H6135 H6135
Barren, infertile — unable to bear children; of women and once of males and livestock; reversed by God
The adjective עָקָר (aqar) describes the inability to produce offspring. It marks the most theologically significant women in Genesis: Sarah (Gen 11:30), Rebekah (Gen 25:21), and Rachel (Gen 29:31). The matriarchal barrenness motif underscores that covenant children come as divine gift, not natural expectation. Judges 13:2-3 applies it to Manoah's wife before Samson's birth, and Psalm 113:9 celebrates God settling 'the barren woman as a joyful mother.' Deuteronomy 7:14 extends the promise to both male and female, even livestock. Spanish 'esteril' and Arabic 'عاقِر' carry the same weight.
Senses
1. barren (unable to bear children) — Unable to bear children; infertile. Applied to the matriarchs Sarah (Gen 11:30), Rebekah (Gen 25:21), Rachel (Gen 29:31), and Manoah's wife (Judg 13:2-3), where barrenness sets up divine intervention. Extended to males and livestock (Deut 7:14; Exod 23:26). Used figuratively of personified Zion (Isa 54:1). 12×
AR["العاقِرَة", "الْعَاقِرَ", "عاقِرٌ", "عَاقِرًا", "عَاقِرٌ", "عَاقِرَةٌ", "وَ-عاقِرَةٌ", "وَعَاقِرَةٌ", "يَا-عَاقِرَةُ"]·ben["এবং-বন্ধ্যা", "এবং-বন্ধ্যা-নারী", "বন্ধ্যা", "বন্ধ্যা-পুরুষ", "বন্ধ্যাকে"]·DE["[עקרה]", "barren", "der-barren-woman-von", "oder-unfruchtbar-weiblich", "und-unfruchtbar", "unfruchtbar", "unfruchtbar-maennlich", "war-unfruchtbar"]·EN["and-barren", "barren", "barren-male", "barren-one", "or-barren-female", "the-barren-woman-of"]·FR["[עקרה]", "barren", "barren-mâle", "et-stérile", "ou-barren-femelle", "stérile", "עקרה"]·heb["ו-עקרה", "עקר", "עקרה", "עקרת"]·HI["और-बाँझ", "और-बाँझा", "बनझ", "बाँझ", "बाँझ-को", "बाँझ-स्त्री"]·ID["dan-mandul", "dan-yang-mandul", "mandul", "perempuan-mandul", "yang-mandul"]·IT["[עקרה]", "[עקרת]", "barren", "barren-maschio", "barren-one", "e-barren", "o-barren-femmina", "sterile"]·jav["gabug", "gabuk", "ingkang-gabug", "lan-tiyang-gabug", "lanang-gabug", "tiyang-gabug", "utawi-wadon-gabug"]·KO["그리고-임신-못하는-자가", "그리고-잉태못하는-여자가", "불임이라", "불임이었다", "불임인-여자를", "불임인-자여", "불임한여자", "아이-못-낳는", "잉태못하는-남자와", "잉태하지-못하는-여인-을", "잉태하지-못했다"]·PT["a-estéril", "e-estéril", "estéril"]·RU["бесплодна", "бесплодная", "бесплодного", "бесплодную", "и-бесплодной"]·ES["a-la-estéril", "a-la-estéril-de", "estéril", "ni-estéril"]·SW["na-tasa", "tasa", "tasa-mwanaume", "wala-tasa-mwanamke"]·TR["kisir", "kısır", "kısır-erkek", "kısır-kadını", "kısırdı", "kısırını", "ve-kısır", "ve-kısır-kadın"]·urd["اور-بانجھ", "بانجھ", "بانجھ-تھی", "بانجھ-نے", "بانجھ-کو"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† עָקָר adj. barren;—ע׳ of male Dt 7:14, עֲקָרָה of female v 14 (mankind and beasts), Ex 23:26 (E; female); elsewhere of women Gn 11:30; 25:21; 29:31 (all J), Ju 13:2, 3; 1 S 2:5; Jb 24:21 ψ 113:9 (עֲקֶרֶת cstr.); of personif. Zion Is 54:1.