גִּיר
𐤂𐤉𐤓
gîyr
H1528 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A substance made by burning limestone (calcium carbonate) to produce a fine white powder, which is then mixed with water to form a paste. This paste, known as lime or plaster, was commonly used as a building material for coating or whitewashing walls and structures in ancient Near Eastern architecture. In biblical Aramaic, the term specifically refers to the product used in construction and ritual contexts for plastering surfaces.
Semantic Range
lime (burnt limestone), lime plaster, plaster for walls, substance for coatings or whitewashing surfaces
Root / Etymology
The word גִּיר (gîyr) is of Aramaic origin and is a direct equivalent to the Hebrew גִּר. Its root is uncertain, though it may derive from a Semitic root associated with burning or crushing stone, related to the production process of lime. The word is a technical term borrowed from construction and materials vocabulary.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the only biblical occurrence (Daniel 5:5), גִּיר (gîyr) refers to the lime-plastered wall on which the mysterious hand wrote during Belshazzar's feast. The use of lime as a building and decorative material is well-attested in the ancient Near East. Lime plaster was important both for practical protection of mudbrick walls and for ritual purity, for example in tombs or cultic sites. The term is distinct from other Hebrew words for plaster or mortar (e.g., טִיחַ), highlighting the technical and Aramaic context. Standard English translations render the term as 'plaster,' 'lime,' or 'plaster of the wall,' but most modern readers are not aware of the technological and ritual significance of lime plaster in ancient construction and ceremonial practice.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to גִּר; lime; plaster.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גיר (g-y-r) — to crush, to turn to powder, to burn (stone)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1528-01 |
גִּירָ֕/א | gira | ANcmsd/Td |
plaster | the lime plaster | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1528-01 |
Daniel 5:5 | גִּירָ֕/א | gira | ANcmsd/Td |
plaster | the lime plaster |