אוּר
𐤀𐤅𐤓
ʼûwr
H217 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A fire or flame; the visible phenomenon of burning or combustion. In extended poetic or symbolic use, can denote fiery light, brightness, or conflagration. Occasionally pluralized to refer to 'fires' or used with associative meaning for places associated with fire. Not to be confused with אֹור (ʼôr), meaning 'light' in a general sense, or as in 'Ur' the city name, which is a different term.
Semantic Range
fire, flame, burning, conflagration, (poetically) brightness or fiery light; (rarely) symbol of judgment or wrath
Root / Etymology
Root is אוּר (ʼ-w-r), distinctly from אֹור (ʼōr, meaning 'light'), though they are sometimes historically conflated. אוּר (ʼûwr) as a noun likely derives from the root idea of 'burning' or 'blazing,' signifying a concrete fire or flame. The etymological connection to the plural form meaning 'East' may be a late poetic association based on the imagery of fiery sunrise, but is not original to the root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Primarily denotes fire as a physical phenomenon in biblical prose. Used for literal hearth or altar fires (e.g., burnt offerings), and occasionally as a poetic symbol of burning anger, judgment, or divine presence (e.g., Psalm 39:3). Unlike אֹור, which refers to light abstractly (daylight, radiance), אוּר is concrete and material. The plural אוּרִים (Uriym) appears in the phrase אוּרִים וְתוּמִים (Urim and Thummim), a distinct technical term unrelated to general 'fire.' In a few poetic passages, the plural may have associations with eastern dawn or brightness, though this is secondary. In later biblical Hebrew and post-biblical Hebrew, this noun remained distinctly separate from 'light' terms. English translations often render אוּר as 'fire' or 'flame,' which typically captures its primary force, but may miss nuances of symbolic or ritual usage. The term was not specifically used as an ethnic or geographic identifier for Mesopotamian cities (Ur of the Chaldees is a separate root).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אוֹר; flame; hence (in the plural) the East (as being the region of light); fire, light. See also אוּרִים.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אור (ʾ-w-r) — to burn, to blaze, to flame
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1160 | בְּעוֹר | light of |
| H215 | אוֹר | Cause to shine |
| H216 | אוֹר | in your light |
| H218 | אוּר | in Ur |
| H219 | אוֹרָה | radiance |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H217-04 |
א֥וּר | ur | HNcmsa |
fire | blazing fire | 3 |
H217-01 |
בָּ/א֤וּר | baur | HRd/Ncmsa |
in the fire | in the fire | 1 |
H217-02 |
בָּ/אֻרִ֖ים | baurim | HRd/Ncmpa |
in the fires | in the fires | 1 |
H217-03 |
בְּ/א֣וּר | beur | HR/Ncmsc |
in the light of | in flame | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H217-02 |
Isaiah 24:15 | בָּ/אֻרִ֖ים | baurim | HRd/Ncmpa |
in the fires | in the fires |
H217-04 |
Isaiah 31:9 | א֥וּר | ur | HNcmsa |
fire | blazing fire |
H217-04 |
Isaiah 44:16 | אֽוּר | ur | HNcmsa |
fire | blazing fire |
H217-04 |
Isaiah 47:14 | א֖וּר | ur | HNcmsa |
fire | blazing fire |
H217-03 |
Isaiah 50:11 | בְּ/א֣וּר | beur | HR/Ncmsc |
in the light of | in flame |
H217-01 |
Ezekiel 5:2 | בָּ/א֤וּר | baur | HRd/Ncmsa |
in the fire | in the fire |