English · KJV
H6135

עָקָר

ʻâqâr /aw-kawr'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom עָקַר
Meaningsterile (as if extirpated in the generative organs)
Idioms & phrases(idiom male or female) barren (woman).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻâqâr — 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 ʻâqâr, represented by H6135, defines a state of being sterile or barren. It appears 12 times across 11 unique verses in the Bible. Derived from a root meaning to extirpate or root out, the term is applied to both males and females, signifying an inability to produce offspring, a condition of great significance in biblical narratives.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H6135 frequently highlights the personal struggles of key matriarchs. Sarai is introduced as barren with no child Genesis 11:30, setting the stage for a test of faith. Similarly, both Rebekah Genesis 25:21 and Rachel Genesis 29:31 are described as barren before conceiving through divine intervention. The condition is not only a personal trial but also a national concern, as God promises Israel that if they are obedient, there will be no male or female barren among them or their cattle Deuteronomy 7:14.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context and consequences of being H6135 barren:

  • H3205 yâlad (to bear young): This action stands in direct contrast to the state of being barren. The narrative of Manoah's wife highlights this, stating she was barren and "bare not" Judges 13:2, a condition later reversed by a divine promise to bear a son Judges 13:3.
  • H1121 bên (a son): This represents the longed-for blessing that is denied to the barren. The ultimate reversal of this state is when God makes the barren woman a "joyful mother of children" Psalms 113:9.
  • H7358 rechem (the womb): This is the specific physical source of fertility. In the story of Jacob's wives, the Lord saw that Leah was hated and "opened her womb," while her sister Rachel remained barren Genesis 29:31.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6135 is significant, often serving as a backdrop for divine action.

  • Divine Sovereignty: The condition of barrenness is consistently resolved not by human effort but by God's direct intervention. The LORD opens the womb Genesis 29:31, is intreated through prayer Genesis 25:21, and sends an angel to announce a miraculous birth Judges 13:3, demonstrating His authority over life.
  • Reversal of Fortune: Barrenness is used to illustrate God's power to elevate the lowly and reverse circumstances. Hannah's song declares that "the barren hath born seven" while the one with many children "is waxed feeble" 1 Samuel 2:5, showing that God can change human fortunes completely.
  • Metaphor for Spiritual Restoration: The term is used metaphorically to describe a state of desolation that God will transform into fruitfulness. Isaiah commands the barren to sing, prophesying that the desolate will have more children than the married wife, a promise of future restoration and abundant blessing for God's people Isaiah 54:1.

Summary

In summary, H6135 signifies more than a physical inability to have children. It is a powerful biblical motif representing human helplessness, sorrow, and reproach. Theologically, it becomes the canvas upon which God demonstrates His sovereignty over life, His compassion for the afflicted, and His power to bring about miraculous reversals, transforming a state of desolation into a symbol of abundant joy and spiritual fruitfulness.

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 12 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

  • עֲקָרָה
  • עֲקֶרֶת
  • עָקָר

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.

H3205 יָלַד a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bea H1121 בֵּן from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, inclu H7358 רֶחֶם from רָחַם; (compare רַחַם); the womb; matrix, womb.

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 8 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis (3 verses); never once in the other 31.

3
Genesis
1
Exodus
1
Deuteronomy
2
Judges
1
1 Samuel
1
Job
1
Psalms
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.