Bible Word Study
הָרָה
hârâh · to be (or become) pregnant, conceive (literally or figuratively)
הָרָה
to be (or become) pregnant, conceive (literally or figuratively)
Definition
The verb הָרָה (hârâh) primarily means to conceive or become pregnant, describing the physical state of a woman with child (Genesis 4:1). It is also used in a figurative sense to describe the conception of ideas, plans, or actions, often with a negative connotation of plotting or devising iniquity, as seen in Job 15:35 and Psalm 7:14. In a few instances, it extends to the broader concept of bearing or bringing forth, encompassing the entire process from conception to birth.
Biblical Usage
הָרָה appears 43 times, predominantly in narrative books like Genesis, where it frequently marks key moments in the patriarchal stories, such as Sarah conceiving Isaac (Genesis 21:2) and Rebekah conceiving Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:21). Its usage is almost exclusively for human pregnancy. The figurative use is rarer and appears in poetic or wisdom literature, describing the 'conception' of trouble or deceit.
Etymology
A primitive root. It is related to the noun הֶרֶיוֹן (hereyôn, H2032), meaning 'pregnancy' or 'conception.' Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Arabic (ḥarā), with the same core meaning of becoming pregnant, indicating a stable, ancient root.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it often marks the fulfillment of divine promises and the initiation of God's covenantal plans through birth narratives, highlighting God's sovereignty over life and lineage. Its figurative use underscores the biblical theme that evil actions are 'conceived' in the heart before being born into deed, enriching the understanding of human sin and divine justice. In ancient Israelite culture, pregnancy and childbirth were central to a woman's identity and social value, ensuring the family line and inheritance. The frequent biblical recording of conception events underscores the immense cultural and religious importance of progeny, directly tied to God's promises to the patriarchs. יָלַד (yālad, H3205) — focuses on the act of bearing or bringing forth a child (the birth itself). עָבַר ('āḇar, H5674) — used in the phrase 'to be with child,' literally 'to pass over,' describing the advanced state of pregnancy.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]