Lexical Summary ariri: Childless, barren Original Word: עֲרִירִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance childless From arar; bare, i.e. Destitute (of children) -- childless. see HEBREW arar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom arar Definition stripped NASB Translation childless (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֲרִירִי adjective stripped, specifically childless; — ׳ע Genesis 15:2 (JE), Jeremiah 22:30; plural עֲרִירִים Leviticus 20:20,21 (H). Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Conceptual Significance עֲרִירִי denotes a state of being without offspring, posterity, or enduring lineage. In a culture where covenant blessings, property rights, and family identity were transmitted through descendants, the term evokes ideas of personal loss and social vulnerability. Beyond the literal sense of childlessness, it can also imply the extinction of a family line and the forfeiture of inheritance. Canonical Occurrences • Genesis 15:2 records Abram’s lament: “O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I remain childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”. Here the word frames the tension between divine promise and present reality, setting the stage for the covenant of Genesis 15:5–6. Theological Themes Promise versus Barrenness: In Genesis, childlessness heightens the drama of divine grace. Abram’s complaint magnifies God’s later fulfillment, illustrating that covenant promises do not depend on human ability but on divine faithfulness. Judgment and Lineage: In Leviticus and Jeremiah the term functions as a covenant curse. The removal of posterity is the severest earthly penalty, signaling exclusion from future blessings and corporate memory. Messianic Hope: Jeremiah 22:30 appears to threaten the Davidic line, yet the Messiah ultimately comes through a legally distinct branch (Matthew 1:12–16; Luke 3:27–31). The seeming contradiction accentuates God’s sovereign orchestration of history and the reliability of the prophetic word. Historical and Cultural Background In ancient Israel, children perpetuated a family’s name, cared for aging parents, and safeguarded land tenure within the tribal allotments. To die עֲרִירִי was to lose one’s social security and covenantal footprint. Conversely, prolific offspring were viewed as tangible evidence of divine favor (Psalm 127:3–5). Related Motifs • Inheritance and land tenure Pastoral and Ministry Applications 1. Assurance in Waiting: Abram’s struggle encourages believers who grapple with delayed answers to prayer, reminding them that God’s timing fulfills greater purposes. Summary עֲרִירִי captures both the pain of unrealized hopes and the seriousness of covenant accountability. Whether highlighting Abram’s dependence on God, warning Israel about defiling relationships, or pronouncing royal judgment, the term directs attention to the God who gives life, preserves lineage, and in Christ secures an everlasting inheritance for His people. Forms and Transliterations עֲרִירִ֑י עֲרִירִ֔י עֲרִירִ֥ים ערירי ערירים ‘ă·rî·rî ‘ă·rî·rîm ‘ărîrî ‘ărîrîm ariRi ariRimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 15:2 HEB: וְאָנֹכִ֖י הוֹלֵ֣ךְ עֲרִירִ֑י וּבֶן־ מֶ֣שֶׁק NAS: me, since I am childless, and the heir KJV: me, seeing I go childless, and the steward INT: me am childless afflicted steward Leviticus 20:20 Leviticus 20:21 Jeremiah 22:30 4 Occurrences |
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