מָכַר (H4376) — Hebrew Lexicon

מָכַר

𐤌𐤊𐤓

mâkar

H4376 verb

SILEX Entry

Root מכר to sell, to transfer property, to surrender

Definition

To sell, to transfer possession or ownership of goods, property, land, or persons through a transactional process that often involves exchange for a price or compensation. The verb is used both for commercial transactions (as with merchandise or land) and for more consequential transfers such as selling individuals (including oneself or family members) into servitude or slavery. It can also be used figuratively to describe yielding, surrendering, or betraying someone or something.

Semantic Range

to sell for a price; to sell oneself (into servitude or slavery); to sell a family member (into servitude); to sell property or land; to transfer ownership as merchandise; to surrender, yield, or betray (figuratively); to hand over (as in surrender to power or fate)

Root / Etymology

From the root מָכַר, which fundamentally means 'to sell, dispose of ownership, transfer to another.' The verb reflects a wide range of transactional situations found throughout ancient Hebrew society. The literal sense concerns physical or legal transfer of property; the derived senses extend to more abstract notions of surrender or betrayal.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מָכַר is common in narratives and legal contexts referring to economic life in ancient Israelite society: selling possessions, land, or persons (e.g., children or oneself), most often into servitude as a response to debt or poverty (Leviticus 25; Exodus 21). The sale of Joseph by his brothers (Genesis 37) exemplifies its dramatic familial and social consequences. The term is also used for foreign or internal slave trading, and is distinct from leasing or gifting. In poetic and prophetic texts, מָכַר can gain a figurative sense: YHWH 'selling' Israel into the hands of enemies indicates desertion or abandonment, not a literal commercial transaction (Judges 2:14). English translations like 'sell' generally capture the core meaning, but may miss these extended senses, especially the metaphorical usage of surrender or abandonment. The object sold may be merchandise, people, or land, emphasizing the loss of freedom, rights, or connection, particularly in familial or national contexts. Related verbs include קנה (to buy, acquire), which often appears in contrast to מָכַר. Over time, in later Hebrew, מָכַר retains its core commercial meaning but also appears in broader figurative contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender); [idiom] at all, sell (away, -er, self).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מכר (m-k-r) — to sell, to transfer ownership, to surrender

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H4353	מָכִיר	to Makir
H4354	מָכִירִי	the Makirite clansman
H4377	מֶכֶר	sale
H4380	מְכֵרָה	their marketplaces
H4381	מִכְרִי	Sold-one
H4382	מְכֵרָתִי	the Mekerahite
H4465	מִמְכָּר	the sale
H4466	מִמְכֶּרֶת	sale-of

Word Forms

53 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H4376-13`	מָכְר֥וּ	makheru	`HVqp3cp`	sold	they sold	4
`H4376-17`	מְכַרְתֶּ֥ם	mekharetem	`HVqp2mp`	you sold	you sold	4
`H4376-49`	יִמָּכֵ֑ר	yimakher	`HVNi3ms`	be sold	he will be sold	4
`H4376-40`	וַֽ/יִּמְכְּרֵ֞/ם	vayimekerem	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp`	and he sold them	and he sold them	4
`H4376-46`	וְ/נִמְכַּ֖ר	venimekar	`HC/VNq3ms`	and he shall be sold	and he was sold	4
`H4376-53`	יִמְכֹּ֥ר	yimekor	`HVqi3ms`	sells	he will sell	3
`H4376-42`	וַ/יִּמְכֹּ֥ר	vayimekor	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he sold	and he sold	2
`H4376-24`	נִמְכַּ֨רְנוּ֙	nimekarenu	`HVNp1cp`	we had been sold	we were sold	2
`H4376-10`	מָֽכַר	makhar	`HVqp3ms`	he has sold	he sold	2
`H4376-31`	וּ/מָכַרְתִּ֥י	umakhareti	`HC/Vqq1cs`	and I will sell	and I sold	2
`H4376-29`	תִּמְכֹּֽר	timekor	`HVqi2ms`	sell	you will sell	2
`H4376-23`	נִמְכַּ֔ר	nimekar	`HVNp3ms`	he is sold	he was sold	2
`H4376-25`	נִמְכַּרְתֶּ֔ם	nimekaretem	`HVNp2mp`	you were sold	you were sold	2
`H4376-34`	וּ/מְכָר֛/וֹ	umekharo	`HC/Vqq3ms/Sp3ms`	and sells him	and he sold him	2
`H4376-20`	מִכְרָ֤/ם	mikheram	`HVqc/Sp3mp`	they sell them	their sale	2
`H4376-28`	תִמְכְּר֤וּ	timekeru	`HVqi2mp`	are selling	you will sell	2
`H4376-19`	מִכְרָ֥/ה	mikherah	`HVqv2ms/Sh`	sell	Sell!	1
`H4376-05`	הִתְמַכֵּ֔ר	hitemaker	`HVtp3ms`	sold himself	he sold himself	1
`H4376-50`	יִמָּכְר֖וּ	yimakheru	`HVNi3mp`	shall be sold	they will be sold	1
`H4376-02`	הַ/מֹּכֶ֤רֶת	hamokheret	`HTd/Vqrfsa`	who sells	the selling-woman	1
`H4376-52`	יִמְכְּר֣וּ	yimekeru	`HVqi3mp`	they shall sell	they will sell	1
`H4376-04`	הִמָּ֣כְר/וֹ	himakhero	`HVNc/Sp3ms`	that he was sold	his being sold	1
`H4376-33`	וּ/מָכֹ֥ר	umakhor	`HC/Vqa`	sell	and to sell	1
`H4376-15`	מְכָרָ֔/ם	mekharam	`HVqp3ms/Sp3mp`	sold-them	he sold them	1
`H4376-01`	הַ/מּוֹכֵ֗ר	hamokher	`HTd/Vqrmsa`	the seller	the one who sells	1
`H4376-22`	מֹכֵ֖ר	mokher	`HVqrmsa`	seller	one who sells	1
`H4376-12`	מָכְרָ֣ה	makherah	`HVqp3fs`	is selling	she sold	1
`H4376-45`	וְ/הִתְמַכַּרְתֶּ֨ם	vehitemakaretem	`HC/Vtq2mp`	and-you-will-sell-yourselves	and you will sell yourselves	1
`H4376-11`	מָכַ֥רְתִּי	makhareti	`HVqp1cs`	I have sold	I sold	1
`H4376-51`	יִמְכָּר	yimekar	`HVqi3ms`	he shall sell	he will sell	1
`H4376-14`	מָכֹר֙	makhor	`HVqa`	sell	to sell	1
`H4376-07`	כַּ/מּוֹכֵ֔ר	kamokher	`HRd/Vqrmsa`	so with the seller	like a seller	1
`H4376-48`	וְ/נִמְכְּרוּ	venimekeru	`HC/VNq3cp`	and they are sold	and they were sold	1
`H4376-16`	מְכָרָ֑/נוּ	mekharanu	`HVqp3ms/Sp1cp`	he has sold us	he sold us	1
`H4376-35`	וּ/מְכָר֥וּ/ם	umekharum	`HC/Vqq3cp/Sp3mp`	and-they-will-sell-them	and they sold them	1
`H4376-41`	וַ/יִּמְכְּר֧וּ	vayimekeru	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and sold	and they sold	1
`H4376-38`	וּ/מֹכְרִ֧ים	umokherim	`HC/Vqrmpa`	and-selling	and sellers	1
`H4376-39`	וַ/תִּמְכֹּ֑ר	vatimekor	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and sells it	and she sold	1
`H4376-21`	מִכְרִ֣י	mikheri	`HVqv2fs`	sell	Sell!	1
`H4376-09`	לִ/מְכּ֔וֹר	limekor	`HR/Vqc`	to-sell	to sell	1
`H4376-27`	תִמְכְּרֶ֖/נָּה	timekerenah	`HVqi2ms/Sp3fs`	you shall sell her	you will sell her	1
`H4376-26`	תִמָּכֵר֙	timakher	`HVNi3fs`	shall be sold	she will be sold	1
`H4376-43`	וַ/יִּֽתְמַכְּר֗וּ	vayitemakeru	`HC/Vtw3mp`	and sold themselves	and they sold themselves	1
`H4376-03`	הַ/נִּמְכָּרִ֤ים	hanimekarim	`HTd/VNsmpa`	who were sold	the ones sold	1
`H4376-18`	מְכָר֑/וֹ	mekharo	`HVqp3ms/Sp3ms`	sells-it	he sold him	1
`H4376-32`	וּ/מָ֨כְר֜וּ	umakheru	`HC/Vqq3cp`	they shall sell	and they sold	1
`H4376-06`	הִתְמַכֶּרְ/ךָ֔	hitemakerekha	`HVtc/Sp2ms`	you have sold yourself	your selling yourself	1
`H4376-37`	וּ/מֹכְרֵי/הֶ֣ן	umokhereyhen	`HC/Vqrmpc/Sp3fp`	and sellers of them	and sellers of them	1
`H4376-44`	וְ/הַ/מּוֹכֵ֖ר	vehamokher	`HC/Td/Vqrmsa`	and the seller	and the selling-one	1
`H4376-08`	לְ/מָכְרָ֖/הּ	lemakherah	`HR/Vqc/Sp3fs`	to sell her	to sell her	1
`H4376-36`	וּ/מֹכְרֵ֧י	umokherey	`HC/Vqrmpc`	and sellers	and sellers of	1
`H4376-47`	וְ/נִמְכְּרֶ֣/נּוּ	venimekerenu	`HC/Vqh1cp/Sp3ms`	and let us sell him	and let us sell him	1
`H4376-30`	וּ/מָכַ֖ר	umakhar	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and sells	and he sold	1

Occurrences in Scripture

80 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H4376-19`	Genesis 25:31	מִכְרָ֥/ה	mikherah	`HVqv2ms/Sh`	sell	Sell!
`H4376-42`	Genesis 25:33	וַ/יִּמְכֹּ֥ר	vayimekor	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he sold	and he sold
`H4376-16`	Genesis 31:15	מְכָרָ֑/נוּ	mekharanu	`HVqp3ms/Sp1cp`	he has sold us	he sold us
`H4376-47`	Genesis 37:27	וְ/נִמְכְּרֶ֣/נּוּ	venimekerenu	`HC/Vqh1cp/Sp3ms`	and let us sell him	and let us sell him
`H4376-41`	Genesis 37:28	וַ/יִּמְכְּר֧וּ	vayimekeru	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and sold	and they sold
`H4376-13`	Genesis 37:36	מָכְר֥וּ	makheru	`HVqp3cp`	sold	they sold
`H4376-17`	Genesis 45:4	מְכַרְתֶּ֥ם	mekharetem	`HVqp2mp`	you sold	you sold
`H4376-17`	Genesis 45:5	מְכַרְתֶּ֥ם	mekharetem	`HVqp2mp`	you sold	you sold
`H4376-13`	Genesis 47:20	מָכְר֤וּ	makheru	`HVqp3cp`	sold	they sold
`H4376-13`	Genesis 47:22	מָכְר֖וּ	makheru	`HVqp3cp`	they sold	they sold
`H4376-53`	Exodus 21:7	יִמְכֹּ֥ר	yimekor	`HVqi3ms`	sells	he will sell
`H4376-08`	Exodus 21:8	לְ/מָכְרָ֖/הּ	lemakherah	`HR/Vqc/Sp3fs`	to sell her	to sell her
`H4376-34`	Exodus 21:16	וּ/מְכָר֛/וֹ	umekharo	`HC/Vqq3ms/Sp3ms`	and sells him	and he sold him
`H4376-32`	Exodus 21:35	וּ/מָ֨כְר֜וּ	umakheru	`HC/Vqq3cp`	they shall sell	and they sold
`H4376-18`	Exodus 21:37	מְכָר֑/וֹ	mekharo	`HVqp3ms/Sp3ms`	sells-it	he sold him
`H4376-46`	Exodus 22:2	וְ/נִמְכַּ֖ר	venimekar	`HC/VNq3ms`	and he shall be sold	and he was sold
`H4376-28`	Leviticus 25:14	תִמְכְּר֤וּ	timekeru	`HVqi2mp`	you sell	you will sell
`H4376-51`	Leviticus 25:15	יִמְכָּר	yimekar	`HVqi3ms`	he shall sell	he will sell
`H4376-22`	Leviticus 25:16	מֹכֵ֖ר	mokher	`HVqrmsa`	seller	one who sells
`H4376-26`	Leviticus 25:23	תִמָּכֵר֙	timakher	`HVNi3fs`	shall be sold	she will be sold
`H4376-30`	Leviticus 25:25	וּ/מָכַ֖ר	umakhar	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and sells	and he sold
`H4376-10`	Leviticus 25:27	מָֽכַר	makhar	`HVqp3ms`	he sold	he sold
`H4376-53`	Leviticus 25:29	יִמְכֹּ֤ר	yimekor	`HVqi3ms`	sells	he will sell
`H4376-49`	Leviticus 25:34	יִמָּכֵ֑ר	yimakher	`HVNi3ms`	be-sold	he will be sold
`H4376-46`	Leviticus 25:39	וְ/נִמְכַּר	venimekar	`HC/VNq3ms`	and is sold	and he was sold
`H4376-50`	Leviticus 25:42	יִמָּכְר֖וּ	yimakheru	`HVNi3mp`	shall be sold	they will be sold
`H4376-46`	Leviticus 25:47	וְ/נִמְכַּ֗ר	venimekar	`HC/VNq3ms`	and sells himself	and he was sold
`H4376-23`	Leviticus 25:48	נִמְכַּ֔ר	nimekar	`HVNp3ms`	he is sold	he was sold
`H4376-04`	Leviticus 25:50	הִמָּ֣כְר/וֹ	himakhero	`HVNc/Sp3ms`	that he was sold	his being sold
`H4376-10`	Leviticus 27:20	מָכַ֥ר	makhar	`HVqp3ms`	he has sold	he sold
`H4376-46`	Leviticus 27:27	וְ/נִמְכַּ֥ר	venimekar	`HC/VNq3ms`	then it shall be sold	and he was sold
`H4376-49`	Leviticus 27:28	יִמָּכֵ֖ר	yimakher	`HVNi3ms`	be sold	he will be sold
`H4376-14`	Deuteronomy 14:21	מָכֹר֙	makhor	`HVqa`	sell	to sell
`H4376-49`	Deuteronomy 15:12	יִמָּכֵ֨ר	yimakher	`HVNi3ms`	is sold	he will be sold
`H4376-33`	Deuteronomy 21:14	וּ/מָכֹ֥ר	umakhor	`HC/Vqa`	sell	and to sell
`H4376-27`	Deuteronomy 21:14	תִמְכְּרֶ֖/נָּה	timekerenah	`HVqi2ms/Sp3fs`	you shall sell her	you will sell her
`H4376-34`	Deuteronomy 24:7	וּ/מְכָר֑/וֹ	umekharo	`HC/Vqq3ms/Sp3ms`	or sells him	and he sold him
`H4376-45`	Deuteronomy 28:68	וְ/הִתְמַכַּרְתֶּ֨ם	vehitemakaretem	`HC/Vtq2mp`	and-you-will-sell-yourselves	and you will sell yourselves
`H4376-15`	Deuteronomy 32:30	מְכָרָ֔/ם	mekharam	`HVqp3ms/Sp3mp`	sold-them	he sold them
`H4376-40`	Judges 2:14	וַֽ/יִּמְכְּרֵ֞/ם	vayimekerem	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp`	and He sold them	and he sold them
`H4376-40`	Judges 3:8	וַֽ/יִּמְכְּרֵ֗/ם	vayimekerem	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp`	and he sold them	and he sold them
`H4376-40`	Judges 4:2	וַ/יִּמְכְּרֵ֣/ם	vayimekerem	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp`	and-sold-them	and he sold them
`H4376-53`	Judges 4:9	יִמְכֹּ֥ר	yimekor	`HVqi3ms`	will sell	he will sell
`H4376-40`	Judges 10:7	וַֽ/יִּמְכְּרֵ/ם֙	vayimekerem	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp`	and he sold them	and he sold them
`H4376-42`	1 Samuel 12:9	וַ/יִּמְכֹּ֣ר	vayimekor	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he sold	and he sold
`H4376-06`	1 Kings 21:20	הִתְמַכֶּרְ/ךָ֔	hitemakerekha	`HVtc/Sp2ms`	you have sold yourself	your selling yourself
`H4376-05`	1 Kings 21:25	הִתְמַכֵּ֔ר	hitemaker	`HVtp3ms`	sold himself	he sold himself
`H4376-21`	2 Kings 4:7	מִכְרִ֣י	mikheri	`HVqv2fs`	sell	Sell!
`H4376-43`	2 Kings 17:17	וַ/יִּֽתְמַכְּר֗וּ	vayitemakeru	`HC/Vtw3mp`	and sold themselves	and they sold themselves
`H4376-07`	Isaiah 24:2	כַּ/מּוֹכֵ֔ר	kamokher	`HRd/Vqrmsa`	so with the seller	like a seller
`H4376-11`	Isaiah 50:1	מָכַ֥רְתִּי	makhareti	`HVqp1cs`	I have sold	I sold
`H4376-25`	Isaiah 50:1	נִמְכַּרְתֶּ֔ם	nimekaretem	`HVNp2mp`	you were sold	you were sold
`H4376-25`	Isaiah 52:3	נִמְכַּרְתֶּ֑ם	nimekaretem	`HVNp2mp`	you were sold	you were sold
`H4376-49`	Jeremiah 34:14	יִמָּכֵ֣ר	yimakher	`HVNi3ms`	has been sold	he will be sold
`H4376-44`	Ezekiel 7:12	וְ/הַ/מּוֹכֵ֖ר	vehamokher	`HC/Td/Vqrmsa`	and the seller	and the selling-one
`H4376-01`	Ezekiel 7:13	הַ/מּוֹכֵ֗ר	hamokher	`HTd/Vqrmsa`	the seller	the one who sells
`H4376-31`	Ezekiel 30:12	וּ/מָכַרְתִּ֥י	umakhareti	`HC/Vqq1cs`	and I will sell	and I sold
`H4376-52`	Ezekiel 48:14	יִמְכְּר֣וּ	yimekeru	`HVqi3mp`	they shall sell	they will sell
`H4376-13`	Joel 4:3	מָכְר֥וּ	makheru	`HVqp3cp`	they-sold	they sold
`H4376-17`	Joel 4:6	מְכַרְתֶּ֖ם	mekharetem	`HVqp2mp`	you have sold	you sold
`H4376-17`	Joel 4:7	מְכַרְתֶּ֥ם	mekharetem	`HVqp2mp`	you sold	you sold
`H4376-31`	Joel 4:8	וּ/מָכַרְתִּ֞י	umakhareti	`HC/Vqq1cs`	and-I-will-sell	and I sold
`H4376-35`	Joel 4:8	וּ/מְכָר֥וּ/ם	umekharum	`HC/Vqq3cp/Sp3mp`	and-they-will-sell-them	and they sold them
`H4376-20`	Amos 2:6	מִכְרָ֤/ם	mikheram	`HVqc/Sp3mp`	they sell them	their sale
`H4376-02`	Nahum 3:4	הַ/מֹּכֶ֤רֶת	hamokheret	`HTd/Vqrfsa`	who sells	the selling-woman
`H4376-37`	Zechariah 11:5	וּ/מֹכְרֵי/הֶ֣ן	umokhereyhen	`HC/Vqrmpc/Sp3fp`	and sellers of them	and sellers of them
`H4376-29`	Psalms 44:13	תִּמְכֹּֽר	timekor	`HVqi2ms`	you sell	you will sell
`H4376-23`	Psalms 105:17	נִמְכַּ֥ר	nimekar	`HVNp3ms`	who was sold	he was sold
`H4376-29`	Proverbs 23:23	תִּמְכֹּ֑ר	timekor	`HVqj2ms`	sell	you will sell
`H4376-39`	Proverbs 31:24	וַ/תִּמְכֹּ֑ר	vatimekor	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and sells it	and she sold
`H4376-12`	Ruth 4:3	מָכְרָ֣ה	makherah	`HVqp3fs`	is selling	she sold
`H4376-24`	Esther 7:4	נִמְכַּ֨רְנוּ֙	nimekarenu	`HVNp1cp`	we have been sold	we were sold
`H4376-24`	Esther 7:4	נִמְכַּ֨רְנוּ֙	nimekarenu-2	`HVNp1cp`	we had been sold	we were sold
`H4376-03`	Nehemiah 5:8	הַ/נִּמְכָּרִ֤ים	hanimekarim	`HTd/VNsmpa`	who were sold	the ones sold
`H4376-28`	Nehemiah 5:8	תִּמְכְּר֥וּ	timekeru	`HVqi2mp`	are selling	you will sell
`H4376-48`	Nehemiah 5:8	וְ/נִמְכְּרוּ	venimekeru	`HC/VNq3cp`	and they are sold	and they were sold
`H4376-09`	Nehemiah 10:32	לִ/מְכּ֔וֹר	limekor	`HR/Vqc`	to-sell	to sell
`H4376-20`	Nehemiah 13:15	מִכְרָ֥/ם	mikheram	`HVqc/Sp3mp`	wherein they sold	their sale
`H4376-38`	Nehemiah 13:16	וּ/מֹכְרִ֧ים	umokherim	`HC/Vqrmpa`	and-selling	and sellers
`H4376-36`	Nehemiah 13:20	וּ/מֹכְרֵ֧י	umokherey	`HC/Vqrmpc`	and sellers	and sellers of

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