עָקַר
to pluck up (especially by the roots); specifically, to hamstring; figuratively, to exterminate
Definition
The Hebrew verb עָקַר (ʻâqar) primarily means to uproot or tear out by the roots, conveying a sense of complete and violent removal. In its most literal sense, it describes the hamstringing of horses to render them militarily useless, as seen in Joshua 11:6, 9. Figuratively, it extends to the idea of extermination or the total destruction of people, as in the prophetic judgment against the Philistines in Zephaniah 2:4. In Ecclesiastes 3:2, it is used poetically for the 'time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted,' representing a divinely appointed cycle of establishment and removal.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used seven times in the Old Testament, primarily in historical and prophetic contexts. In historical narratives, it describes a specific military tactic of disabling enemy chariot horses by cutting their hamstrings (Joshua 11:6, 9; 2 Samuel 8:4; 1 Chronicles 18:4). In poetic and prophetic literature, it is used metaphorically. In Genesis 49:6, it describes the violent, root-like removal of Simeon and Levi's counsel. In Zephaniah 2:4, it prophesies the total uprooting of the Philistine cities. Its usage in Ecclesiastes 3:2 is part of a philosophical reflection on divinely ordered times.
Etymology
As a primitive root, עָקַר (ʻâqar) is the base from which related words are derived. Its core meaning revolves around the concept of a 'root' (עֵקֶר, ʻêqer). Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Arabic, also carry meanings related to uprooting or being barren. The development of meaning moves from the concrete physical action of pulling something up by its roots to the metaphorical senses of making something barren, destroying it utterly, or rendering it powerless.
Semantic Range
This word carries significant theological weight in its depiction of divine judgment and sovereignty. The act of 'uprooting' is often an image of God's decisive judgment against sin, pride, and rebellion, as seen in the prophecy against Philistia (Zephaniah 2:4). Conversely, its use in Ecclesiastes 3:2 places this destructive action within God's sovereign timing, reminding the reader that both planting and uprooting are under divine authority. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of judgment passages by emphasizing the totality and finality of God's actions against evil.
In its military context, the command to 'hamstring' horses (Joshua 11:6) reflects ancient Near Eastern warfare practices where chariots were a key strategic asset. Disabling the horses—by cutting the tendon above the hoof—permanently crippled the chariot's mobility without killing the animal, which could then be used for non-military labor. This was a practical tactic to neutralize a superior technological advantage. The metaphorical use of uprooting a plant would have been immediately understood in an agrarian society as an image of irreversible destruction, as a plant cannot survive without its roots.
נָתַשׁ (nāṯaš, H5428) — also means to pluck or root up, but often implies a forceful tearing away or dispossession, used more frequently for driving people from land. שָׁרַשׁ (šāraš, H8327) — means to take root, the opposite conceptual action of establishing firmly. עָקַר focuses on the destructive removal from the root itself.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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