5225 barrenness
Dictionary of Bible Themes

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



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