מְחִיר
𐤌𐤇𐤉𐤓
Mechir
H4243 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A price, payment, or compensation, especially in the context of commerce or the buying and selling of goods and property. The term can also refer to the monetary value assigned to something. In rare instances, it serves as a personal name (Mechir), but its primary application is as a term for value or purchase price.
Semantic Range
price, monetary value, payment, compensation, amount paid in exchange, commercial price, purchase price; personal name (Mechir)
Root / Etymology
From the root מָחַר (מחר), meaning 'to sell.' מְחִיר is a masculine noun derived from this verb root, signifying that which is given in exchange for something else, i.e., a price, payment, or compensation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מְחִיר primarily occurs in legal, economic, or cultic contexts, often specifying the price paid for land, goods, or even people (see Leviticus 27:24, Deuteronomy 23:19). Its use in Deuteronomic and Priestly texts underscores the economic mechanisms of ancient Israelite society. The Torah, prophets, and writings use מְחִיר to represent fair valuation and legitimate transaction, yet also to highlight the illegitimate use of wealth (e.g., the 'price of a dog' in Deuteronomy 23:19 as prohibited in offerings). In a small number of cases, it appears as the personal name Mechir (e.g., 1 Chronicles 7:31), likely with the connotation of commercial worth or value. English translations typically render the term as 'price' or 'wages,' which captures most but not all of its nuance. Unlike קֶסֶף (silver, money) or שָׂכָר (wages, reward), מְחִיר emphasizes the value given in exchange for something specific, not a general currency or wage for labor. Over time, the term maintained its semantic focus on transactional value, though post-biblical Hebrew often prefers other terms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as מְחִיר; price; Mechir, an Israelite; Mehir.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מחר (m-ḥ-r) — to sell, exchange, trade
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4243-01 |
מְחִ֑יר | mechir | HNp |
Mehir | price-of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4243-01 |
1 Chronicles 4:11 | מְחִ֑יר | mechir | HNp |
Mehir | price-of |