Word Study for H3358 (יַקִּיר)

yaqqîyr /yak-keer'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to יַקִּיר

Meaning(precious)

KJV usagenoble, rare.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of yaqqîyr — 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 Aramaic word yaqqîyr, represented by H3358, means {precious}, noble, or rare. It is an infrequent term, appearing only 2 times in 2 unique verses. Despite its limited use, it conveys a sense of exceptional value, whether applied to an object, a task, or a person of high standing.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical contexts, H3358 is used to describe two very different subjects. In Daniel, the term is used to describe a request from the king as a rare thing, something so difficult that only "the gods" could fulfill it Daniel 2:11. In Ezra, the word describes a person, identifying "the great and noble Asnappar" as a figure of significant power and status who was responsible for relocating nations Ezra 4:10.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words provide a fuller picture of the contexts in which H3358 appears:

H321 'ochŏrân (other): This word appears in Daniel 2:11, emphasizing that no other being can reveal the king's secret, highlighting the exclusivity of the rare task.
H426 'ĕlâhh (God): The rare thing in Daniel 2:11 is explicitly contrasted with human ability and linked to the realm of the gods. This term connects the idea of rarity to the divine.
H7229 rab (great): This word is used directly alongside H3358 in Ezra 4:10 to describe Asnappar as "great and noble," directly linking nobility to power and influence.

Theological Significance

The significance of H3358 is tied to its depiction of value and status.

Nobility and Authority: Its use in Ezra 4:10 establishes a clear connection between nobility and worldly power, as seen in the description of "the great and noble Asnappar" who commanded nations.
Value and Scarcity: In Daniel 2:11, the word describes a task as rare, implying it is of unique and exceptional difficulty, setting it apart from all ordinary requests.
Divine vs. Human Spheres: The context in Daniel uses the word to draw a sharp line between what is possible for humans dwelling in "flesh" and what is possible for "the gods," with the rare task belonging solely to the divine sphere.

Summary

In summary, H3358 is a specific Aramaic term that denotes exceptionalism. While appearing only twice, it effectively captures the concepts of being precious, noble, and rare. It is used to qualify both a powerful leader of high status and a task of such difficulty that it is considered beyond the reach of mortals, thereby illustrating a value that is set apart from the common.

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 an adjective 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.

יַקִּירָ
יַקִּירָה

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 Ezra and Daniel (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

Ezra

Daniel

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.