Lexical Summary yaqar: Precious, valuable, rare, esteemed Original Word: יָקָר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance valuable From yaqar; valuable (obj. Or subj.): see HEBREW yaqar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom yaqar Definition precious, rare, splendid, weighty NASB Translation costly (6), glory (1), luminaries (1), noble (1), precious (23), rare (1), splendor (1), weightier (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יָקָר adjective precious, rare, splendid, weighty; — absolute יָקָר 1 Samuel 3:1 9t.; construct יְקַרֿ Proverbs 17:27 Qr (Kt וקר; see below); כִּיקַר Psalm 37:20; feminine יְקָרָה 2 Samuel 12:30 14t.; construct יִקְרַת Isaiah 28:16; masculine plural יְקָרִים Lamentations 4:2; feminine plural יְקָדוֺת 1 Kings 5:31 2t. + Zechariah 14:6 (see below); יְקָרֹת 1 Kings 7:9; suffix בְּיִקְּרוֺתֶ֑יךָ Psalm 45:10 (so Baer; van d. H ׳בִּיקְּ); — 1 precious: a. costly, אֲבָנִים יְקָרוֺת of costly building-stones 1 Kings 5:31; 1 Kings 7:9,10,11 compare מִּנַּת יִקְרַת מוּסָד מוּסָּד Isaiah 28:16 a costly corner (-stone) of a foundation, — on construct see DaSynt. § 28, R. 3, 6; הוֺן יָקָר costly wealth Proverbs 1:13; Proverbs 12:27; הוֺן יָקָר וְנָעִים Proverbs 24:1. b. precious, highly valued: נֶפֶשׁ יְקָרָה Proverbs 6:26 precious life; opposed to זוֺלֵל Jeremiah 15:19 (of choice elements of character); הַמָּֽוְתָה לַחֲסִידָיו ׳יָקָר בְּעֵינֵי י Psalm 116:15; יְקָרָה הִיא מפניים Proverbs 3:15 she (wisdom) is more precious than rubies (see also c); prized, of ׳חסד י Psalm 36:8; = substantive בְּנוֺת מְלָכִים בְּיִקְּרותֶ֑יךָ Psalm 45:10 king's daughters are among thy precious ( = dear) ones. c. אֶבֶן יְקָרָה collective precious stones, jewels 2 Samuel 12:30 = 1 Chronicles 20:2; 1 Kings 10:2,10; 1 Kings 1:11 2Chronicles 9:1,9,10; 1 Chronicles 29:3; 2Chronicles 3:6; 32:27; Ezekiel 27:22; Ezekiel 28:13 (list of precious stones follows), Daniel 11:38; so also Lamentations 4:2, read אַבְנֵי צִיּוֺן הַיְקָרִים (for ᵑ0 ׳בְּנֵי וגו), see VB; שֹׁהַם יָקָר Job 28:16 (see also Proverbs 3:15 below b). 2 rare, 1 Samuel 3:1 (compare √ Hiph`il Isaiah 13:12). 3 glorious, splendid (compare Aramaic), of the moon Job 31:26; as substantive = glory, the wicked perish, כִּיקַר כָּרִים Psalm 37:20 like the glory of the pastures (i.e. like gay, but short-lived, flowers). 4 (late and Aramaic) weighty, influential, יָקָר מֵחָכְמָה Ecclesiastes 10:1 weightier than wisdom and honour is a little folly. — In Proverbs 17:27 read Kt וְקַררֿוּחַ and one cool of spirit (see VB); in Zechariah 14:6 read לֹא יִהְיֶה אוֺר וְקָרוֺת וְקִמָּאוֺן there shall not be light but cold and congelation (see id. and Vrss.); **'but is very dubious; read probably חוֺם וְקָרוֺת there shall be neither heat nor cold, etc. (We and others). קִמָּאוֺן noun [masculine] congelation; — Zechariah 14:6 Qr [ > Kt see √ Qal Imperfect], so ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Symm We Now (with other change, but see GASm), see יָקָר. p 429 Topical Lexicon Overview of Meaning and Nuances יָקָר highlights what is highly valued—be that a person, an object, a divine attribute, or a prophetic promise. The term gathers ideas such as preciousness, rarity, costliness, splendor, and honor. Because Scripture never divorces value from God’s character, every occurrence ultimately traces back to the worth He ascribes or embodies. Distribution Across Scripture The thirty-plus occurrences span historical narrative, poetry, wisdom literature, and prophecy. This breadth allows the word to illuminate the whole counsel of God—practical life, worship, covenant fidelity, and messianic hope. Material and Aesthetic Preciousness • Song of Songs 1:10 pictures ornaments that make the bride “beautiful with earrings and … your neck with strings of jewels,” capturing luxury and beauty. The Value of Human Life • David twice tells Saul that his life had been “precious” in David’s sight (1 Samuel 26:21, 26:24), elevating the sanctity of life above vengeance. God’s Character and Works • Psalm 36:7 celebrates covenant love: “How priceless is Your loving devotion, O God!” His steadfast love is beyond monetary measure. Wisdom Literature Emphasis • Proverbs 3:15 personifies Wisdom: “She is more precious than rubies.” The passage insists that the fear of the LORD and right living exceed all material assets. Prophetic and Messianic Outlook • Isaiah 13:12 foretells judgment so severe that humanity will become “rarer than the gold of Ophir,” showing how divine wrath can reduce the abundant to scarce. National and Covenant Tragedy Lamentations 4:2 laments the fallen glory of Jerusalem: “Though they are precious in the sight of God, the sons of Zion were worth their weight in fine gold.” Sin had tarnished what once bore divine shine, turning splendour into ruin, yet even in judgment their covenant worth is remembered. Worship and Devotional Application The term invites worshipers to ascribe to God the glory due His name and to measure all earthly possessions, experiences, and relationships against His surpassing worth. It also comforts the afflicted: God counts their lives, tears, and even deaths as יָקָר. Practical Ministry Implications 1. Preaching and Teaching: Emphasize the intrinsic worth God places on life, covenant love, and truth, shaping a worldview that resists utilitarianism. Christological Fulfillment Jesus Christ embodies יָקָר as the “precious cornerstone.” His blood, “more precious than gold” (echoed in 1 Peter 1:19), purchases the costly redemption Psalm 49 declares unattainable by human wealth. His valuation of people—especially the lowly—reflects the Old Testament usage and calls believers to mirror that appraisal. Summary יָקָר gathers the Bible’s vocabulary of value into one word. It describes jewels and perfume, yet also the Word of the LORD, wisdom, human life, covenant love, and the Messiah Himself. Through its multifaceted use, Scripture teaches that ultimate preciousness lies not in material splendor but in the God who assigns worth and in the redemption He provides. Forms and Transliterations בְּיִקְּרוֹתֶ֑יךָ ביקרותיך הַיְקָרִ֔ים היקרים יְקָ֣רָה יְקָר֖וֹת יְקָר֛וֹת יְקָרָ֑ה יְקָרָ֔ה יְקָרָ֖ה יְקָרָ֗ה יְקָרָ֛ה יְקָרָ֣ה יְקָרָ֤ה יְקָרָֽה׃ יְקָרָה֙ יְקָרֹת֙ יִקְרַת֙ יָ֭קָר יָּקָ֥ר יָקָ֛ר יָקָ֣ר יָקָ֥ר יָקָר֙ יקר יקרה יקרה׃ יקרות יקרת כִּיקַ֣ר כיקר bə·yiq·qə·rō·w·ṯe·ḵā beyikkeroTeicha bəyiqqərōwṯeḵā hay·qā·rîm haykaRim hayqārîm kî·qar kiKar kîqar yā·qār yaKar Yakor yāqār yə·qā·rāh yə·qā·rō·wṯ yə·qā·rōṯ yekaRah yekaRot yəqārāh yəqārōṯ yəqārōwṯ yikRat yiq·raṯ yiqraṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 3:1 HEB: יְהוָ֗ה הָיָ֤ה יָקָר֙ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם NAS: from the LORD was rare in those KJV: of the LORD was precious in those days; INT: the LORD become was rare days those 2 Samuel 12:30 1 Kings 5:17 1 Kings 7:9 1 Kings 7:10 1 Kings 7:11 1 Kings 10:2 1 Kings 10:10 1 Kings 10:11 1 Chronicles 20:2 1 Chronicles 29:2 2 Chronicles 3:6 2 Chronicles 9:1 2 Chronicles 9:9 2 Chronicles 9:10 2 Chronicles 32:27 Job 28:16 Job 31:26 Psalm 36:7 Psalm 37:20 Psalm 45:9 Psalm 116:15 Proverbs 1:13 Proverbs 3:15 Proverbs 6:26 35 Occurrences |