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