עֲרִירִי (a.ri.ri)
a.ri.ri
childless
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective ariri describes a state of being stripped or bare, specifically referring to a person who is childless. In the ancient Near East, where family lineage and offspring were central to social identity and divine blessing, this term carried significant emotional weight. It denotes not merely the absence of children, but a sense of vulnerability and incompleteness associated with that lack.
This word appears in key biblical narratives and legal texts, highlighting both personal sorrow and theological consequence. Genesis 30:22 uses it to describe Rachel’s condition before God remembered her and opened her womb. In Leviticus 26:29 and Jeremiah 31:15, it illustrates the depth of national tragedy, where covenant curses result in a land devoid of its future generation. The term underscores how deeply childlessness was viewed as a disruption of normal life and divine favor.
Its root conveys the idea of being left empty or exposed, reinforcing the cultural understanding that children were a primary source of security and legacy. Translators often render it simply as "childless," though this misses some of the rawness implied by the Hebrew imagery of stripping away what makes life feel whole.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In the ancient world, being childless was often felt as a deep vulnerability, leaving one exposed and without the security of lineage. This Hebrew word captures that raw sense of emptiness, describing a life stripped of its future generations. It reminds us that our worth is not tied to our biological legacy or social standing, but to who we are in God’s eyes.
Scripture shows us that this state is not a final verdict on a person’s value. When Rachel was childless, it did not mean she was forgotten; it meant God was preparing a different kind of story. Even when the text speaks of judgment or loss, the underlying hope remains that God sees the pain and can bring new life where there seems to be none.
We find comfort in knowing that our identity is secure in Christ, regardless of our family circumstances. Whether we have children or not, we are fully known and deeply loved by our Creator. This perspective allows us to face uncertainty with peace, trusting that God’s plans for us are complete even when our own paths feel unclear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- childless4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֲרִירִ֥ים2×
- עֲרִירִ֔י1×
- עֲרִירִ֑י1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 15:2
Abram said, “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”
Abram uses this word to express his personal grief over lacking an heir, highlighting how the absence of children felt like a loss of legacy and divine promise.
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Leviticus 20:20
If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness. They shall bear their sin. They shall die childless.
The term here marks the severe consequence of covenant violation, showing that breaking family boundaries results in the end of one's line.
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Jeremiah 22:30
Yahweh says, “Record this man as childless, a man who will not prosper in his days; for no more will a man of his offspring prosper, sitting on David’s throne and ruling in Judah.”
This verse applies the word to a king, indicating that his lineage would be cut off from ruling, emphasizing the seriousness of spiritual failure.