Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "barren" primarily refers to the inability to produce offspring. This condition is often depicted as a significant personal and social challenge, particularly for women in ancient times, where childbearing was closely tied to a woman's identity and societal status. The Bible contains several narratives involving barren women, each illustrating themes of faith, divine intervention, and the fulfillment of God's promises.
Old Testament Instances1.
Sarah: One of the most notable examples of barrenness in the Bible is Sarah, the wife of Abraham. Initially unable to conceive, Sarah's barrenness is a central theme in the narrative of God's covenant with Abraham.
Genesis 11:30 states, "But Sarai was barren; she had no children." Despite her advanced age, God promised Abraham that Sarah would bear a son. This promise is fulfilled in
Genesis 21:1-2: "Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him."
2.
Rebekah: Isaac's wife, Rebekah, also experienced barrenness.
Genesis 25:21 records Isaac's prayer for his wife: "Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived." This account highlights the power of prayer and God's responsiveness to the faithful.
3.
Rachel: Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob, struggled with barrenness while her sister Leah bore several children. Rachel's plight is described in
Genesis 30:1: "When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she envied her sister. 'Give me children, or I will die!' she said to Jacob." God eventually remembered Rachel, and she bore Joseph, as noted in
Genesis 30:22-24.
4.
Hannah: The account of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, is another profound example. Her deep anguish over her barrenness is captured in
1 Samuel 1:10: "In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears." God answered her fervent prayers, and she gave birth to Samuel, dedicating him to the Lord's service.
New Testament Reference1.
Elizabeth: In the New Testament, Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah and mother of John the Baptist, is described as barren.
Luke 1:7 states, "But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both of them were well along in years." Her miraculous conception of John the Baptist is a testament to God's power and the unfolding of His redemptive plan.
Symbolic and Theological SignificanceBarrenness in the Bible often serves as a backdrop for demonstrating God's sovereignty and faithfulness. It underscores the belief that God is the giver of life and that His purposes transcend human limitations. The miraculous births that follow periods of barrenness are frequently linked to significant developments in God's covenantal history, such as the birth of Isaac, the establishment of the Israelite nation, and the coming of John the Baptist as the forerunner of Christ.
Furthermore, barrenness can symbolize spiritual desolation or a lack of fruitfulness in one's life or community. The transformation from barrenness to fruitfulness is a powerful metaphor for divine intervention and blessing, as seen in
Isaiah 54:1: "Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who never were in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband, says the LORD."
In summary, the theme of barrenness in the Bible is rich with theological implications, illustrating God's ability to bring life and hope where there is none, and His unwavering commitment to His promises.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
For a woman to be barren was accounted a severe punishment among the Jews (
Genesis 16:2;
30:1-23;
1 Samuel 1:6, 27;
Isaiah 47:9;
49:21;
Luke 1:25). Instances of barrenness are noticed (
Genesis 11:30;
25:21;
29:31;
Judges 13:2, 3;
Luke 1:7, 36).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Incapable of producing offspring; producing no young; sterile; -- said of women and female animals.
2. (a.) Not producing vegetation, or useful vegetation; /rile.
3. (a.) Unproductive; fruitless; unprofitable; empty.
4. (a.) Mentally dull; stupid.
5. (n.) A tract of barren land.
6. (n.) Elevated lands or plains on which grow small trees, but not timber; as, pine barrens; oak barrens. They are not necessarily sterile, and are often fertile.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BARREN; BARRENNESSbar'-en, (bar'-en-nes tsiyah; melehah; shakhol; `aqar; steiros; argos):
(1) Of land that bears no crop, either
(a) because it is naturally poor and sterile: tsiyah "dry" (Joel 2:20), melechah, "salt" (Job 39:6 the King James Version), shakhol, "miscarrying" (2 Kings 2:19, 21), or
(b) because it is, under God's curse, turned into a melechah or salt desert, for the wickedness of the people that dwell therein (Psalm 107:34 the King James Version; compareGenesis 3:17, 18).
(2) Of females that bear no issue: `aqar: Sarah (Genesis 11:30); Rebekah (Genesis 25:21); Rachel (Genesis 29:31); Manoah's wife (Judges 13:2, 3); Hannah (1 Samuel 2:5); steiros: Elisabeth (Luke 1:7, 36).
In Israel and among oriental peoples generally barrenness was a woman's and a family's greatest misfortune. The highest sanctions of religion and patriotism blessed the fruitful woman, because children were necessary for the perpetuation of the tribe and its religion. It is significant that the mothers of the Hebrew race, Sarah, Rebekah and Rachel, were by nature sterile, and therefore God's special intervention shows His particular favor to Israel. Fruitfulness was God's special blessing to His people (Exodus 23:26Deuteronomy 7:14Psalm 113:9). A complete family is an emblem of beauty (Songs 4:2;Songs 6:6). Metaphorically, Israel, in her days of adversity, when her children were exiled, was barren, but in her restoration she shall rejoice in many children (Isaiah 54:1Galatians 4:27). The utter despair and terror of the destruction of Jerusalem could go no farther than that the barren should be called blessed (Luke 23:29).
(3) Argos is translated in the King James Version "barren," but in the Revised Version (British and American) more accurately "idle" (2 Peter 1:8).
T. Rees
Greek
4723. steira --barren... steira. 4724 .
barren. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: steira
Phonetic Spelling: (sti'-ros) Short Definition:
barren Definition:
barren.
...175. akarpos -- unfruitful
... unfruitful. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: akarpos Phonetic Spelling:
(ak'-ar-pos) Short Definition: unfruitful,barren Definition: unfruitful...
692. argos -- inactive, idle
...barren, idle, slow. From a (as a negative particle) and ergon; inactive, ie Unemployed;
(by implication) lazy, useless --barren, idle, slow. see GREEK a....
2050. eremosis -- a making desolate
... devastation. 2050 (from 2049 , "lay waste, make destitute,barren") --
(desecration) that results from being cut off (isolated). Word...
2048. eremos -- solitary, desolate
... 2048 -- properly, an , place; a (deserted) area; (figuratively) abarren, solitary
place that also provides (freedom from disturbance)....
Strong's Hebrew
6135. aqar --barren... 6134, 6135. aqar. 6136 .
barren. Transliteration: aqar Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-kawr') Short Definition:
barren. Word Origin from
...1565. galmud -- hard,barren
... 1564, 1565. galmud. 1566 . hard,barren. Transliteration: galmud Phonetic
Spelling: (gal-mood') Short Definition:barren. Word Origin...
6115. otser -- restraint, coercion
... Word Origin from atsar Definition restraint, coercion NASB Word Usagebarren
(1), oppression (2).barren, oppression, prison. From...
7909. shakkuwl -- childless
... shakkuwl. 7909a . childless. Transliteration: shakkuwl Phonetic Spelling:
(shak-kool') Short Definition:barren.barren, bereaved robbed of children whelps...
6723. tsiyyah -- dryness, drought
...barren, drought, dry land, place, solitary place, wilderness. From an unused
root meaning to parch; aridity; concretely, a desert...
4420. melechah -- saltiness, barrenness
... Word Origin from the same as melach Definition saltiness, barrenness NASB Word Usage
salt (1), salt land (1), salt waste (1).barren land, salt land....
7921. shakol -- to be bereaved
... bereave of children,barren, cast calf fruit, make childless, deprive, destroy.
A primitive root; properly, to miscarry, ie Suffer...
Library
TheBarren Fig-Tree.
... THEBARREN FIG-TREE. In the morning, when Jesus had left Bethany and was coming
towards Jerusalem, He was hungry.... [Illustration: THEBARREN FIG-TREE.]....
TheBarren Fig-Tree;
... THEBARREN FIG-TREE; OR, THE... Christ. In this vineyard stood a fig-tree"by
nature remarkable for fruitfulness"but it isbarren. No...
TheBarren Fig-Tree.
... THEBARREN FIG-TREE.... When the tree had reached maturity the owner expected that it
should bear fruit; but that year, the next, and a third it continuedbarren....
The Church, FormerlyBarren, is Now Fruitful.
... The Homily. Chap. ii."the church, formerlybarren, is now fruitful. "Rejoice,
thoubarren that bearest not; break forth and cry...
The Church, FormerlyBarren, is Now Fruitful.
... The Second Epistle of Clement. Chapter II."The Church, FormerlyBarren,
is Now Fruitful. "Rejoice, thoubarren that bearest not...
TheBarren Fig-Tree. Lk 13:6-9
... LUKE Hymn 103 TheBarren fig-tree. Lk 13:6-9. John Newton 6,6,6,6,8,8. TheBarren
fig-tree. Lk 13:6-9. The church a garden is. In which believers stand,....
TheBarren Fig-Tree
... Strong Meat for Hungry Souls: The Gospel of St. Mark CHAPTER 11:12-14,
20-25 THEBARREN FIG-TREE. "And on the morrow, when they were...
Now, Rebecca, Having Long BeenBarren, at Length, through the...
... Book I. Chapter VIII. Now, Rebecca, having long beenbarren, at length,
through the unceasing prayers of her husband? Now, Rebecca...
Liii. Repentance Enjoined. Parable of theBarren Fig-Tree.
... Part Fifth. From Second Passover Until Third.(Time: One Year.) LIII. Repentance
Enjoined. Parable of theBarren Fig-Tree. ^C Luke 13:1-9....
Barren Fig-Tree. Temple Cleansed.
... Part Seventh. Last Week of Our Lord's Ministry, the Fourth Passover, the Crucifixion.
CVI.Barren Fig-Tree. Temple Cleansed. (Road from Bethany and Jerusalem....
Thesaurus
Barren (44 Occurrences)... For a woman to be
barren was accounted a severe punishment among the Jews (Genesis
16:2; 30:1-23; 1 Samuel 1:6, 27; Isaiah 47:9; 49:21; Luke 1:25).
...Barrenness (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The condition of beingbarren; sterility;
unproductiveness. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.BARREN; BARRENNESS....
Wilderness (304 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary. (1.) Hebrews midhbar, denoting not abarren desert but
a district or region suitable for pasturing sheep and cattle (Psalm 65:12...
Sterile (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Producing little or no crop;barren; unfruitful; unproductive; not
fertile; as, sterile land; a sterile desert; a sterile year....
Figtree
... Wild fig-trees-usually rather shrubs than trees-occur also everywhere; they are
usuallybarren and are described by the fellahin as "male" trees; it is...
Fig-tree (33 Occurrences)
... Wild fig-trees-usually rather shrubs than trees-occur also everywhere; they are
usuallybarren and are described by the fellahin as "male" trees; it is...
Joyful (83 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Galatians 4:27 For it is written, "Rejoice, thoubarren woman that bearest
not, break forth into a joyful cry, thou that dost not travail with child....
Conceived (66 Occurrences)
... Luke 1:36 Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old
age; and this is the sixth month with her who was calledbarren....
Fig (45 Occurrences)
... Wild fig-trees-usually rather shrubs than trees-occur also everywhere; they are
usuallybarren and are described by the fellahin as "male" trees; it is...
Gilboa (8 Occurrences)
... three sons were slain, and he himself died by his own hand (1 Samuel 28:4;
31:1-8; 2 Samuel 1:6-21; 21:12; 1 Chronicles 10:1, 8). It was a lowbarren range...
Resources
Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of Hannah's prayer? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Sarah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgBarren: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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