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צֶמֶר

𐤑𐤌𐤓

tsemer

H6785 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צמר to be shaggy (uncertain), wool

Definition

Wool, referring specifically to the soft, curly fiber forming the fleece of sheep, used as a material for spinning and weaving textiles. The term primarily denotes the raw fiber obtained from sheep, but can also indicate woolen fabric or garments in some contexts.

Semantic Range

wool (raw fleece), woolen material, woolen garment, wool as commodity or offering

Root / Etymology

Root/etymology uncertain. Although some have proposed a connection with a root meaning 'to be shaggy,' there is no securely attested Hebrew verbal root צמר or related verb. The noun occurs independently referring to 'wool.' Cognates are found in other Semitic languages, such as Aramaic צִמְרָא (ṣimrā’), meaning 'wool.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, צֶמֶר refers to wool as an agricultural and commercial product and as a material used for textiles (e.g., clothing and offerings). In texts describing priestly garments, purity laws, or economic transactions, the word retains its concrete sense. Significant in ritual law (e.g., Deut 22:11: prohibition of mixing wool and linen, known as 'shaʿatnez'). Notably, צֶמֶר never expands to designate sheep themselves; it always denotes the material. In later Hebrew and in ancient Near Eastern parallels, wool becomes a key commodity in trade and temple economies. In translation traditions, the English word 'wool' reflects the standard sense, but Greek Septuagint occasionally translates with terms that also include the idea of 'shaggy material.' Distinct from other clothing materials such as פִּשְׁתִּים (pishtim, 'linen'). No clear evidence for metaphorical or figurative use in the biblical period, though later texts (e.g., rabbinic literature) sometimes use the term more broadly.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root probably meaning to be shaggy; wool; wool(-len).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

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Root Family

צמר (ṣ-m-r) — wool, (possibly) shaggy fiber

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6786 צְמָרִי the Zemarite
H6787 צְמָרַיִם Double-Fleece Heights
H6788 צַמֶּרֶת from the woolly treetop of

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6785-07 צֶ֔מֶר tsemer HNcmsa wool wool 4
H6785-02 הַ/צֶּ֣מֶר hatsemer HTd/Ncmsa the wool the wool 3
H6785-06 צַמְרִ֣/י tsameri HNcmsc/Sp1cs my-wool my wool 2
H6785-10 וְ/צֶ֥מֶר vetsemer HC/Ncmsc and-wool and wool-of 1
H6785-01 בַּ/צֶּ֨מֶר֙ batsemer HRd/Ncmsa in wool in wool 1
H6785-05 צָֽמֶר tsamer HNcmsa wool sheep-fleece wool 1
H6785-04 כַּ/צֶּ֥מֶר katsemer HRd/Ncmsa like-wool like wool 1
H6785-03 כַּ/צָּ֑מֶר katsamer HRd/Ncmsa like wool wool 1
H6785-09 וְ/לַ/צָּ֑מֶר velatsamer HC/Rd/Ncmsa or of wool and to the wool 1
H6785-08 וְ/כַ/צֶּ֖מֶר vekhatsemer HC/Rd/Ncmsa And like wool and like wool 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6785-07 Leviticus 13:47 צֶ֔מֶר tsemer HNcmsa of wool wool
H6785-09 Leviticus 13:48 וְ/לַ/צָּ֑מֶר velatsamer HC/Rd/Ncmsa or of wool and to the wool
H6785-01 Leviticus 13:52 בַּ/צֶּ֨מֶר֙ batsemer HRd/Ncmsa in wool in wool
H6785-02 Leviticus 13:59 הַ/צֶּ֣מֶר hatsemer HTd/Ncmsa warp the wool
H6785-07 Deuteronomy 22:11 צֶ֥מֶר tsemer HNcmsa wool wool
H6785-02 Judges 6:37 הַ/צֶּ֖מֶר hatsemer HTd/Ncmsa the wool the wool
H6785-05 2 Kings 3:4 צָֽמֶר tsamer HNcmsa wool sheep-fleece wool
H6785-04 Isaiah 1:18 כַּ/צֶּ֥מֶר katsemer HRd/Ncmsa like-wool like wool
H6785-08 Isaiah 51:8 וְ/כַ/צֶּ֖מֶר vekhatsemer HC/Rd/Ncmsa And like wool and like wool
H6785-10 Ezekiel 27:18 וְ/צֶ֥מֶר vetsemer HC/Ncmsc and-wool and wool-of
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