הָרָה (H2029) — Hebrew Lexicon

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הָרָה

𐤄𐤓𐤄

hârâh

H2029 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To become pregnant, to conceive (of a female), especially with respect to the bearing of offspring. In most contexts the term refers to the physical state of pregnancy, emphasizing the beginning of gestation. On rare occasions, it is used metaphorically in poetic or prophetic literature to indicate the inception or development of something (such as evil, suffering, or an idea).

Semantic Range

to become pregnant (of a woman), to conceive; to develop or incubate (metaphorically, as of an idea, evil, or suffering); to be with child

Root / Etymology

The root הָרָה derives from the triconsonantal root הרה, whose core meaning relates to pregnancy or conception. The actual lexical meaning developed specifically toward the state or process of becoming pregnant, as distinguished from more general terms for bearing or begetting.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb הָרָה is most often used for a woman conceiving a child (as in Genesis 4:1; Genesis 16:4), focusing on the initial act or event of conception rather than the entire period of gestation. In genealogical narratives, it signals the continuation of a lineage or the fulfillment of divine promise. Rare metaphorical uses appear in poetic passages, such as Isaiah 59:4, where the verb can allude to conceiving trouble or iniquity. In all contexts before the exile, the term applies almost exclusively to female conception, never to fatherhood or the male agent. Later Hebrew sometimes distinguishes more sharply between becoming pregnant and the act of birth, but in biblical texts הָרָה is distinct from verbs such as ילד (to bear, bring forth) and זרע (to sow, refer to male procreation). Standard English translations generally render the term as 'conceive' or 'become pregnant,' which captures its primary sense, though they may lose its emotion or narrative import in contexts emphasizing lineage or promised descendants.

Translation Consistency

primary "conceive" 41 occurrences

Most occurrences are rendered as "conceived," and "conceive" naturally covers the primary sense (becoming pregnant) while also fitting the rare metaphorical uses (e.g. conceiving an idea). It is a single, natural English verb that can be inflected consistently for all forms under H2029.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):

"became pregnant" (1x) "ancestors" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to be (or become) pregnant, conceive (literally or figuratively); been, be with child, conceive, progenitor.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

הרה (hârâh) — to conceive, become pregnant

Root הרה to conceive, become pregnant

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H2030	הָרֶה	pregnant
H2031	הַרְהֹר	and conceived thoughts
H2032	הֵרוֹן	pregnancy

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H2029-12`	וַ/תַּ֨הַר֙	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived	28
`H2029-01`	הָרָ֔תָה	haratah	`HVqp3fs`	she had conceived	she conceived	she had conceived	2
`H2029-02`	הָרִ֣ינוּ	harinu	`HVqp1cp`	we have been pregnant	we conceived	we have conceived	1
`H2029-03`	הָרִ֗יתִי	hariti	`HVqp1cs`	conceive	I conceived	I conceived	1
`H2029-04`	הָר֥וֹ	haro	`HVqa`	they conceive	to conceive	conceiving	1
`H2029-05`	הָרֹ֣ה	haroh	`HVqa`	They conceive	to conceive	to conceive	1
`H2029-06`	הֹ֣רָה	horah	`HVPp3ms`	'A man	was conceived	was conceived	1
`H2029-07`	הֽוֹרָתָ֑/ם	horatam	`HVqrfsc/Sp3mp`	her-teacher/them	she who conceived them	she who conceived them	1
`H2029-08`	הוֹרָתִֽ/י	horati	`HVqrfsc/Sp1cs`	of her who conceived me	my conceiving-one	her who conceived me	1
`H2029-09`	הוֹרַ֔/י	horay	`HVqrmpc/Sp1cs`	of my ancestors	my conceivers	my ancestors	1
`H2029-10`	הֹר֧וֹ	horo	`HVma`	conceiving	to fully conceive	conceiving	1
`H2029-11`	תַּהֲר֥וּ	taharu	`HVqi2mp`	you conceive	you will conceive	you will conceive	1
`H2029-13`	וַֽ/תַּהֲרֶ֛יןָ	vatahareyna	`HC/Vqw3fp`	became pregnant	and they conceived	and they became pregnant	1
`H2029-14`	וְ/הָרָ֥ה	veharah	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and-conceives	and he conceived	and conceives	1
`H2029-15`	וְ/הָרִ֖ית	veharit	`HC/Vqp2fs`	you will conceive	you (fem.) have conceived	and you will conceive	1

Occurrences in Scripture

43 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H2029-12`	Genesis 4:1	וַ/תַּ֨הַר֙	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Genesis 4:17	וַ/תַּ֖הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Genesis 16:4	וַ/תַּ֑הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-01`	Genesis 16:4	הָרָ֔תָה	haratah	`HVqp3fs`	she had conceived	she conceived	she had conceived
`H2029-01`	Genesis 16:5	הָרָ֔תָה	haratah	`HVqp3fs`	she had conceived	she conceived	she had conceived
`H2029-13`	Genesis 19:36	וַֽ/תַּהֲרֶ֛יןָ	vatahareyna	`HC/Vqw3fp`	became pregnant	and they conceived	and they became pregnant
`H2029-12`	Genesis 21:2	וַ/תַּהַר֩	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Genesis 25:21	וַ/תַּ֖הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Genesis 29:32	וַ/תַּ֤הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Genesis 29:33	וַ/תַּ֣הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	she conceived again	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Genesis 29:34	וַ/תַּ֣הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Genesis 29:35	וַ/תַּ֨הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Genesis 30:5	וַ/תַּ֣הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Genesis 30:7	וַ/תַּ֣הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Genesis 30:17	וַ/תַּ֛הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Genesis 30:19	וַ/תַּ֤הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	conceived again	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Genesis 30:23	וַ/תַּ֖הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Genesis 38:3	וַ/תַּ֖הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Genesis 38:4	וַ/תַּ֥הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Genesis 38:18	וַ/תַּ֥הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-09`	Genesis 49:26	הוֹרַ֔/י	horay	`HVqrmpc/Sp1cs`	of my ancestors	my conceivers	my ancestors
`H2029-12`	Exodus 2:2	וַ/תַּ֥הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	And conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-03`	Numbers 11:12	הָרִ֗יתִי	hariti	`HVqp1cs`	conceive	I conceived	I conceived
`H2029-15`	Judges 13:3	וְ/הָרִ֖ית	veharit	`HC/Vqp2fs`	you will conceive	you (fem.) have conceived	and you will conceive
`H2029-12`	1 Samuel 1:20	וַ/תַּ֥הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	1 Samuel 2:21	וַ/תַּ֛הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	2 Samuel 11:5	וַ/תַּ֖הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	2 Kings 4:17	וַ/תַּ֥הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Isaiah 8:3	וַ/תַּ֖הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-02`	Isaiah 26:18	הָרִ֣ינוּ	harinu	`HVqp1cp`	we have been pregnant	we conceived	we have conceived
`H2029-11`	Isaiah 33:11	תַּהֲר֥וּ	taharu	`HVqi2mp`	you conceive	you will conceive	you will conceive
`H2029-04`	Isaiah 59:4	הָר֥וֹ	haro	`HVqa`	they conceive	to conceive	conceiving
`H2029-10`	Isaiah 59:13	הֹר֧וֹ	horo	`HVma`	conceiving	to fully conceive	conceiving
`H2029-12`	Hosea 1:3	וַ/תַּ֥הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Hosea 1:6	וַ/תַּ֤הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	Hosea 1:8	וַ/תַּ֖הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-07`	Hosea 2:7	הֽוֹרָתָ֑/ם	horatam	`HVqrfsc/Sp3mp`	her-teacher/them	she who conceived them	she who conceived them
`H2029-14`	Psalms 7:15	וְ/הָרָ֥ה	veharah	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and-conceives	and he conceived	and conceives
`H2029-06`	Job 3:3	הֹ֣רָה	horah	`HVPp3ms`	'A man	was conceived	was conceived
`H2029-05`	Job 15:35	הָרֹ֣ה	haroh	`HVqa`	They conceive	to conceive	to conceive
`H2029-08`	Song of Songs 3:4	הוֹרָתִֽ/י	horati	`HVqrfsc/Sp1cs`	of her who conceived me	my conceiving-one	her who conceived me
`H2029-12`	1 Chronicles 4:17	וַ/תַּ֨הַר֙	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived
`H2029-12`	1 Chronicles 7:23	וַ/תַּ֖הַר	vatahar	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and she conceived	and she conceived	and she conceived

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