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יוֹתֵר

𐤉𐤅𐤕𐤓

yôwthêr

H3148 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

That which remains or is left over; surplus, remainder, or excess. In various contexts, denotes what is additional, more than required or expected, or what is superior in quantity or quality.

Semantic Range

surplus, excess, remainder, what is left over, what remains, more (in quantity or degree), superior, better, over and above, furthermore, in addition

Root / Etymology

From the root יתר, meaning 'to remain over, be left over, exceed.' יוֹתֵר is the masculine singular active participle form, functioning as an adjective, substantive, or adverb to indicate something exceeding, surpassing, or left as residue. The participial form gives the nuance of 'being extra' or 'what remains.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, יוֹתֵר often expresses the idea of surplus or excess, whether of material goods (leftover portions, surplus grain, remaining people) or abstract quantities (more numerous, greater honor). It can function adjectivally (the 'surplus' portion), substantively (the 'remainder'), or adverbially ('moreover,' 'further'). Distinct from related terms such as שְׁאֵרִית (she'erit, 'remnant') or נוֹתָר (notar, 'that which is left'), יוֹתֵר focuses on quantifiable excess rather than a surviving remnant per se. In post-biblical and later Hebrew, it comes to mean 'more' in comparison or preference ('better'), a usage already emerging in some biblical texts (e.g., Ecclesiastes). English translations sometimes render יוֹתֵר as 'more' or 'better,' but these do not always capture the sense of surplus or exceeding. Its usage spans all periods of biblical Hebrew, with little significant change in meaning.

Translation Consistency

primary "more" 5 occurrences

'More' is the most natural, flexible English word that covers the typical range of יוֹתֵר — surplus, remainder, additional, superior — and can function as noun/adjective/adverb where the Hebrew is used. It is the common, idiomatic choice across the attested renderings and keeps translation consistent and readable; rarer senses like 'advantage' or 'surplus' are covered by context without needing a different base word.

Alternatives (3 occurrences):
"advantage" (2x) "overmuch" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

active participle of יָתַר; properly, redundant; hence, over and above, as adjective, noun, adverb or conjunction; better, more(-over), over, profit.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יתר (y-t-r) — remain over, be left over, exceed

Root יתר to remain over, be left over, exceed
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1956 הוֹתִיר Hothir
H3491 יָתוּר leftover gleaning
H3492 יַתִּיר in Yattir
H3493 יַתִּיר Exceeding-One
H3498 יָתַר in the one remaining

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3148-02 יוֹתֵ֑ר yoter HNcmsa more the remaining one the more 5
H3148-01 וְ/יֹתֵ֖ר veyoter HC/Ncmsa And-further and surplus and more 3

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3148-02 Ecclesiastes 2:15 יוֹתֵ֑ר yoter HNcmsa the remaining one the more
H3148-02 Ecclesiastes 6:8 יּוֹתֵ֥ר yoter HNcmsa the remaining one is the advantage
H3148-02 Ecclesiastes 6:11 יֹּתֵ֖ר yoter HNcmsa the remaining one advantage
H3148-01 Ecclesiastes 7:11 וְ/יֹתֵ֖ר veyoter HC/Ncmsa and surplus and more
H3148-02 Ecclesiastes 7:16 יוֹתֵ֑ר yoter HNcmsa the remaining one overmuch
H3148-01 Ecclesiastes 12:9 וְ/יֹתֵ֕ר veyoter HC/Ncmsa And moreover and surplus and more
H3148-01 Ecclesiastes 12:12 וְ/יֹתֵ֥ר veyoter HC/Ncmsa And-further and surplus and more
H3148-02 Esther 6:6 יוֹתֵ֥ר yoter HNcmsa more the remaining one the more
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