English · KJV
H3365

יָקַר

yâqar /yaw-kar'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningproperly, apparently, to be heavy, i.e. (figuratively) valuable; causatively, to make rare (figuratively, to inhibit)
KJV usagebe (make) precious, be prized, be set by, withdraw.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of yâqar — 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 yâqar, represented by H3365, is a primitive root that conveys the concept of being heavy, and figuratively, valuable. Its meanings include to be or make precious, to be prized, to be set by, and to withdraw. It appears 11 times across 11 unique verses, highlighting its specific and potent applications in scripture.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H3365 is used to express immense value in several contexts. It frequently describes the worth of a life in the sight of another, such as when a captain pleads for his life to "be precious in thy sight" before Elijah 2 Kings 1:13. God Himself uses this word to describe His people, stating, "Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee" Isaiah 43:4. The term is also used to establish a standard of great worth, as when God promises to "make a man more precious than fine gold" Isaiah 13:12. In a different sense, it can mean to make rare or to inhibit, as seen in the practical advice to "Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house" Proverbs 25:17.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand on the concept of value and honor:

  • H3366 yᵉqâr (price, precious things, honour): This is the noun form derived from H3365. It can refer to a literal price Zechariah 11:13, concrete "precious things" Jeremiah 20:5, or abstract "honour" Esther 8:16.
  • H3513 kâbad (to be heavy, rich, honorable): This word shares the foundational idea of weightiness. It is used in parallel with H3365 to describe God's people as both "precious" and "honourable" Isaiah 43:4. It is frequently used in commands to honour God or parents (Exodus 20:12, Proverbs 3:9).
  • H6337 pâz (fine gold): This term for pure, refined gold serves as a benchmark for what is considered valuable. Its use in Isaiah 13:12, where a man is made more precious than fine gold, directly links the abstract value of H3365 to a tangible standard of worth.
  • H5869 ʻayin (eye, sight): Value is often determined by a beholder, and this word for "eye" or "sight" provides the perspective from which something is judged to be precious. The phrase "precious in my/thy sight" appears repeatedly in scripture (Isaiah 43:4, 1 Samuel 26:21, 2 Kings 1:14).

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H3365 is significant, defining how value is assigned and understood.

  • The Sanctity of Life: The word establishes the high value of a human soul. The redemption of a soul is described as "precious" Psalms 49:8, and the blood of the redeemed is "precious" in the Lord's sight Psalms 72:14. This demonstrates a divine valuation placed upon human life.
  • God's Sovereign Love: God declares his people "precious" not because of their own merit, but as an act of His will and love Isaiah 43:4. Similarly, His thoughts toward His people are described as "precious" Psalms 139:17, rooting their value in God's own character and perspective.
  • Value Through Rarity: The word connects value with scarcity. Making a man "more precious than fine gold" implies making him rare Isaiah 13:12. The instruction to "withdraw" one's foot from a neighbor's house shows that making one's presence less common preserves its relational value Proverbs 25:17.

Summary

In summary, H3365 provides a rich definition of value that transcends material worth. It encompasses the divinely-assigned preciousness of human life, the honor derived from God's sovereign choice, and the practical wisdom of understanding that rarity can preserve value. From the plea for a life to be spared to God's declaration of love for His people, yâqar illustrates that true preciousness is determined by the sight of the beholder, whether human or divine.

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 verb across 11 occurrences, inflected in 9 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

  • Qal Conjunction+Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Feminine 2×
  • Hiphil Imperative 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Hiphil Imperfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Qal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Qal Perfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Qal Perfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Qal Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 1×
  • Qal Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Imperative
A command or entreaty.
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Conjunction+Imperfect
Imperfect joined by a simple "and".

Related Words

Related

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.

H3366 יְקָר from יָקַר; value, i.e. (concretely) wealth; abstractly, costliness, dignity; honour, precious (things), price. H3513 כָּבַד or כָּבֵד; a primitive root; to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, r H6337 פָּז from פָּזַז; pure (gold); hence, gold itself (as refined); fine (pure) gold. H5869 עַיִן probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); aff

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 11 verses across 6 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms (3 verses); never once in the other 33.

2
1 Samuel
2
2 Kings
3
Psalms
1
Proverbs
2
Isaiah
1
Zechariah

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, 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.