Word Study for H3295 (יַעֲרָה)

yaʻărâh /yah-ar-aw'/ Ask about this word

Rootfeminine of יַעַר, and meaning the same

Meaning(a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb (as hived in trees))

KJV usage(honey-) comb, forest.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of yaʻărâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word yaʻărâh, represented by H3295, has a dual meaning derived from nature, signifying both forest and (honey-) comb. It appears only 2 times in 2 unique verses. The definition itself suggests a link between these meanings, as honey was often hived in trees within a forest or copse of bushes.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two uses of H3295 illustrate its distinct meanings in different biblical contexts. In 1 Samuel 14:27, it refers to a honeycomb. Jonathan, unaware of his father's oath forbidding the people from eating, dips his rod H4294 into the honeycomb H3295 and is physically refreshed. In Psalms 29:9, the word means forests. Here, the powerful voice H6963 of the LORD H3068 "discovereth the forests," stripping them bare in a display of divine might over creation.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which yaʻărâh appears:

H1706 dᵉbash (honey): This word is used in conjunction with H3295 in 1 Samuel 14:27 to specify a honeycomb. It is frequently associated with the blessing of a "land flowing with milk and honey" Exodus 3:8.
H2834 châsaph (make bare, uncover): This verb describes the action performed on the forests H3295 in Psalms 29:9. The voice of the LORD strips the forests bare, demonstrating His power.
H6963 qôwl (voice or sound): In Psalms 29:9, it is the voice of the LORD that has a dramatic effect on the natural world, including the hinds H355 and the forests H3295. This same word is central to the call to obey H8085 the LORD 1 Samuel 15:22.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H3295 is rooted in its depiction of God's relationship with the natural world.

Divine Power over Creation: In Psalms 29:9, the forests H3295 being stripped bare by the voice H6963 of the LORD H3068 serves as a testament to His immense power. This display of might over nature is contrasted with the glory spoken of Him in His temple H1964.
God's Provision in Nature: The honeycomb H3295 in 1 Samuel 14:27 acts as a source of immediate, life-giving sustenance. This reflects the broader theme of honey H1706 as a symbol of the richness and blessing of the land God provides for His people.

Summary

In summary, yaʻărâh H3295 is a concise word that encapsulates a duality within nature. Though it appears only twice, it vividly portrays the natural world as both a theater for God's awesome power in the form of a forest and as a source of His gracious provision in the form of a honeycomb. It shows how the same natural realm can reveal God's might and His sustenance.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

יְעָרוֹת
יַעְרַת

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in 1 Samuel and Psalms (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1 Samuel

Psalms

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.