אִמְרִי
𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤉
Imeri
H566 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Imri — a proper masculine name referring to two individuals within Israelite genealogies in the Hebrew Bible. As a personal name, its primary lexical meaning is likely 'eloquent' or 'spoken' (derived from the root meaning 'to speak, utter, say, command'), though as with most biblical proper names, the meaning is secondary to its function as an individual identifier. The name occurs in genealogical lists without further narrative detail or ascription of personal characteristics.
Semantic Range
proper name; possibly 'eloquent,' 'one who speaks,' but in usage strictly as a personal name
Root / Etymology
From the root אמר (ʼ-m-r), meaning 'to say, speak, utter, command.' The form אִמְרִי (Imri) represents a personal name derived from this root; likely constructed in a manner analogous to other Hebrew theophoric or attributive names, sometimes interpreted as 'eloquent' or 'one who speaks.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
Imri appears in genealogical contexts: 1) as the ancestor of Zaccur, who returned from exile and is named among the builders in Nehemiah 3:2; 2) as an ancestor in 1 Chronicles 9:4. The name does not carry narrative or character significance beyond its genealogical placement. It is distinct from similar names such as אֶמֶר (Emer) and should not be conflated with them. English translations typically render the name as 'Imri,' preserving the form rather than translating the possible lexical meaning. The categorization of Imri as an 'Israelite' is historically accurate for the contexts in which it appears — all usages are within genealogies of Israelite clans. There is no substantive difference in the use of the name across pre-exilic or post-exilic periods beyond its genealogical listing. Standard translations capture its function as a personal name, not a descriptive word with active semantic content.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אִמֵּר; Imri, the name of two Israelites; Imri.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
d0e1e8 (Imeri) — to say, speak, utter, command
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H566-01 |
אִמְרִ֣י | imeri | HNp |
Imri | Say! | Imeri | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H566-01 |
Nehemiah 3:2 | אִמְרִֽי | imeri | HNp |
Imri | Say! | Imeri |
H566-01 |
1 Chronicles 9:4 | אִמְרִ֣י | imeri | HNp |
Imri | Say! | Imeri |