עִ֑יר

𐤏𐤉𐤓

ir

cities

or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.

H5892

1 Chronicles 2:23 · Word #13

Lexicon H5892

Lemmaעִיר
Lemma (Paleo)𐤏𐤉𐤓
Transliterationʻîyr
Strong'sH5892
In-contextcities

Morphology HNcfsa All morphology codes

Part of Speech N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea
Subtype c — Common — Common noun
Gender f — Feminine — Feminine
Number s — Singular — Singular
State a — Absolute — The noun stands independently

SIBI-P1 H5892-35

city (feminine singular); cities (feminine plural); city of (feminine singular construct)

Rootעור (ʿ-w-r)
Core Meaningsto rouse, awaken, stir up, be alert, be watchful
Semantic Rangecity, town, fortified settlement, urban center, administrative hub, encampment, walled community
Conceptual SignificanceThe עִיר represents organized, defended human society—often contrasted with rural or pastoral life. Cities function as centers of governance, commerce, refuge, and at times rebellion or idolatry, making them key loci of covenant faithfulness or unfaithfulness within the biblical narrative.
Morphological NotesFeminine noun; occurs in absolute singular (HNcfsa), plural (HNp), and feminine singular construct (HNcfsc). The plural form is typically עָרִים. Construct form denotes possession or association ("city of...").
Rendering RationaleThe noun עִיר is traditionally linked to the root עור ("to rouse, awaken"), reflecting the idea of a guarded or wakeful settlement. The rendering preserves the feminine gender and distinguishes singular, plural, and construct forms attested in the morphology (HNcfsa, HNp, HNcfsc), while retaining the established English term "city" to reflect its settled, fortified character.

AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)

Words from Root עור (to rouse, awaken, stir up, be alert, be watchful)

SILEX Code Transliteration SIBI-P1
H5782-01 airah Let me rouse myself
H5892-01 aray my watch-cities
H5892-03 arayv his watch-guarded cities

Word Usage (1095 occurrences of H5892)

Location Form Transliteration Meaning
Genesis 4:17 עִ֔יר ir a city
Genesis 4:17 הָ/עִ֔יר hair of the city
Genesis 10:11 עִ֖יר ir Ir