יָקַר yâqar — properly, apparently, to be heavy, i.e. (figuratively) valuable
Translated in the KJV as be precious, be prized, be set by, withdraw.
a primitive root; properly, apparently, to be heavy, i.e. (figuratively) valuable; causatively, to make rare (figuratively, to inhibit).
yâqar in each stem
Qal (Pa'al)
Perfect (qatal) 4Imperfect (yiqtol) 3Wayyiqtol 1Jussive 1
Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.
Hiph'il
Imperative 1Imperfect (yiqtol) 1
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
What the stems mean
A Hebrew verb is its root letters set into a pattern. The pattern — the binyan — is the grammar's way of saying three things at once: whether the action is simple, intensive or causative, and whether its subject is active, passive or reflexive. That is why one Hebrew word can need six English ones. All seven binyanim, explained ›