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אוּרִים

𐤀𐤅𐤓𐤉𐤌

ʼÛwrîym

H224 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אוּר to be light, shine, burn

Definition

A sacred object or set of objects associated with the high priest's breastpiece, used in ancient Israelite practice for divination or obtaining oracular answers. Its precise form and mechanism are not described in the Hebrew Bible, but 'Urim' is coupled with 'Thummim' as a means of discerning decisions before YHWH, especially in questions of national consequence or leadership. In context, it generally refers to the ritual means for authoritative guidance or judgment from the deity.

Semantic Range

objects for divinatory decision, symbols representing revelation or decision, ritual means for obtaining an answer, 'Urim' as a pair-name with Thummim; literal 'lights' (in underlying root) but figurative or technical as a ritual term

Root / Etymology

From the root אוּר (to be light, to shine, flame), conveying the idea of 'lights.' אוּרִים is a plural form, likely a plural of intensity or excellence rather than denoting multiple physical objects. However, as a technical term, it is not always directly derivable from the root's base meaning of 'light.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

אוּרִים (Urim) occurs only in combination with תֻּמִּים (Thummim) within the Torah and later references (Exod 28:30; Lev 8:8; Num 27:21; Deut 33:8; 1 Sam 28:6; Ezra 2:63; Neh 7:65). Their exact nature is enigmatic: no clear physical description is provided in the texts, nor is the method of consultation detailed. The term is often rendered 'Urim' in English translations, and sometimes the pair Urim and Thummim has been interpreted as 'lights and perfections' or similar. Historically, the objects were associated exclusively with the priesthood, likely from an early period and continuing into the monarchic era; use appears to diminish or be symbolic in later periods. The practice provides insight into early Israelite modes of seeking divine will, distinct from prophecy and later forms of religious consultation. Later Jewish tradition and Christian translations at times use 'Urim' as a symbolic reference to illumination or revelatory truth, but this is interpretive and not the lexical meaning nor the historical usage in the Hebrew Bible. The later English term 'Urim' is a direct transliteration and does not reflect a different semantic field.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

plural of אוּר; lights; Urim, the oracular brilliancy of the figures in the high-priest's breastplate; Urim.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אור (ʾ-w-r) — light, shining, burning, radiance

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1160 בְּעוֹר light of
H215 אוֹר Cause to shine
H216 אוֹר in your light
H217 אוּר in the fire
H218 אוּר in Ur

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H224-02 הָ/אוּרִים֙ haurim HTd/Ncmpa of the Urim the Oracular Lights 3
H224-03 לְ/אוּרִ֥ים leurim HR/Ncmpa with Urim to the Urim-lights 2
H224-01 בָּ/אוּרִ֖ים baurim HRd/Ncmpa by the Urim by the Oracular Lights 1
H224-04 וְ/אוּרֶ֖י/ךָ veureykha HC/Ncmpc/Sp2ms and Your Urim your Urim-lights 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H224-02 Exodus 28:30 הָ/אוּרִים֙ haurim HTd/Ncmpa the Urim the Oracular Lights
H224-02 Leviticus 8:8 הָ/אוּרִ֖ים haurim HTd/Ncmpa Urim the Oracular Lights
H224-02 Numbers 27:21 הָ/אוּרִ֖ים haurim HTd/Ncmpa of the Urim the Oracular Lights
H224-04 Deuteronomy 33:8 וְ/אוּרֶ֖י/ךָ veureykha HC/Ncmpc/Sp2ms and Your Urim your Urim-lights
H224-01 1 Samuel 28:6 בָּ/אוּרִ֖ים baurim HRd/Ncmpa by the Urim by the Oracular Lights
H224-03 Ezra 2:63 לְ/אוּרִ֥ים leurim HR/Ncmpa with Urim to the Urim-lights
H224-03 Nehemiah 7:65 לְ/אוּרִ֥ים leurim HR/Ncmpa with Urim to the Urim-lights
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