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נִיר

𐤍𐤉𐤓

nîyr

H5216 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נר to shine, glisten, burn (root-level); implement producing light

Definition

A lamp or lamp-stand, an object used for producing light by burning oil; by extension, the light emitted by such an object. In some contexts, a symbol or emblem of prosperity, life, or posterity. Occasionally can refer to daylight or brightness more generally, though primary usage denotes a physical implement for illumination (lamp, lantern, or light-bearer).

Semantic Range

lamp, lantern, burner, lamp-stand, light emitted by a lamp, daylight (rare), symbol of life or posterity, source of illumination

Root / Etymology

From the root נר (preserved in classical Hebrew spelling variants), probably deriving from the verbal root נוּר (to shine, burn, glisten), related to brightness, shining, or burning. The noun developed as a term for an implement which emits light, such as an oil lamp.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, נִיר/נֵר primarily refers to oil lamps common in ancient Israelite households, religious settings, and public life. Lamps were central to daily life and temple ritual, symbolizing guidance, presence (such as the 'lamp of God' in the Tabernacle), or the persistence of family or dynastic lineages (the 'lamp of David'). The word may be used metaphorically for one's life, offspring, or dynasty (e.g., 'a lamp for my anointed'). The different feminine and variant spellings reflect dialectical and period differences in ancient Hebrew. English translations often render נִיר/נֵר as 'lamp' or less precisely as 'candle' (an anachronism, as wax candles were unknown in Israelite antiquity), potentially missing nuances of the original cultural object. Similar words include לַפִּיד (lapid, 'torch') and אוֹר ('light'), which carry related but distinct meanings. In later Hebrew and in post-biblical contexts, נֵר retains the meaning of lamp (e.g., Hanukkah lamp, 'Ner Tamid' in synagogues).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or נִר; also נֵיר; or נֵר; or (feminine) נֵרָה; from a primitive root (see נִיר; נוּר) properly, meaning to glisten; a lamp (i.e. the burner) or light (literally or figuratively); candle, lamp, light.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נר (n-r) — shine, glisten, burn; light-producing implement

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5216-04 נֵ֖ר ner HNcmsc lamp lamp 10
H5216-09 נֵרֹתֶ֖י/הָ neroteyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs its lamps her lamps 9
H5216-02 הַ/נֵּרֹ֖ת hanerot HTd/Ncmpa the lamps the lamps 7
H5216-11 נִ֣יר nir HNcmsa lamp lamp 4
H5216-15 וְ/נֵרֹתֶ֑י/הָ veneroteyha HC/Ncmpc/Sp3fs and-its-lamps and her lamps 3
H5216-13 וְ/נֵ֤ר vener HC/Ncmsc and the lamp and lamp of 2
H5216-16 וְ/נֵרֹֽתֵי/הֶם֙ veneroteyhem HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp and their lamps their lamps 2
H5216-07 נֵ֝ר֗/וֹ nero HNcmsc/Sp3ms his lamp his lamp 2
H5216-12 וְ/הַ/נֵּרֹ֛ת vehanerot HC/Td/Ncmpa and the lamps and the lamps 2
H5216-10 נֵירִ֖/י neyri HNcmsc/Sp1cs are my lamp my lamp 1

Occurrences in Scripture

48 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5216-09 Exodus 25:37 נֵרֹתֶ֖י/הָ neroteyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs its lamps her lamps
H5216-09 Exodus 25:37 נֵ֣רֹתֶ֔י/הָ neroteyha-2 HNcmpc/Sp3fs its lamps her lamps
H5216-04 Exodus 27:20 נֵ֖ר ner HNcmsc lamp lamp
H5216-02 Exodus 30:7 הַ/נֵּרֹ֖ת hanerot HTd/Ncmpa the lamps the lamps
H5216-02 Exodus 30:8 הַ/נֵּרֹ֛ת hanerot HTd/Ncmpa the lamps the lamps
H5216-09 Exodus 35:14 נֵרֹתֶ֑י/הָ neroteyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs lamps her lamps
H5216-09 Exodus 37:23 נֵרֹתֶ֖י/הָ neroteyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs its lamps her lamps
H5216-09 Exodus 39:37 נֵרֹתֶ֗י/הָ neroteyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs its lamps her lamps
H5216-08 Exodus 39:37 נֵרֹ֛ת nerot HNcmpc the lamps lamps of
H5216-09 Exodus 40:4 נֵרֹתֶֽי/הָ neroteyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs its lamps her lamps
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