נְעֹרֶת
𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤕
nᵉʻôreth
H5296 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Processed fibers of flax, especially short or loose fibers separated during carding or combing; 'tow'. Refers specifically to the soft, fluffy refuse produced from flax preparation, sometimes used for wicks or as waste in cloth-making. In biblical contexts, indicates the light, combustible fibers, emphasizing fragility or perishability.
Semantic Range
tow, loose flax fiber, refuse of flax, material for wicks, image of fragility or perishability, material easily consumed by fire
Root / Etymology
From the root נָעַר (to shake, shake loose, discard). The noun form נְעֹרֶת is derived as a feminine substantive indicating material produced through the act of shaking or separating, specifically flax fibers shaken out in processing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In ancient Israelite society, flax was a major textile crop. נְעֹרֶת refers to the byproduct of flax processing — the loose, soft, short fibers that are combed out and separated from the longer, more valuable fibers used for spinning linen. These light fibers were sometimes used for lamp wicks (cf. Isaiah 43:17), emphasizing their easy combustibility and readiness to be consumed by fire. In rhetorical or poetic contexts (e.g., Isaiah 1:31), נְעֹרֶת serves as an image of something insubstantial, easily consumed, or ephemeral. English translations render the word as 'tow' (obsolete), 'flax refuse', or 'wick', but these can fail to capture the specific association with processed, discarded flax fibers. The term does not have a direct English equivalent in modern usage, as the process of hand-combing flax is largely obsolete.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נָעַר; something shaken out, i.e. tow (as the refuse of flax); tow.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נער (n-ʿ-r) — to shake, shake loose, discard, stir up
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5271 | נָעוּר | in his youths |
| H5286 | נָעַר | they roared |
| H5287 | נָעַר | Shake yourself off |
| H5288 | נַעַר | in the young male |
| H5289 | נַעַר | the youth |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5296-02 |
לִ/נְעֹ֔רֶת | lineoret | HR/Ncfsa |
as tow | shaken-out flax fiber | 1 |
H5296-01 |
הַ/נְּעֹ֨רֶת֙ | haneoret | HTd/Ncfsa |
of-tow | the shaken flax-tow | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5296-01 |
Judges 16:9 | הַ/נְּעֹ֨רֶת֙ | haneoret | HTd/Ncfsa |
of-tow | the shaken flax-tow |
H5296-02 |
Isaiah 1:31 | לִ/נְעֹ֔רֶת | lineoret | HR/Ncfsa |
as tow | shaken-out flax fiber |