Original Word: הָרָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: harah
Pronunciation: hah-RAH
Phonetic Spelling: (haw-raw')
KJV: been, be with child, conceive, progenitor
NASB: conceived, conceive, am, ancestors, child, conceives, conceiving
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to be (or become) pregnant, conceive (literally or figuratively)

been, be with child, conceive, progenitor

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

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to conceive, become pregnant
NASB Translation
am (1), ancestors (1), child (1), conceive (3), conceived (35), conceives (1), conceiving (1), pregnant (1).

I. הָרָה verb conceive, become pregnant (Assyrian êrû compare Dl^{Pr 21} Muss.-Arnolt^{Hebraica. Oct. 1890, 67} Jäger^{BAS i. 473}); —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular וְהָרָה consecutive Psalm 7:15; 3feminine singular הָרָ֑תָה Genesis 16:4,5; 2feminine singular וְהָרִית consecutive Judges 13:3; 1singular הָרִיתִי Numbers 11:12; 1plural הָרִינוּ Isaiah 26:18; Imperfect וַתַּ֫הַר Genesis 4:1 26t. (וַתַּ֑הַר Genesis 16:4); 3feminine plural וַתַּהֲרֶיןָ Genesis 19:36; 2masculine plural תַּהֲרוּ Isaiah 33:11; Infinitive absolute הָרֹה Job 15:35, הָרוֺ Isaiah 59:4 compare also Isaiah 59:13 below

Po. below; Participle feminine suffix הוֺרָתִי Songs 3:4; הוֺרָתָם Hosea 2:7; —

1 literally conceive, become pregnant Genesis 16:4 (twice in verse); Genesis 16:5; Genesis 19:36; Genesis 25:21; Genesis 38:18 (all J), 2 Samuel 11:5 (agency of man expressed by מִן Genesis 19:36, לְ Genesis 38:18); usually in phrase וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד Genesis 4:1,17; Genesis 21:2; Genesis 29:32,33,34,35; Genesis 30:5,7 (all J), Genesis 30:17; Genesis 30:19; Genesis 30:23 (all E), Genesis 38:3,4 (both J), Exodus 2:2 (E), 1 Samuel 1:20; 1 Samuel 2:21; 2 Kings 4:17; 1 Chronicles 7:23; Isaiah 8:3; Hosea 1:3,6,8, probably also 1 Chronicles 4:17 ותהר אֶתמִֿרְיָם [ותלד] compare Be; further Judges 13:3, and compare Moses' question הֶאָנֹכִי הָרִיתִי אֵת כָּלהָֿעָם הַזֶּה אִםאָֿנֹכִי יְלִדְתִּיהוּ Numbers 11:12 have I conceived all this people, or have I brought it forth? Participle f. "" אֵם Hosea 2:7; Songs 3:4.

2 metaph. הָרִינוּ חַלְנוּ כְמוֺ יָלַדְנוּ רוּחַ Isaiah 26:18 of anxious and disappointed waiting; תַּהֲרוּ חֲשַׁשׁ תֵּלְדוּ קַשׁ Isaiah 33:11, of futile planning, compare Che; elsewhere of evil, mischief וְהָרָה עָמָל וְיָלַד שָׁ֑קֶר Psalm 7:15 (subject wicked man), compare Job 15:35; Isaiah 59:4, so also Isaiah 59:13, read הָרוֺ (Infinitive absolute) compare Di.

Pu`al Perfect3masculine singular הֹרָה נָּ֑בֶר Job 3:3 a man hath been conceived (Bö^{ii. p. 103} Ba^{NB 77 regard as}

Qal passive).

Po. Infinitive absolute, conceive, contrive, devise הֹרוֺ וְהֹגוֺ מִלֵּב דִּבְרֵי שָׁ֑קֶר Isaiah 59:13, but read rather הָרוֺ וְהָגוֺ

Qal Infinitive absolute see above (Ba^{l.c. explanation} ᵑ0 as

Qal Infinitive passive). — On הוֺרַי Genesis 49:26 see הוֺר and הַר 1.c.

Overview

The verb הָרָה occurs about forty-three times in the Old Testament, most often describing the act of conception in the womb, whether literal or figurative. Through its occurrences Scripture highlights divine sovereignty over life, covenant continuity, the reversal of barrenness, and the mystery of iniquity that can also be “conceived” in the human heart.

Literal Conception and the Covenant Line

1. Patriarchal narratives
• Genesis 16:4 notes that Hagar “conceived,” setting in motion the birth of Ishmael and the enduring conflict between Isaac and Ishmael’s descendants.
• Genesis 21:2 records that “Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age,” underscoring the miraculous origin of the covenant seed.
• Parallel accounts of Rebekah (Genesis 25:21), Rachel (Genesis 30:23), and Leah (Genesis 29:32) show that conception depends on the Lord’s enabling, not mere human effort.

2. Preservation of the royal line
• Ruth 4:13 credits the Lord with causing Ruth to conceive, leading to Obed, grandfather of David.
• 2 Samuel 11:5—Bathsheba’s announcement, “I am pregnant,” sets the stage for both David’s sin and the eventual birth of Solomon, through whom the Messianic promise continues.

3. Prophetic sign births
• Isaiah 8:3: “I was intimate with the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son.” The child’s name serves as a living prophecy of imminent judgment.
• Hosea 1:3 and 1:6 show Gomer’s conceptions as signs of Israel’s unfaithfulness yet eventual restoration.

4. Miraculous reversal of barrenness
• Judges 13:3–24 speaks of Manoah’s wife conceiving Samson after angelic announcement.
• 1 Samuel 1:20 testifies, “So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son,” introducing Samuel, the transitional judge-prophet.

Figurative Conception

1. Conceiving evil
• Psalm 7:14: “Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and gives birth to falsehood.”
• Job 15:35 and Isaiah 59:4 employ the same vocabulary to expose sin’s gestation within the heart before its public birth in actions.

2. Conceiving deliverance

Though less frequent, Isaiah 26:18 laments, “We were with child, we writhed in pain, but we gave birth to wind,” portraying futile human efforts for salvation apart from God.

Redemptive Trajectory

Every miraculous conception in the Old Testament anticipates the ultimate supernatural conception announced in Isaiah 7:14 and fulfilled in Matthew 1:20. Whereas הָרָה is usually applied to ordinary human parentage, its cumulative witness prepares readers to accept that “what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

Theological Observations

• Sovereignty: The Lord “opens and closes the womb” (cf. Genesis 29:31; 30:22). Conception is never portrayed as a mere biological certainty but as a divine prerogative.
• Covenant continuity: Each key conception safeguards the promised Seed, tracing a straight line to Messiah.
• Human responsibility: Illicit unions (2 Samuel 11:5) and false hopes (Isaiah 26:18) reveal that human schemes cannot thwart or replace God’s plan.
• Moral dimension: The same verb exposes inward sin, reminding believers that evil incubates before manifesting outwardly.

Ministry Applications

1. Sanctity of life: The consistent portrayal of conception as God-given affirms the personhood and value of the unborn.
2. Hope for the barren: Biblical precedent encourages couples to seek the Lord, whether He grants children naturally, miraculously, or by alternative provisions.
3. Spiritual vigilance: As evil can be “conceived” in the heart, pastors must address sin at its earliest stirrings, calling for repentance before it “gives birth.”
4. Gospel proclamation: Tracing divine interventions in conception provides an accessible bridge to discuss the incarnation and atonement.

Representative Reference List

Genesis 4:1; 16:4,11; 21:2; 25:21; 29:32–34; 30:5,23; 38:3; Exodus 2:2; Ruth 4:13; 1 Samuel 1:20; 2 Samuel 11:5; 2 Kings 4:17; 2 Kings 8:3; 1 Chronicles 7:23; Job 3:3; 15:35; Psalm 7:14; Isaiah 8:3; 26:18; 59:4; Hosea 1:3,6; 2:5; Amos 1:13; Micah 4:10; Zechariah 13:3.

New Testament Resonance

Luke 1:24,31 and Matthew 1:20 employ the Greek equivalent συλλαμβάνω, echoing the Old Testament pattern and confirming that every previous instance of הָרָה laid the theological groundwork for the virgin conception of Jesus Christ.

Through its literal and figurative uses, הָרָה teaches that God alone authors life, governs history, judges sin, and accomplishes redemption.

הָר֥וֹ הָרִ֗יתִי הָרָ֔תָה הָרָ֖ה הָרָ֜ה הָרֹ֣ה הֹר֧וֹ הֽוֹרָתָ֑ם הוֹרַ֔י הוֹרָתִֽי׃ הורי הורתי׃ הורתם הרה הרו הריתי הרתה וְהָרִ֖ית וְהָרָ֥ה וַֽתַּהֲרֶ֛יןָ וַתַּ֑הַר וַתַּ֖הַר וַתַּ֙הַר֙ וַתַּ֛הַר וַתַּ֣הַר וַתַּ֤הַר וַתַּ֥הַר וַתַּ֨הַר וַתַּהַר֩ והרה והרית ותהר ותהרין תַּהֲר֥וּ תהרו hā·rā·ṯāh hā·rāh hā·rî·ṯî hā·rōh hā·rōw haRah hārāh haRatah hārāṯāh haRiti hārîṯî haRo haRoh hārōh hārōw hō·rōw hō·w·rā·ṯām hō·w·rā·ṯî hō·w·ray hoRai horaTam horaTi hoRo hōrōw hōwrāṯām hōwrāṯî hōwray ta·hă·rū tahaRu tahărū vatTahar vattahaReina vehaRah vehaRit wat·ta·hă·re·nā wat·ta·har wattahar wattahărenā wə·hā·rāh wə·hā·rîṯ wəhārāh wəhārîṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts