English · KJV
H3419

יָרָק

yârâq /yaw-rawk'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom the same as יֶרֶק
Meaningproperly, green; concretely, a vegetable
KJV usagegreen, herbs.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of yârâq — 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 yârâq, represented by H3419, properly means green and is used concretely to refer to a vegetable or herbs. It is a specific term that appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. It generally denotes cultivated garden plants used for food or serves as a descriptor for green, living foliage.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H3419 appears in both literal and figurative contexts. Literally, it describes a cultivated plot, as when Ahab desires Naboth's vineyard to make a "garden of herbs" 1 Kings 21:2. Similarly, the land of Egypt is described as a place watered by foot like a "garden of herbs" Deuteronomy 11:10. Figuratively, it is used to depict human weakness and fragility; the inhabitants of a besieged city are described as being like "the green herb" (2 Kings 19:26, Isaiah 37:27). In Proverbs, a "dinner of herbs" symbolizes a simple, humble meal that is better with love than a feast with hatred Proverbs 15:17.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the botanical world of the Old Testament:

  • H1588 gan (garden): This word for a fenced garden provides the setting for H3419 in passages like Deuteronomy 11:10 and 1 Kings 21:2. It often represents a place of blessing and divine presence, such as the "garden of the LORD" Isaiah 51:3.
  • H1877 desheʼ ((tender) herb): This term is used in conjunction with H3419 in the parallel accounts of 2 Kings 19:26 and Isaiah 37:27, which speak of the "green herb". It is also mentioned in the creation account when the earth brings forth grass Genesis 1:11.
  • H2682 châtsîyr (grass, hay, herb, leek): This word for grass appears in the same similes as H3419, often illustrating the fleeting nature of life, which is cut down like grass Psalms 37:2 or withers away Isaiah 40:8.
  • H6212 ʻeseb (grass, herb): Also appearing alongside H3419 in 2 Kings 19:26 and Isaiah 37:27, this word refers to herbs or grass given by God for food for both humanity Genesis 1:29 and animals Psalms 104:14.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H3419 is seen in its symbolic applications.

  • Humility and Contentment: The contrast between a "dinner of herbs" and a stalled ox in Proverbs 15:17 elevates love and peace over material wealth, using the simple vegetable meal as a symbol of true prosperity.
  • Human Frailty: In both 2 Kings 19:26 and Isaiah 37:27, the "green herb" is a metaphor for the finite and vulnerable nature of humanity. The inhabitants of the cities are described as having "small power," as easily withered as a plant.
  • Divine Provision: The "garden of herbs" in Deuteronomy 11:10, representing the arduous agriculture of Egypt, is contrasted with the rain-fed Promised Land, highlighting God's superior provision for His people.

Summary

In summary, H3419 is a focused term that signifies more than just a plant. While it literally refers to garden vegetables cultivated for food, it also serves as a potent biblical symbol. It illustrates the value of humility in a simple life, the reality of human transience in the face of divine power, and the contrast between human effort and God's abundant provision.

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 5 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.

  • יָרָק
  • ירַק

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.

H1588 גַּן from גָּנַן; a garden (as fenced); garden. H1877 דֶּשֶׁא from דָּשָׁא; a sprout; by analogy, grass; (tender) grass, green, (tender) herb. H2682 חָצִיר perhaps originally the same as חָצִיר, from the greenness of a courtyard; grass; also a leek (collectively); grass, hay, H6212 עֶשֶׂב from an unused root meaning to glisten (or be green); grass (or any tender shoot); grass, herb.

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 5 verses across 5 of the 39 books. 5 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 34.

1
Deuteronomy
1
1 Kings
1
2 Kings
1
Proverbs
1
Isaiah

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.