יָקָר (ya.qar)
ya.qar
precious
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 31 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective yaqar describes something that is valuable, rare, or splendid. Its core sense derives from weightiness, implying that what is precious carries significant influence or high cost. In the Old Testament, it frequently modifies physical objects like gems and building stones, as seen in the detailed accounts of Solomon’s temple construction (1 Kings 5:31; 2 Chronicles 3:6). It also appears in poetic contexts to describe God’s steadfast love as something deeply prized (Psalm 36:8).
Beyond material wealth, yaqar extends to abstract qualities such as honor and reputation. Proverbs uses it to contrast a good name with silver or gold, noting that wisdom is more precious than rubies (Proverbs 3:15; 24:4). The word captures both objective value and subjective worth, reflecting how the ancient Israelites understood things that were not just expensive, but truly important and respected.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word yaqar describes something that holds significant weight, whether in material value or spiritual importance. In ancient Israel, precious stones adorned the temple, reflecting God’s glory through beauty and craftsmanship. Yet this word also points to deeper truths: wisdom is more valuable than rubies, and even the lives of believers are held dear by God. It reminds us that true worth often lies beyond what we can see or measure.
When you encounter yaqar in Scripture, it invites reflection on how you value things. Is your heart set on fleeting riches, or on eternal truths? The Bible encourages us to seek what is truly precious—love, wisdom, and a relationship with God. These are treasures that cannot be lost or stolen, offering lasting peace and hope in every season of life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 31 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- precious15×
- costly4×
- [is] precious2×
- splendid [ones]1×
- splendid1×
- rare1×
- prized1×
- preciousness of1×
- [will be] like/ a splendid [thing] of1×
- [the] precious1×
- [is] weighty1×
- [a person] noble of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יָקָ֣ר4×
- יְקָרָ֑ה4×
- יָקָ֛ר2×
- יְקָרָֽה\׃2×
- יְקָרָ֖ה2×
- יְקָרָ֔ה2×
- יְקָר֖וֹת2×
- כִּ/יקַ֣ר1×
- יָקָר֙1×
- יָקָ֥ר1×
- יָ֭קָר1×
- יִקְרַת֙1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 116:15
Precious in Yahweh’s sight is the death of his saints.
This verse highlights how deeply God values the lives of His people, even in their suffering or death.
-
Proverbs 3:15
She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
Here, wisdom is described as more valuable than rubies, showing that spiritual insight surpasses material wealth.
-
I Kings 7:9
All these were of costly stones, even of stone cut according to measure, sawed with saws, inside and outside, even from the foundation to the coping, and so on the outside to the great court.
The use of costly stones in the temple underscores the care taken to honor God with the best resources available.
-
Job 28:16
It can’t be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
This passage contrasts earthly treasures like gold and sapphires with the incomparable value of wisdom.