עָרִ֖ים
𐤏𐤓𐤉𐤌
arim
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.
Joshua 21:35 · Word #9
Lexicon H5892
| Lemma | עִיר |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤏𐤉𐤓 |
| Transliteration | ʻîyr |
| Strong's | H5892 |
| In-context | cities |
Morphology HNcfpa
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Subtype | c — Common — Common noun |
| Gender | f — Feminine — Feminine |
| Number | p — Plural — Plural |
| State | a — Absolute — The noun stands independently |
SIBI-P1 H5892-09
watch-kept cities
| Root | עור (ʿ-w-r) |
| Core Meanings | to rouse, awaken, be alert, keep watch |
| Semantic Range | cities, towns, fortified settlements, encampments, administrative centers |
| Conceptual Significance | In the biblical world, cities were places of protection, governance, commerce, and communal identity—centers kept secure by watchfulness. The root connection to alertness underscores the idea of guarded space, distinguishing ordered, protected habitation from unprotected countryside. |
| Morphological Notes | Common feminine noun, plural absolute (HNcfpa) from עִיר. No pronominal suffix; plural form indicated by -ים with feminine base noun. |
| Rendering Rationale | The noun עָרִים is the feminine plural absolute form of עִיר (city). Deriving from the root עור (“to awaken, be alert”), the rendering "watch-kept cities" preserves the underlying idea of guarded, wakeful habitation while accurately reflecting the feminine plural morphology. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Words from Root עור (to rouse, awaken, be alert, keep watch)
| 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 |