יְטוּר
𐤉𐤈𐤅𐤓
Yetur
H3195 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Jetur, a proper name referring to a specific tribe or clan descended from Ishmael, appearing in genealogical lists and territorial references: (1) as a person, son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:15; 1 Chronicles 1:31); (2) as the name of a tribe or group, the יְטוּרִים (Yeturim), mentioned among the peoples living east of the Jordan and northeast of the Transjordan region, at times in contexts describing regional conflicts (1 Chronicles 5:19). The term does not possess an adjectival, common, or verbal sense, but is used solely as a proper noun for people or their territory.
Semantic Range
proper name of an Ishmaelite tribal ancestor, name of a tribe or people group (Jetur; Yeturim); no common or abstract sense
Root / Etymology
From the root טוּר (t-w-r), which means 'to row, arrange in order, line up, or set in rows.' The name Jetur likely derives from this root, possibly conveying an idea of 'one arranged in order' or 'enclosed, encircled,' but as a proper name its meaning is uncertain. The connection to the root may only be morphological, rather than reflecting an active etymological sense.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the biblical text, Jetur is listed as an Ishmaelite tribe (Genesis 25:15), later referenced in Chronicles as a people group in the Transjordan region (cf. 1 Chronicles 1:31; 5:19), possibly involved in conflicts with the Israelite tribes east of the Jordan. The name also appears in external sources, such as Assyrian inscriptions, attesting to a tribe called 'Itûru' in the Syrian desert during the Iron Age, supporting the association of Jetur with semi-nomadic or settled pastoral peoples. By later periods, the Yeturim are no longer a distinct group in historical records. English translations, such as 'Jetur' or occasionally 'Jeturites,' reflect only the proper name and not any wider semantic meaning. The use of the term 'Jew' in some historical summaries is anachronistic here and should not be applied—the Jeturites are distinct from later Israelite, Judahite, or Judean identities. The semantic range of this word is strictly onomastic (name-based), and does not extend to common noun or descriptive usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from the same as טוּר; encircled (i.e. inclosed); Jetur, a son of Ishmael; Jetur.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
טור (ṭ-w-r) — arrange, line up, row, encircle, put in order
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2905 | טוּר | the aligned row |
| H2906 | טוּר | to a rocky ridge |
| H2918 | טִירָה | the arranged encampments |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3195-02 |
יְט֥וּר | yetur | HNp |
Jetur | Jetur | 2 |
H3195-01 |
וִ/יט֥וּר | vitur | HC/Np |
Jetur | and Jetur | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3195-02 |
Genesis 25:15 | יְט֥וּר | yetur | HNp |
Jetur | Jetur |
H3195-02 |
1 Chronicles 1:31 | יְט֥וּר | yetur | HNp |
Jetur | Jetur |
H3195-01 |
1 Chronicles 5:19 | וִ/יט֥וּר | vitur | HC/Np |
Jetur | and Jetur |