"barren, incapable of bearing children, Lk. 1:7, 36; 23:29; Gal. 4:27; Heb. 11:11*"
Definition and meaning
barren, incapable of bearing children, Lk. 1:7, 36; 23:29; Gal. 4:27; Heb. 11:11*
In the original Greek the word is written: στεῖρα
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of steira (G4723) across the King James Bible.
And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
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Common questions
Strong's G4723 (steira) is a Greek word that means: barren, incapable of bearing children, Lk. 1:7, 36; 23:29; Gal. 4:27; Heb. 11:11* It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word steira (G4723) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4723 is steira, a Greek word defined as: barren, incapable of bearing children, Lk. 1:7, 36; 23:29; Gal. 4:27; Heb. 11:11*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
steira is a Greek word found in the New Testament.