יַקִּיר
𐤉𐤒𐤉𐤓
yaqqîyr
H3358 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Valued, esteemed, precious; used primarily to describe someone or something regarded as highly valued, important, or honored, often in a personal, social, or material sense. It can refer to a person of high standing (noble, notable), or to an object considered of great worth or rarity. In some contexts, it may also express endearment or deep respect.
Semantic Range
precious, valuable, esteemed, honored, noble, held in high regard, dear, rare
Root / Etymology
Root: יקר (y-q-r). The root יקר conveys the idea of being heavy, weighty, and thus by extension, of great value or honor. The form יַקִּיר (yaqqîyr) is the emphatic (determined) masculine singular adjective in Aramaic, paralleling Hebrew יָקָר (yāqār) with the same semantic range.
Historical & Contextual Notes
יַקִּיר appears only in the Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible (notably in Daniel), describing persons who are honored or esteemed before the king or in society (e.g., Daniel 2:11; 5:23). The term maintains both material and social connotations—ranging from articles of great worth to individuals who are 'noble' or 'distinguished.' In post-exilic Persian and Hellenistic periods, when Aramaic was a lingua franca, the term was suited for courtly or official settings. English translations often render יַקִּיר as 'noble' or 'precious,' but this can obscure the broader context of esteem or value implied. Aramaic יַקִּיר is closely related in meaning and origin to the Hebrew יָקָר, but the Aramaic form does not suggest rarity as strongly, typically emphasizing esteem, value, or honorary status above mere infrequency. Later Jewish Aramaic continues to use this root for 'dear,' 'important,' or 'respected.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to יַקִּיר; {precious}; noble, rare.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
יקר (y-q-r) — to be heavy, honored, esteemed, valued
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3357 | יַקִּיר | esteemed one |
| H3365 | יָקַר | Esteem highly! |
| H3366 | יְקָר | precious worth |
| H3367 | יְקָר | and for preciousness |
| H3368 | יָקָר | your precious ones |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3358-02 |
יַקִּירָ֔ה | yaqirah | AAafsa |
difficult | precious | 1 |
H3358-01 |
וְ/יַקִּירָ֔/א | veyaqira | AC/Aamsd/Td |
and honorable | and the esteemed one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3358-02 |
Daniel 2:11 | יַקִּירָ֔ה | yaqirah | AAafsa |
difficult | precious |
H3358-01 |
Ezra 4:10 | וְ/יַקִּירָ֔/א | veyaqira | AC/Aamsd/Td |
and honorable | and the esteemed one |