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יָקַר

𐤉𐤒𐤓

yâqar

H3365 verb

SILEX Entry

Root יקר to be heavy, to be valuable, to be honored, to be rare

Definition

To be valuable, esteemed, or regarded as precious, typically in a qualitative rather than a monetary sense. The verb denotes an inherent quality that makes someone or something highly esteemed, rare, or of great worth, frequently with a focus on honor or distinction. In causative forms (e.g., Hiphil), the word can mean to make something rare or scarce, or to esteem or honor someone or something.

Semantic Range

to be precious, to be esteemed, to be valued, to be rare, to be costly (of objects), to be honored (of persons), to make rare, to render distinguished or select (causative)

Root / Etymology

The word derives from the root יקר (y-q-r), with the core semantic sphere of 'heaviness' or 'weightiness,' which metaphorically extends to value and honor. The basic idea is that which is 'heavy' (in a non-physical sense) is consequential, rare, or precious—thus, the shift to 'valued, scarce, honored.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, יָקַר is used both concretely (of precious stones, rare commodities) and abstractly (of honor or esteem bestowed on persons). In wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs), the term often appears in set phrases denoting something exceedingly valuable, like wisdom or virtue. In narrative and prophetic texts, it can refer to the honorable status of individuals or the rarity of certain conditions or persons (e.g., a righteous leader). The causative sense (Hiphil) sometimes refers to making something scarce, infrequent, or select, often with an implied sense of imposing value through rarity. The English term 'precious' covers some but not all of the word's nuance, and sometimes 'rare' or 'esteemed' better captures its full semantic scope. The root does not primarily denote monetary price but rather inherent worth, significance, or distinction. Differences emerge compared to כָּבוֹד (kabod, 'glory, honor'), which is more often associated with visible honor, status, or divine presence, whereas יָקַר can refer more broadly to value in both tangible and intangible contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, apparently, to be heavy, i.e. (figuratively) valuable; causatively, to make rare (figuratively, to inhibit); be (make) precious, be prized, be set by, withdraw.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יקר (y-q-r) — heaviness, value, honor, rarity

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3357 יַקִּיר esteemed one
H3358 יַקִּיר and the esteemed one
H3366 יְקָר precious worth
H3367 יְקָר and for preciousness
H3368 יָקָר your precious ones

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3365-03 תִּֽיקַר tiqar HVqj3fs be precious may she be precious 2
H3365-02 אוֹקִ֥יר oqir HVhi1cs I will make precious I will make esteemed 1
H3365-06 וְ/יֵיקַ֖ר veyeyqar HC/Vqi3ms and precious shall be and he will be esteemed 1
H3365-10 יָּקְר֣וּ yaqeru HVqp3cp precious/difficult they were precious 1
H3365-01 הֹקַ֣ר hoqar HVhv2ms Let be seldom Esteem highly! 1
H3365-04 וַ/יִּיקַ֥ר vayiqar HC/Vqw3ms was set by and he was esteemed 1
H3365-09 יָקְרָ֥ה yaqerah HVqp3fs was precious she was esteemed 1
H3365-07 יָקַ֧רְתָּ yaqareta HVqp2ms you were precious you were esteemed 1
H3365-08 יָקַ֖רְתִּי yaqareti HVqp1cs I was valued I was esteemed 1
H3365-05 וְ֭/יֵקַר veyeqar HC/Vqi3ms and-it-is-precious and he will be esteemed 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3365-04 1 Samuel 18:30 וַ/יִּיקַ֥ר vayiqar HC/Vqw3ms was set by and he was esteemed
H3365-09 1 Samuel 26:21 יָקְרָ֥ה yaqerah HVqp3fs was precious she was esteemed
H3365-03 2 Kings 1:13 תִּֽיקַר tiqar HVqj3fs be precious may she be precious
H3365-03 2 Kings 1:14 תִּיקַ֥ר tiqar HVqi3fs let it be precious may she be precious
H3365-02 Isaiah 13:12 אוֹקִ֥יר oqir HVhi1cs I will make precious I will make esteemed
H3365-07 Isaiah 43:4 יָקַ֧רְתָּ yaqareta HVqp2ms you were precious you were esteemed
H3365-08 Zechariah 11:13 יָקַ֖רְתִּי yaqareti HVqp1cs I was valued I was esteemed
H3365-05 Psalms 49:9 וְ֭/יֵקַר veyeqar HC/Vqi3ms and-it-is-precious and he will be esteemed
H3365-06 Psalms 72:14 וְ/יֵיקַ֖ר veyeyqar HC/Vqi3ms and precious shall be and he will be esteemed
H3365-10 Psalms 139:17 יָּקְר֣וּ yaqeru HVqp3cp precious/difficult they were precious
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