עֵקֶר
figuratively, a transplanted person, i.e. naturalized citizen
Definition
The Hebrew noun עֵקֶר (ʻêqer) literally means 'root' or 'stock,' derived from the idea of being uprooted or transplanted. In its single biblical occurrence in Leviticus 25:47, it is used figuratively to describe a 'resident alien' or 'naturalized citizen'—someone who has been transplanted from their native land and has taken root in a new community. This metaphorical usage shifts the focus from a literal plant to a person's social and legal status. The word does not appear elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible with a different meaning.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Leviticus 25:47. It appears in the context of the laws concerning the redemption of an Israelite who has become poor and sells himself as a servant to a 'resident alien' (ger) or a 'naturalized citizen' (ʻêqer) living among them. The usage is specifically legal and sociological, describing a non-Israelite who has settled and established roots in the land, possessing enough wealth to own Israelite servants.
Etymology
The noun עֵקֶר (ʻêqer) is derived from the root verb עָקַר (ʻāqar, H6131), which means 'to pluck up' or 'to uproot.' This root conveys the action of tearing something from its original place. The noun, therefore, carries the sense of that which is uprooted or, by extension, a 'stock' or 'root' that has been transplanted. The semantic development moves from the physical act of uprooting to the metaphorical state of being a transplanted person.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it touches on Israel's identity, hospitality, and social justice within the covenant community. In Leviticus 25:47, it highlights the complex social realities where even a naturalized foreigner could attain a position of economic advantage over a native Israelite. This scenario underscores the biblical concern for protecting the vulnerable (the impoverished Israelite) regardless of the master's origin. Understanding this term enriches the reading of Levitical law by revealing how community boundaries and economic relationships were navigated under God's instruction, emphasizing that human dignity and redemption rights extended within a mixed society.
In ancient Israelite culture, land and rootedness were central to identity and blessing. A person described as an ʻêqer was a foreigner who had been 'transplanted,' likely through prolonged residence and economic integration, gaining a stable, rooted status distinct from a temporary 'sojourner' (ger). This term reflects a societal category for assimilated foreigners who owned property and could participate in the local economy, including owning servants. The modern concept of a 'naturalized citizen' is a close analogue, though ancient naturalization was less formal and more based on social and economic ties.
גֵּר (gēr, H1616) — a temporary resident alien or sojourner, lacking permanent rootedness. תּוֹשָׁב (tôshāv, H8453) — a settler or inhabitant, often paired with 'ger' but implying more settled residence.
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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