Lexical Summary
yaqar: Precious, valuable, rare, esteemed
Original Word:יָקָר
Part of Speech:Adjective
Transliteration:yaqar
Pronunciation:yah-KAR
Phonetic Spelling:(yaw-kawr')
KJV: brightness, clear, costly, excellent, fat, honourable women, precious, reputation
NASB:precious, costly, glory, luminaries, noble, rare, splendor
Word Origin:[fromH3365 (יָקַר - precious)]
1. valuable
{objectively or subjectively}
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
valuable
Fromyaqar; valuable (obj. Or subj.):
see HEBREWyaqar
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
yaqarDefinitionprecious, rare, splendid, weighty
NASB Translationcostly (6), glory (1), luminaries (1), noble (1), precious (23), rare (1), splendor (1), weightier (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
; — absolute
1 Samuel 3:1 9t.; construct
Proverbs 17:27 Qr (Kt ; see below);
Psalm 37:20; feminine
2 Samuel 12:30 14t.; construct
Isaiah 28:16; masculine plural
Lamentations 4:2; feminine plural
1 Kings 5:31 2t. +
Zechariah 14:6 (see below);
1 Kings 7:9; suffix
Psalm 45:10 (so Baer; van d. H ); —
precious:
costly, of costly building-stones1 Kings 5:31;1 Kings 7:9,10,11 compareIsaiah 28:16a costly corner (-stone) of a foundation, — on construct see DaSynt. § 28, R. 3, 6;costly wealthProverbs 1:13;Proverbs 12:27;Proverbs 24:1.
precious, highly valued:Proverbs 6:26precious life; opposed toJeremiah 15:19 (of choice elements of character);Psalm 116:15;Proverbs 3:15she (wisdom)is more precious than rubies (see also
);prized, ofPsalm 36:8; = substantivePsalm 45:10king's daughters are among thy precious ( =dear)ones.
collectiveprecious stones, jewels2 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 alsoLamentations 4:2, read (for ), see VB;Job 28:16 (see alsoProverbs 3:15 below ).
rare,1 Samuel 3:1 (compare √ Hiph`ilIsaiah 13:12).
glorious, splendid (compare Aramaic), of the moonJob 31:26; as substantive =glory, the wicked perish,Psalm 37:20like the glory of the pastures (i.e. like gay, but short-lived, flowers).
(late and Aramaic)weighty, influential,Ecclesiastes 10:1weightier than wisdom and honour is a little folly. — InProverbs 17:27 read Ktand one cool of spirit (see VB); inZechariah 14:6 readthere shall not be light but cold and congelation (seeid. and Vrss.); 'but is very dubious; read probablythere shall be neither heat nor cold, etc. (We and others).
; —Zechariah 14:6 Qr [ > Kt see √
Imperfect], so Symm We Now (with other change, but see GASm), see . p 429
Topical Lexicon
Overview of Meaning and Nuancesיָקָר 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.
• 1 Kings (in Solomon’s temple accounts) and Chronicles often combine יָקָר with gold, stone, or imported goods, underscoring the earthly magnificence devoted to divine worship.
•Proverbs 20:15 teaches discernment: “There is gold and a multitude of rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.” Tangible riches are set beneath the superior, yet still יָקָר, value of godly speech.
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.
•Psalm 72:14 promises Messiah-king compassion: “He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.”
•Psalm 116:15 comforts mourners: “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.” Earthly death does not annul worth; it reveals heaven’s valuation.
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.
•Psalm 49:8 shows the costliness of redemption: “For the redemption of his soul is costly.” Salvation’s price foreshadows the necessity of a greater, ultimately infinite, payment in Christ.
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.
•Ecclesiastes 10:1 contrasts a little folly that corrupts “precious perfume,” warning that sin’s stench spoils genuine worth.
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.
•Isaiah 28:16 anchors hope: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone.” The New Testament openly identifies this cornerstone with Jesus Christ (e.g.,1 Peter 2:6–7), joining יָקָר to messianic identity.
•Zechariah 11:13 portrays rejected value: “This magnificent price at which they valued Me!” Thirty pieces of silver, later echoed inMatthew 27:9, sets a tragic contrast between God’s appraisal of the Shepherd and human betrayal.
•Jeremiah 15:19 links prophetic usefulness to moral quality: “If you speak words that are worthy and not worthless, you will be My spokesman,” reminding ministers that spiritual authority rests on יָקָר speech.
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.
2. Pastoral Care: UsePsalm 116:15 andPsalm 72:14 to assure the suffering or bereaved that their pain and blood are precious to God.
3. Ethical Formation: Highlight texts such asProverbs 3:15 andJeremiah 15:19 to cultivate disciples who prize wisdom and purity over profit and popularity.
Christological Fulfillment
Jesus Christ embodies יָקָר as the “precious cornerstone.” His blood, “more precious than gold” (echoed in1 Peter 1:19), purchases the costly redemptionPsalm 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 yiqraṯ
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
