select Cross Reference Bible links

Genesis 11:30 (Sarah)  |   Hebrews 11:11 (Sarah)   |   25:21 (Rebekah)  |   29:31 (Rachel)  |   1 Samuel 1:2 (Hannah)  |   Luke 1:7 (Elizabeth)    Exodus 23:26   |   Psalm 113:9   |   Proverbs 30:16   |   Isaiah 41:18   |   49:21   |   54:1   |   Luke 23:29   |   Galatians 4:27   Genesis 18:11 - ... It had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Isaiah 54:1 - “Sing, barren, you who didn’t bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who did not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife,” says Yahweh.

For a woman to be barren was accounted a severe punishment among the Jews (Genesis 16:2; 30:1-23; 1 Samuel 1:6,27; Isaiah 47:9; 49:21; Luke 1:25). Instances of barrenness are noticed (Genesis 11:30; 25:21; 29:31; Judges 13:2,3; Luke 1:7,36).

bar'-en, bar'-en-nes tsiyah; melehah; shakhol; `aqar; steiros; argos):

(1) Of land that bears no crop, either (a) because it is naturally poor and sterile: tsiyah "dry" (Joel 2:20), melechah, "salt" (Job 39:6 the King James Version), shakhol, "miscarrying" (2 Kings 2:19,21), 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 (Psalms 107:34 the King James Version; compare Genesis 3:17-18).

(2) Of females that bear no issue: `aqar: Sarah (Genesis 11:30); Rebekah (Genesis 25:21); Rachel (Genesis 29:31); Manoah's wife (Judges 13:2-3); Hannah (1 Samuel 2:5); steiros: Elisabeth (Luke 1:7,36).

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 (Exodus 23:26; Deuteronomy 7:14; Psalms 113:9). A complete family is an emblem of beauty (Song of Solomon 4:2; 6:6). Metaphorically, Israel, in her days of adversity, when her children were exiled, was barren, but in her restoration she shall rejoice in many children (Isaiah 54:1; Galatians 4:27). The utter despair and terror of the destruction of Jerusalem could go no farther than that the barren should be called blessed (Luke 23:29).

(3) Argos is translated in the King James Version "barren," but in the Revised Version (British and American) more accurately "idle" (2 Peter 1:8).

T. Rees

 # Barrenness of Soil as a Result of Sin

    * Genesis 4:12
    * Leviticus 26:20
    * Deuteronomy 11:17
    * Isaiah 5:10
    * Hosea 8:7
    * Habakkuk 3:17
    * Haggai 1:6
    * Haggai 2:16
    * SEE Want
    * SEE Famine

# Of Women

    * SEE Childlessness

# Spiritual

    * SEE Unfruitfulness