יָקַר (ya.qar)
ya.qar
be precious
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb yaqar describes something as valuable, precious, or costly. In the Old Testament, it appears ten times, frequently in poetic books like Psalms and prophetic texts such as Isaiah. The word captures a sense of high esteem, whether applied to material wealth, human life, or divine attributes.
Its root conveys weightiness or importance. When Scripture calls something yaqar, it is not merely expensive but deeply cherished. For instance, Psalm 116:15 speaks of the death of God’s faithful ones as "precious" in His sight, highlighting a value that transcends earthly measure. Similarly, Proverbs 3:15 describes wisdom as more precious than rubies.
Translators often render yaqar as "precious," "valuable," or "costly," depending on context. The term can also appear in the Hiphil stem, meaning to make something esteemed or valuable. This usage underscores that worth is not inherent but assigned by a higher authority.
Yaqar reminds readers that true value lies beyond surface appearances. It challenges cultural notions of wealth and status by elevating spiritual realities above material ones. Whether describing gold, life, or wisdom, the word points to what matters most in God’s economy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word yaqar reminds us that true value is not determined by market price or social status, but by who assigns it. In a culture obsessed with metrics and visibility, Scripture offers a different measure: what God holds dear is precious, regardless of how the world views it. This perspective shifts our anxiety about worthiness into gratitude for being known and valued by the Creator.
Consider the comfort in Psalm 139:17, where David reflects on the vastness of God’s thoughts toward him. It suggests that your inner life, your struggles, and your quiet moments are not invisible to God. They are significant. This divine valuation provides a stable foundation for identity that external circumstances cannot shake.
Similarly, Psalm 72:14 notes that the blood of the faithful is precious in God’s sight. Even in suffering or loss, there is a sacred weight attached to your existence. You are not an accident or a statistic. You are held with care, and your life carries a dignity that reflects His love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- let it be precious2×
- you are precious1×
- they are precious1×
- make rare1×
- it was precious1×
- and/ may <it> be precious1×
- and/ it was esteemed1×
- I will make precious1×
- I was valued1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּיקַ֥ר1×
- תִּֽיקַר\־1×
- יָּקְר֣וּ1×
- יָקַ֧רְתָּ1×
- יָקַ֖רְתִּי1×
- יָקְרָ֥ה1×
- וַ/יִּיקַ֥ר1×
- וְ/יֵיקַ֖ר1×
- הֹקַ֣ר1×
- אוֹקִ֥יר1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 139:17
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is their sum!
David uses this term to express awe at the personal attention God pays to him, showing that divine value is rooted in intimate knowledge rather than public achievement.
-
Psalms 72:14
He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight.
The psalmist declares that the lives of the oppressed are precious to God, affirming their worth even when society fails to protect them.
-
Isaiah 43:4
Since you have been precious and honored in my sight, and I have loved you, therefore I will give people in your place, and nations instead of your life.
God explicitly states that Israel is precious and honored in His sight, linking their value directly to His love and commitment to redeem them.