repeatedly pairs barrenness with divine promise. Sarai, Rebekah, and Rachel each embody human impossibility countered by the Creator’s power, underscoring that the covenant seed is never a product of mere nature but of grace. These accounts teach that God’s redemptive plan advances through weakness so that His glory becomes unmistakable. Divine Sovereignty Over the Womb “Then the LORD remembered Rachel, and He listened to her and opened her womb” (Genesis 30:22, cf. Genesis 29:31). Scripture consistently assigns fertility or its absence to the LORD’s deliberate action. Prayer (Genesis 25:21), obedience (Exodus 23:26), and prophetic promise (Judges 13:3) all assume that only God can transform עָקָר into motherhood. Barrenness within Covenant Blessing and Curse Exodus 23:26 and Deuteronomy 7:14 tie national barrenness to covenant disobedience, while fertility signifies divine favor. Conversely, prophetic warnings threaten barrenness as judgment (Leviticus 26:22 uses a different term but the same concept). Thus עָקָר functions as a barometer of Israel’s spiritual health. Poetic and Wisdom Usage Psalm 113:9 exalts God’s compassion: “He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother of children.” Hannah’s song (1 Samuel 2:5) frames personal reversal as a template for divine governance—He humbles the proud and lifts the lowly. Job 24:21 portrays the wicked exploiting the defenseless “barren woman,” accentuating the moral outrage of such cruelty. Prophetic and Typological Significance Isaiah 54:1 calls the barren Zion to rejoice in anticipation of unprecedented offspring. The Apostle Paul cites this verse in Galatians 4:27 to illustrate the super-abundant fruitfulness of the new covenant. The עָקָר motif thereby foreshadows the inclusion of the nations and the birth of spiritual children through the gospel. Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Encouragement in delayed hopes: the barren patriarchal wives invite believers to persistent prayer grounded in God’s faithfulness. Key Themes for Teaching and Preaching 1. God’s power is perfected in human inability. Through the recurring appearance of עָקָר, Scripture testifies that the God who once opened Sarah’s womb still brings life where none is possible, transforming shame into songs of praise. Forms and Transliterations וַֽעֲקָרָ֖ה וַעֲקָרָ֖ה ועקרה עֲ֭קָרָה עֲקֶ֬רֶת עֲקָרָ֑ה עֲקָרָ֖ה עֲקָרָֽה׃ עֲקָרָה֙ עָקָ֥ר עקר עקרה עקרה׃ עקרת ‘ă·qā·rāh ‘ā·qār ‘ă·qe·reṯ ‘āqār ‘ăqārāh ‘ăqereṯ aKar akaRah aKeret vaakaRah wa‘ăqārāh wa·‘ă·qā·rāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 11:30 HEB: וַתְּהִ֥י שָׂרַ֖י עֲקָרָ֑ה אֵ֥ין לָ֖הּ NAS: Sarai was barren; she had no child. KJV: But Sarai was barren; she [had] no child. INT: become Sarai was barren had child Genesis 25:21 Genesis 29:31 Exodus 23:26 Deuteronomy 7:14 Deuteronomy 7:14 Judges 13:2 Judges 13:3 1 Samuel 2:5 Job 24:21 Psalm 113:9 Isaiah 54:1 12 Occurrences |
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