הָרָה (ha.rah)
ha.rah
to conceive
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 40 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb harah means to conceive or become pregnant, marking the beginning of a new life within the womb. It appears frequently in the genealogies of Genesis, recording the births of key figures like Isaac and Jacob, and in narratives such as the conception of Samuel’s son by Hannah (1 Samuel 1:20). This usage grounds the word in the physical reality of human reproduction.
Beyond its literal sense, harah carries a metaphorical weight for producing abstract results. In passages like Psalm 7:14 and Isaiah 59:4, it describes people who conceive mischief or falsehood, linking the act of creation with the generation of sin. This dual usage highlights how ancient Hebrew thought connected physical birth with intellectual or moral outcomes.
The term also extends to poetic imagery where a mother is identified by her state of conception, as seen in Song of Solomon 3:4. By focusing on this biological process, the text emphasizes the tangible nature of divine promises and human relationships, showing that creation often begins in hidden, internal moments before emerging into the world.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word harah marks the quiet beginning of life within the womb. In Genesis, it records the births of Isaac and Jacob, showing that divine promises often take root in hidden moments before they appear in the world. This physical reality reminds us that new beginnings are real and tangible.
Isaac’s wife Rebekah was barren until Yahweh intervened, and she conceived (Genesis 25:21). This story shows that fertility is not just a biological process but a space where prayer meets God’s timing. When we wait for answers, this word reminds us that life can begin in silence.
While harah usually describes physical pregnancy, it also appears in metaphors about mischief or false words (Psalm 7:14). This contrast highlights how creation carries moral weight. What we nurture inside ourselves eventually comes to birth. We are invited to trust God with the hidden seasons of our lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 40 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ she conceived28×
- they conceive2×
- she had conceived2×
- you will conceive1×
- we were pregnant1×
- we have conceived1×
- he has been conceived1×
- did I conceive1×
- and/ you will conceive1×
- and/ they conceived1×
- [the one who] conceived/ me1×
- [the men who] conceived/ me1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/תַּ֖הַר8×
- וַ/תַּ֥הַר6×
- וַ/תַּ֣הַר4×
- וַ/תַּ֤הַר3×
- וַ/תַּ֛הַר2×
- וַ/תַּ֙הַר֙2×
- הָרָ֔תָה2×
- תַּהֲר֥וּ1×
- וַֽ/תַּהֲרֶ֛יןָ1×
- וַ/תַּהַר֩1×
- וַ/תַּ֨הַר1×
- וַ/תַּ֑הַר1×
Key Verses
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Genesis 25:21
Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
This verse shows Isaac praying for Rebekah, linking harah directly to divine intervention in barrenness.
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I Samuel 1:20
When the time had come, Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of Yahweh.”
Hannah names her son Samuel because she asked Yahweh for him, connecting conception to answered prayer.
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Genesis 4:1
The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.”
Eve’s conception of Cain is the first recorded birth, grounding the word in the start of human history.
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Judges 13:3
Yahweh’s angel appeared to the woman, and said to her, “See now, you are barren and childless; but you shall conceive and bear a son.
The angel announces Samson’s conception to a barren woman, signaling a special divine purpose from the womb.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does harah mean in the Bible?
Is harah used metaphorically in Scripture?
Why is harah important for understanding prayer?
Every Occurrence (40 verses across 12 books)
Genesis 20 verses
The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.”
Genesis 4:17Cain knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Enoch. He built a city, and named the city after the name of his…
Genesis 16:4He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
Genesis 16:5Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my servant into your bosom, and when she saw that she had…
Genesis 19:36Thus both of Lot’s daughters were with child by their father.
Genesis 21:2Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
Genesis 25:21Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife…
Genesis 29:32Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction;…
Genesis 29:33She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because Yahweh has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me…
Genesis 29:34She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him…
Genesis 29:35She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise Yahweh.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then…
Genesis 30:5Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son.
Genesis 30:7Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, conceived again, and bore Jacob a second son.
Genesis 30:17God listened to Leah, and she conceived, and bore Jacob a fifth son.
Genesis 30:19Leah conceived again, and bore a sixth son to Jacob.
Genesis 30:23She conceived, bore a son, and said, “God has taken away my reproach.”
Genesis 38:3She conceived, and bore a son; and he named him Er.
Genesis 38:4She conceived again, and bore a son; and she named him Onan.
Genesis 38:18He said, “What pledge will I give you?” She said, “Your signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” He…
Genesis 49:26The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of my ancestors, above the boundaries of the ancient…