עָקַר (H6131) — Hebrew Lexicon

עָקַר

𐤏𐤒𐤓

ʻâqar

H6131 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To uproot, pluck up, or remove something from its foundation (especially plants), both literally (as with plants or structures) and figuratively (as in removing, destroying, or eradicating a people or presence); in limited contexts, to hamstring or disable an animal by cutting leg tendons. The word can signal a forceful or thorough removal, often with lasting consequences.

Semantic Range

to uproot (plants or objects), to pluck up, to remove entirely, to disable (by hamstringing), to destroy or eradicate (figuratively), to dig out, to exterminate

Root / Etymology

From the root עקר, which conveys the sense of uprooting or removing from a foundation. The derived verb עָקַר refers to the act of physically pulling up, especially of plants, or more broadly, removing something completely.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite texts, עָקַר is frequently used with reference to agricultural contexts (e.g., uprooting plants or vines), as well as urban or territorial removals (e.g., uprooting peoples or destroying settlements). In some passages, especially in narratives involving warfare, it connotes the disabling of horses by cutting their hamstrings (e.g., Joshua 11:6, 9). The word also develops extended uses: metaphorical references to eradicating or destroying people, cities, or lineages, reflecting a complete removal with no prospect of regrowth. This root is distinct from similar verbs like סור (to turn aside, remove in a more general sense) or כרת (to cut off, often in covenant contexts). Later translations, particularly in the King James Version, sometimes render עָקַר as 'hough' (an archaic term for hamstringing), which does not cover its broader applications in Hebrew. The term is not associated with religious terminology or identity labels, but rather with physical or social action, whether literal or metaphorical.

Translation Consistency

primary "uproot" 2 occurrences

ʻâqar most commonly carries the sense of tearing out or removing from the root — literally uprooting plants or figuratively rooting out/eradicating people or things. "Uproot" is natural English that covers the typical literal and figurative uses; the hamstring sense is a rarer, specialized meaning and can be treated as a separate sense in context while keeping the same base verb.

Alternatives (5 occurrences):

"hamstrung" (4x) "hamstring" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to pluck up (especially by the roots); specifically, to hamstring; figuratively, to exterminate; dig down, hough, pluck up, root up.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

עקר (ʿ-q-r) — to uproot, pluck up, remove from foundation

Root עקר to uproot, pluck up, remove from foundation

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H6132	עֲקַר	were uprooted
H6133	עֵקֶר	to root-stock of
H6134	עֵקֶר	and Eker
H6135	עָקָר	barren man
H6136	עִקַּר	stump-of
H6138	עֶקְרוֹן	Uprooting-Place
H6139	עֶקְרוֹנִי	the Ekronites

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H6131-05`	וַ/יְעַקֵּ֤ר	vayeaqer	`HC/Vpw3ms`	and David hamstrung	and he uprooted	and he hamstrung	2
`H6131-04`	תְּעַקֵּ֔ר	teaqer	`HVpi2ms`	hamstring	you will uproot completely	hamstring	2
`H6131-03`	לַ/עֲק֥וֹר	laaqor	`HR/Vqc`		to uproot	to uproot	1
`H6131-02`	עִקְּרוּ	iqeru	`HVpp3cp`	they hamstrung	they thoroughly uprooted	they hamstrung	1
`H6131-01`	עִקֵּ֔ר	iqer	`HVpp3ms`	hamstrung	he thoroughly uprooted	he hamstrung	1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H6131-02`	Genesis 49:6	עִקְּרוּ	iqeru	`HVpp3cp`	they hamstrung	they thoroughly uprooted	they hamstrung
`H6131-04`	Joshua 11:6	תְּעַקֵּ֔ר	teaqer	`HVpi2ms`	hamstring	you will uproot completely	hamstring
`H6131-01`	Joshua 11:9	עִקֵּ֔ר	iqer	`HVpp3ms`	hamstrung	he thoroughly uprooted	he hamstrung
`H6131-05`	2 Samuel 8:4	וַ/יְעַקֵּ֤ר	vayeaqer	`HC/Vpw3ms`	and David hamstrung	and he uprooted	and he hamstrung
`H6131-04`	Zephaniah 2:4	תֵּעָקֵֽר	teaqer	`HVNi3fs`	will-be-uprooted	you will uproot completely	will be uprooted
`H6131-03`	Ecclesiastes 3:2	לַ/עֲק֥וֹר	laaqor	`HR/Vqc`		to uproot	to uproot
`H6131-05`	1 Chronicles 18:4	וַ/יְעַקֵּ֤ר	vayeaqer	`HC/Vpw3ms`	and hamstrung	and he uprooted	and he hamstrung

← H6130 Hebrew Lexicon H6132 →