### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **hâreh**, represented by `{{H2030}}`, primarily means **pregnant** or **(woman) with child**. It appears 16 times in 16 unique verses. Derived from the root word for conceiving, `{{H2030}}` describes the state of pregnancy itself, a condition that holds significant weight in scripture, tied to lineage, divine promise, and human vulnerability. The term is also used idiomatically to mean **great**.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H2030}}` is used to mark pivotal moments. It serves as a sign of divine intervention and promise, as when the angel of the LORD tells Hagar, "Behold, thou art with child" [[Genesis 16:11]], or in the prophetic announcement that a virgin shall "conceive, and bear a son" [[Isaiah 7:14]]. The word also appears in deeply personal and social contexts, such as when Bathsheba informs David, "I am with child" [[2 Samuel 11:5]], or when Tamar's pregnancy is exposed [[Genesis 38:24]]. In stark contrast, it highlights the brutality of warfare, where the "women with child" are listed as victims of extreme violence ([[Amos 1:13]], [[Hosea 13:16]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller context for the concept of pregnancy and birth:
* `{{H2029}}` **hârâh** (to be (or become) pregnant, conceive): This is the primitive root from which `{{H2030}}` comes, signifying the act of conceiving that leads to the state of being pregnant. It is used both literally for women like Sarah [[Genesis 21:2]] and figuratively for conceiving mischief [[Isaiah 59:4]].
* `{{H3205}}` **yâlad** (to bear young; causatively, to beget): This word describes the act of giving birth, the direct outcome of the state described by `hâreh`. It is often paired with it, as seen in the recurring promise to "conceive, and bear a son" ([[Judges 13:5]], [[Judges 13:7]]).
* `{{H1121}}` **bên** (a son): Often the anticipated result of a pregnancy announced in scripture, the "son" is central to the promises connected to being with child, as with Ishmael [[Genesis 16:11]] and Immanuel [[Isaiah 7:14]].
* `{{H3206}}` **yeled** (something born, i.e. a lad or offspring): This term refers to the "fruit" of the womb. It appears in the law concerning a pregnant woman who is harmed, causing "her fruit to depart" [[Exodus 21:22]].
* `{{H7358}}` **rechem** (the womb): This word denotes the physical location of pregnancy. Jeremiah uses it in his lament, wishing his mother's womb (`rechem`) could have been "always great (`hâreh`) with me" [[Jeremiah 20:17]].
### Theological Significance
The theological and thematic weight of `{{H2030}}` is significant and multifaceted.
* **Sign of Promise and Fulfillment:** Being "with child" is frequently the first tangible evidence of God's direct intervention and the fulfillment of His promises, particularly in the context of establishing lineage ([[Genesis 16:11]], [[Isaiah 7:14]]).
* **Symbol of Vulnerability:** The "woman with child" represents a state of extreme vulnerability. Attacks on pregnant women are depicted as the height of depravity and a cause for divine judgment ([[Amos 1:13]], [[2 Kings 8:12]]).
* **Metaphor for Distress and Hope:** The experience of pregnancy is used as a powerful simile for national suffering, as when Israel cries out "Like as a woman with child... is in pain" [[Isaiah 26:17]]. Conversely, the inclusion of the "woman with child" among the returning exiles signifies God's tender care and the promise of a new generation [[Jeremiah 31:8]].
* **Expression of Profound Sorrow:** In a unique idiomatic use, Jeremiah turns the life-giving state of pregnancy into a symbol of unending grief, wishing his mother's womb had been "always great with me" [[Jeremiah 20:17]], a powerful expression of wishing he had never been born.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2030}}` is more than a simple biological descriptor. It functions as a critical narrative and theological marker. The state of being "with child" signals the unfolding of divine plans, the depth of human sin in times of war, and a powerful metaphor for both national suffering and the hope of restoration. From the announcement of Ishmael's birth to the prophecy of Immanuel, `hâreh` carries the weight of the future within its meaning.
TRV