Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5200 Human civilisation » 5225 barrenness
A lack of fertility, especially the inability of a woman to conceive.
Barren land
Barrenness describes waste and unproductive land
Jeremiah 2:6 See also Deuteronomy 32:10; Joel 2:20
Barren land as a sign of God's disfavour
Genesis 3:18 Thorns and thistles are often used to designate barren or unproductive land. See also Hosea 10:8; Hebrews 6:8
Fertility, as opposed to barrenness, a sign of God's blessing
Exodus 23:25-26 Consequently, the inability to conceive was regarded as a sign of God's displeasure. See also Deuteronomy 7:13-14; Deuteronomy 11:14-15; Psalm 113:9; Isaiah 41:18
God's end-time blessings:
Isaiah 54:1; Galatians 4:27
The barren woman
Her desire for children
Genesis 30:1-2 See also Proverbs 30:16
Examples of barren women
Genesis 16:1 Sarah; Genesis 29:31 Rachel; Judges 13:3 Manoah's wife; 1 Samuel 2:5 Hannah; Luke 1:7 Elizabeth; Luke 1:36-37 The ability to bear a child in these circumstances, especially in old age, was seen as a sign of God's blessing and his miraculous power.
Barrenness was sometimes seen as a sign of God's disfavour
Genesis 16:1-4; Genesis 20:17-18; Genesis 29:31-34; 1 Samuel 1:1-20; Isaiah 4:1; Luke 1:5-25
Childlessness was not always the result of barrenness
Deuteronomy 28:41
Barrenness might be an advantage in some circumstances
Luke 23:29 Referring to the disasters about to come upon Jerusalem.
Metaphorically, barrenness may describe an unproductive or desperate condition
Hebrews 6:7-8 See also Job 3:7; Luke 13:6-9
See also
4206 land 5199 womb 5664 children 5680 family 5733 pregnancy 5836 disgrace 8845 unfruitfulness
