Original Word: עָקַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: `aqar
Pronunciation: ah-KAR
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-kar')
Definition: to pluck up, to hamstring, to exterminate
Meaning: • To pluck up
• To hamstring
• To exterminate

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G1610: ἐκρίζωσις (ekrízōsis) • to root out, to uproot
• G3886: παραλύω (paralýō) • to disable, to weaken, often used in the context of rendering something ineffective or powerless

These Greek terms reflect similar concepts of removal, disabling, or destruction, aligning with the Hebrew verb's usage in the Old Testament.

Usage: The verb עָקַר (ʿāqar) is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe actions such as uprooting, disabling by cutting the hamstring, or completely destroying or exterminating.

Context: • The Hebrew verb עָקַר (ʿāqar) appears in various contexts within the Old Testament, often conveying a sense of removal or destruction. It is used both in literal and metaphorical senses.
• In a literal sense, it can refer to the physical act of uprooting plants or trees, as seen in agricultural contexts. This action signifies a complete removal from the ground, leaving no possibility for regrowth.
• The term is also used in a military context, particularly in reference to hamstringing horses, as seen in Joshua 11:6, where God instructs Joshua, "You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire." This act of hamstringing renders the horses useless for battle, effectively neutralizing a significant military asset.
• Metaphorically, עָקַר (ʿāqar) can imply the total destruction or extermination of a people or nation, emphasizing the thoroughness of the action. This is seen in contexts where God commands the Israelites to exterminate certain groups as part of divine judgment.
• The term underscores the completeness and irreversibility of the action, whether it be in agriculture, warfare, or divine judgment.

Word Origin
denominative verb from eqer
Definition
to pluck or root up
NASB Translation
uproot (1), uprooted (1).

[עָקַר] verb denominative pluck or root up —

Qal Infinitive construct לַעֲקוֺר with accusative Ecclesiastes 3:2 (opposed to נָטַע).

Niph`al Imperfect3feminine singular עֶקְרוֺן תֵּעָקֵר Zephaniah 2:4 (word-play).

עִקֵּר verbPi`eldenom (from עֵקַר or other like word = (root-sinew), hamstring; — hamstring horses (on Arabic funeral usage, with camel and horse see We^{Heid. 2, 181}): Perfect3masculine singular ׳ע Joshua 11:9, Imperfect3masculine singularוַיְעַקֵּר 2 Samuel 8:4 = 1 Chronicles 18:4, 2masculine singularתְּעַקֵּר Joshua 11:6 all with accusative; Perfect3masculine plural עִקְּרוּ שׁוֺר Genesis 49:6they hamstrung an ox.

dig down, pluck up, root up

A primitive root; to pluck up (especially by the roots); specifically, to hamstring; figuratively, to exterminate -- dig down, hough, pluck up, root up.

וַיְעַקֵּ֤ר ויעקר לַעֲק֥וֹר לעקור עִקְּרוּ־ עִקֵּ֔ר עקר עקרו־ תְּעַקֵּ֔ר תֵּעָקֵֽר׃ תעקר תעקר׃ ‘iq·qə·rū- ‘iq·qêr ‘iqqêr ‘iqqərū- ikKer ikkeru la‘ăqōwr la·‘ă·qō·wr laaKor tê‘āqêr tə‘aqqêr tê·‘ā·qêr tə·‘aq·qêr teaKer teakKer vayakKer way‘aqqêr way·‘aq·qêrInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts