a primitive root; to pluck up (especially by the roots); specifically, to hamstring; figuratively, to exterminate; dig down, hough, pluck up, root up.
Transliteration:ʻâqar
Pronunciation:aw-kar'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root H6131 (ʻâqar) is a primitive verb whose core meaning is "to pluck up," specifically "by the roots." This implies a complete and thorough removal, leaving nothing behind. From this fundamental sense, the semantic range expands to encompass several related actions:
1. **Literal Uprooting:** The most direct application, referring to the physical removal of something from its foundation, much like pulling a plant out of the ground completely.
2. **Hamstringing:** A specialized and vivid application, referring to the cutting of the tendons in an animal's legs (particularly horses). This action renders the animal useless for its intended purpose (e.g., warfare or labor), effectively destroying its utility without necessarily killing it outright. It is an act of incapacitation or neutralization.
3. **Figurative Extermination/Destruction:** Extending the concept of complete removal, H6131 can refer to the utter eradication or destruction of people, cities, or nations. It signifies a definitive end, a complete wiping out from existence or prominence.
The various English translations provided in the base definition—"dig down," "hough" (another term for hamstring), "pluck up," "root up"—all reinforce this central idea of forceful, complete removal or incapacitation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb H6131 appears in the Hebrew Bible in contexts that highlight its various semantic nuances:
* **Military Contexts - Hamstringing Horses:**
* In [[Joshua 11:6]] and [[Joshua 11:9]], God commands Joshua to "hamstring their horses" (וְאֶת־סוּסֵיהֶם תְּעַקֵּר) after a victory over the northern kings. This strategic act was not merely punitive but served to prevent Israel from relying on chariots and horses, emphasizing their dependence on God for victory rather than military might.
* Similarly, [[2 Samuel 8:4]] and [[1 Chronicles 18:4]] record David's action of hamstringing the horses of Hadadezer, king of Zobah, after defeating his army. This again demonstrates a deliberate act to neutralize enemy military power and perhaps to prevent Israel from accumulating a large cavalry, consistent with the Mosaic law (cf. [[Deuteronomy 17:16]]).
* **Divine Judgment and Destruction:**
* [[Zephaniah 2:4]] prophesies the judgment upon Gaza, stating that "Ashkelon will be rooted up" (וְעַקְרוּהָ). Here, H6131 signifies the complete destruction and removal of the city, illustrating God's sovereign power over nations and His execution of judgment.
* In [[Malachi 1:4]], God declares concerning Edom, "Though they may build, I will tear down" (וְאֶעֱקוֹר). This use emphasizes God's ultimate authority to nullify human efforts and to dismantle what they seek to establish, particularly when those efforts are in opposition to His will.
* **Divine Preservation (in the Negative):**
* [[Jeremiah 31:40]] uses H6131 in a powerful promise of restoration for Jerusalem: "It shall not be plucked up (וְלֹא יֵעָקֵר עוֹד) or overthrown anymore forever." Here, the negative use of the verb highlights God's covenant faithfulness and His power to ensure the permanence and security of His people and city, contrasting sharply with the earlier prophecies of destruction.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of H6131 resonates with several other Hebrew terms related to destruction, removal, and establishment:
* `{{H8327}}` (שָׁרַשׁ, *sharash*): "to root out," "to pluck up." This verb is semantically very close to H6131 and is often used interchangeably or in parallel, emphasizing complete removal from a foundation (e.g., [[Psalm 52:5]]).
* `{{H5428}}` (נָתַשׁ, *natash*): "to pluck up," "to tear away," "to overthrow." Frequently employed in prophetic literature to describe the divine act of uprooting nations or kingdoms (e.g., [[Jeremiah 1:10]]).
* `{{H2040}}` (הָרַס, *haras*): "to tear down," "to break down," "to destroy." This verb often appears alongside H6131 or `{{H5428}}`, as seen in [[Jeremiah 31:40]], to convey comprehensive demolition.
* **Antithetical Concepts:** The opposite of H6131 would involve concepts of "planting" (`{{H5193}}`, נָטַע, *nataʻ*), "building" (`{{H1129}}`, בָּנָה, *banah*), or "establishing" (`{{H3559}}`, כּוּן, *kun*), which are also prominent themes in biblical prophecy regarding divine action.
The concepts associated with H6131 include:
* **Destruction and Ruin:** The primary outcome of the action.
* **Disablement and Neutralization:** Particularly in the context of hamstringing.
* **Divine Sovereignty:** God's ultimate power to determine the fate of individuals, armies, and nations.
* **Judgment and Consequence:** The act of uprooting often serves as a divine punitive measure.
* **Permanence and Stability:** Emphasized when the action of H6131 is negated, highlighting God's steadfastness.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H6131 is multifaceted, revealing profound truths about God's character and His interaction with humanity:
1. **God's Absolute Sovereignty:** The use of H6131 in divine pronouncements, whether as command or prophecy, powerfully underscores God's ultimate authority over all creation. He is the one who establishes and uproots nations, who empowers and disables armies. This highlights His complete control over history and human destiny.
2. **The Futility of Human Strength Apart from God:** The repeated act of hamstringing horses, a symbol of military might in the ancient world, serves as a vivid theological statement. It demonstrates that even the most formidable human power is rendered useless when God commands its neutralization. This reinforces the biblical principle that true victory and security come from reliance on God, not on military or material strength (cf. [[Psalm 20:7]]).
3. **The Radical Nature of Divine Intervention:** Whether in judgment or in the promise of restoration, the action described by H6131 is thorough and decisive. To "pluck up by the roots" is not a superficial act but a fundamental and often irreversible alteration of status or existence. This emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's judgments and the enduring permanence of His covenant promises, as seen in the contrast between the uprooting of enemy cities and the assurance that Jerusalem "will not be plucked up."
### Summary
The Hebrew word H6131 (ʻâqar), a primitive root, conveys the forceful and complete action of "plucking up, especially by the roots." This core meaning extends to the specific act of "hamstringing" animals, rendering them useless, and figuratively to the "extermination" or utter destruction of entities like cities or nations.
Biblical occurrences of H6131 manifest these meanings across various contexts: it describes the strategic neutralization of enemy forces through hamstringing horses, demonstrating reliance on God's power over military might ([[Joshua 11:6]], [[2 Samuel 8:4]]). It is also employed to depict God's sovereign judgment, where He "uproots" or "tears down" unfaithful nations and their endeavors ([[Zephaniah 2:4]], [[Malachi 1:4]]). Conversely, its negative usage powerfully underscores God's unwavering covenant faithfulness, assuring that His chosen city "will not be plucked up" forever, thereby guaranteeing its enduring stability ([[Jeremiah 31:40]]).
Theologically, H6131 profoundly illustrates God's absolute sovereignty over history and destiny, His ability to render human strength futile, and the radical, decisive nature of His divine interventions, whether in judgment or in the fulfillment of His promises. It stands in close semantic relation to other Hebrew terms denoting destruction or removal, such as `{{H8327}}` and `{{H5428}}`.
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