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יַעַר

𐤉𐤏𐤓

Yaar

H3293 noun

SILEX Entry

Root יער to be thick, to be dense, to grow luxuriantly

Definition

A wooded area characterized by dense growth of trees; a forest or woodland. In various contexts, can refer to natural forests, cultivated woods, or metaphorical thickets. In a few passages, also refers metonymically to a comb of honey, due to the association with wild bees inhabiting tree hollows.

Semantic Range

forest, woodland, thicket, uncultivated wild area, habitat of wild animals, (rarely) honeycomb

Root / Etymology

From the root יער (uncertain verbal form), meaning 'to be thick, to be dense,' particularly in reference to vegetation. The root itself is not attested as a verb in the Hebrew Bible; the nominal form יַעַר is used for forested areas.

Historical & Contextual Notes

יַעַר refers primarily to uncultivated forested regions, often denoting areas outside settled land. In biblical usage, it describes natural landscapes (e.g., the forests of Lebanon), uncultivated land, or areas teeming with wild animals. It is distinct from other terms such as חֹרֶשׁ (ḥōresh), which can also mean forest or grove but may carry nuances of cultivated woodland or designated sacred groves. The word sometimes appears as the habitat of wild honeybees, leading to its extended and rare use for a honeycomb (1 Samuel 14:25, 27). During the patriarchal and monarchic periods, יַעַר designated significant wilderness areas, such as the 'forest of Ephraim.' In later texts, forests become symbolic of abundance or, conversely, of desolation when cleared. English translations usually render the term as 'forest' or 'wood,' but in rare contexts as 'honeycomb' following the Hebrew idiom.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root probably meaning to thicken with verdure; a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb (as hived in trees); (honey-) comb, forest, wood.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יער (y-ʿ-r) — thickness, density, luxuriant growth

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3265 יָעוּר Wooded One
H3294 יַעְרָה and Forest-one
H3295 יַעֲרָה in thicket of
H3297 יְעָרִים forests
H5782 עוּר forest

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3293-13 יַ֣עַר yaar HNcmsa forest thick forest 24
H3293-05 הַ/יַּ֔עַר hayaar HTd/Ncmsa the forest the dense forest 11
H3293-12 בַ/יַּעַר֮ vayaar HRd/Ncmsa in the forest dense woodland 4
H3293-01 בַּ/יַּ֤עַר bayaar HRd/Ncmsa in the forest in the dense-woodland 3
H3293-08 לַ/יַּ֥עַר layaar HRd/Ncmsa as a forest to the dense woodland 2
H3293-11 מִ/יַּ֗עַר miyaar HR/Ncmsa from the forest from a dense forest 2
H3293-16 יַעְר/וֹ֙ yaero HNcmsc/Sp3ms of his forest his forest 2
H3293-09 לְ/יַ֣עַר leyaar HR/Ncmsc for-a-forest to a forest 2
H3293-04 בְּ/יַעְרָ֔/הּ beyaerah HR/Ncmsc/Sp3fs in its forest in her forest 1
H3293-14 יַעְרָ/הּ֙ yaerah HNcmsc/Sp3fs her forest her dense-woodland 1

Occurrences in Scripture

59 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3293-12 Deuteronomy 19:5 בַ/יַּעַר֮ vayaar HRd/Ncmsa into the forest dense woodland
H3293-06 Joshua 17:15 הַ/יַּ֔עְרָ/ה hayaerah HTd/Ncmsa/Sd the forest toward the dense-forest
H3293-13 Joshua 17:18 יַ֣עַר yaar HNcmsa forest thick forest
H3293-12 1 Samuel 14:25 בַ/יָּ֑עַר vayaar HRd/Ncmsa to the forest dense woodland
H3293-05 1 Samuel 14:26 הַ/יַּ֔עַר hayaar HTd/Ncmsa the forest the dense forest
H3293-13 1 Samuel 22:5 יַ֥עַר yaar HNcmsc forest thick forest
H3293-03 2 Samuel 18:6 בְּ/יַ֥עַר beyaar HR/Ncmsc in the forest in forest of
H3293-05 2 Samuel 18:8 הַ/יַּ֨עַר֙ hayaar HTd/Ncmsa the forest the dense forest
H3293-12 2 Samuel 18:17 בַ/יַּ֨עַר֙ vayaar HRd/Ncmsa in the forest dense woodland
H3293-13 1 Kings 7:2 יַ֣עַר yaar HNcmsc forest thick forest
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