bar’-en, (bar’-en-nes tsiyah; melehah; shakhol; `aqar; steiros; argos):<br /><br />

(1) Of land that bears no crop, either<br /><br />

(a) because it is naturally poor and sterile: tsiyah "dry" (<bibleref ref="Joel.2.20">Joe 2:20</bibleref>), melechah, "salt" (<bibleref ref="Job.39.6">Job 39:6</bibleref> the <span class="auto-link">[[King James Version]]</span>), shakhol, "miscarrying" (<bibleref ref="2Kgs.2.19">2Ki 2:19</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="2Kgs.2.21">21</bibleref>), or

(b) because it is, under God’s curse, turned into a melechah or salt desert, for the wickedness of the people that dwell therein (<bibleref ref="Ps.107.34">Ps 107:34</bibleref> the King James Version; compare <bibleref ref="Gen.3.17">Ge 3:17</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="Gen.3.18">18</bibleref>).

(2) Of females that bear no issue: `aqar: Sarah (<bibleref ref="Gen.11.30">Ge 11:30</bibleref>); Rebekah (<bibleref ref="Gen.25.21">Ge 25:21</bibleref>); Rachel (<bibleref ref="Gen.29.31">Ge 29:31</bibleref>); Manoah’s wife (<bibleref ref="Judg.13.2">Jud 13:2</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="Judg.13.3">3</bibleref>); Hannah (<bibleref ref="1Sam.2.5">1Sa 2:5</bibleref>); steiros: Elisabeth (<bibleref ref="Luke.1.7">Lu 1:7</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="Luke.1.36">36</bibleref>).<br /><br />

In Israel and among oriental peoples generally barrenness was a woman’s and a family’s greatest misfortune. The highest sanctions of religion and patriotism blessed the fruitful woman, because children were necessary for the perpetuation of the tribe and its religion. It is significant that the mothers of the Hebrew race, Sarah, Rebekah and Rachel, were by nature sterile, and therefore God’s special intervention shows His particular favor to Israel. Fruitfulness was God’s special blessing to His people (<bibleref ref="Exod.23.26">Ex 23:26</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Deut.7.14">De 7:14</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Ps.113.9">Ps 113:9</bibleref>). A complete family is an emblem of beauty (<bibleref ref="Song.4.2">So 4:2</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Song.6.6">6:6</bibleref>). Metaphorically, Israel, in her days of adversity, when her children were exiled, was barren, but in her restoration she shall rejoice in many children (<bibleref ref="Isa.54.1">Isa 54:1</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Gal.4.27">Ga 4:27</bibleref>). The utter despair and terror of the destruction of Jerusalem could go no farther than that the barren should be called blessed (<bibleref ref="Luke.23.29">Lu 23:29</bibleref>).<br /><br />

(3) Argos is translated in the King James Version "barren," but in the <span class="auto-link">[[Revised Version]]</span> (British and American) more accurately "idle" (<bibleref ref="2Pet.1.8">2Pe 1:8</bibleref>).

Barrenness