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נָעַר

𐤍𐤏𐤓

nâʻar

H5286 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נער to make a loud noise, to growl, to roar

Definition

To utter a harsh, guttural, or resounding vocalization; to growl or roar as an animal (esp. in threat or alarm), or to make a loud noise through human shouting, clamoring, or exclamation. The word primarily connotes a forceful sound, typically with a sense of warning, distress, or assertion, and is most often used of animal sounds, especially the lion’s roar, but can in rare contexts be applied to human expressions such as a loud outcry or call.

Semantic Range

to roar (of a lion or wild animal), to growl (of predatory animals), to utter a loud or resounding noise, to shout or cry out (in very rare human contexts), to make tumult (figuratively)

Root / Etymology

From the root נער, which fundamentally conveys the idea of making a loud or guttural noise. The verb reflects early Semitic usages, where onomatopoeic verbs reflect animal sounds or similar harsh noises. The term נָעַר is morphologically regular for a qal verbal root meaning 'to make noise,' specific to this animalistic or vehement context.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Biblical Hebrew, נָעַר is rare and primarily found in poetic or prophetic texts, often describing the vocalizations of fierce animals, most notably the lion (e.g., Amos 3:4; Psalm 104:21; Isaiah 5:29), where it adds powerful imagery to depictions of threat or majesty associated with wild predators. The verb is occasionally extended metaphorically to signify tumult or disorder brought about by loud sounds or outcry. In post-biblical Hebrew, the root has limited continuation in this sense, with related nominal forms instead relating to youthfulness (נַעַר, 'boy, youth') but etymologically these are unrelated. Standard translations as 'growl, roar, cry out, yell' reflect the basic sense but may overspecify if not context-aware. English 'growl' often fits best for animal contexts, while 'shout' is an acceptable rendering in rare human contexts, though the Hebrew typically refers to more animalistic utterance.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to growl; yell.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נער (n-ʿ-r) — to make a loud noise, to growl, to roar

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5271 נָעוּר in his youths
H5287 נָעַר Shake yourself off
H5288 נַעַר in the young male
H5289 נַעַר the youth
H5290 נֹעַר in the youth-period

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5286-01 נָעֲר֖וּ naaru HVqp3cp they growled they roared 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5286-01 Jeremiah 51:38 נָעֲר֖וּ naaru HVqp3cp they growled they roared
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