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אֵמֶר

𐤀𐤌𐤓

ʼêmer

H561 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אמר to say, speak, declare

Definition

A spoken word, utterance, or speech; more specifically, a declared statement, proclamation, or formal expression. אֵמֶר refers to the content of what is spoken, often with attention to its formality, intentionality, or literary quality. In poetry and elevated prose, it can denote a declaration or poetic statement, distinct from informal or everyday speech.

Semantic Range

utterance, spoken word, speech, saying, formal declaration, proclamation, poetic expression

Root / Etymology

From the root א־מ־ר (אמר), which has the core meaning 'to say, speak, declare'. The noun form אֵמֶר is a derivative, denominative expression representing the result or product of saying—'utterance, speech, saying.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The noun אֵמֶר is relatively rare in the Hebrew Bible, occurring chiefly in poetic or elevated language (cf. Deuteronomy 33:9; Psalm 16:6; Psalm 19:14; Proverbs 30:5). It is distinct from other Hebrew words for 'word' (such as דָּבָר, davar), which is more frequent and carries a broader range of meanings including 'matter, thing, event'. אֵמֶר emphasizes the articulated, formulated aspect of speech, often with literary or declarative nuance. In some ancient translations and later Jewish exegesis, it can overlap with related terms but maintains nuanced differentiation. The term is not tied to legal, narrative, or command speech as strongly as דָּבָר or אָמַר, but instead highlights the formulated or poetic quality of what is spoken. Over time, its use outside biblical poetry declined. English translations typically render אֵמֶר as 'speech,' 'word,' or 'utterance,' but these may sometimes obscure the literary nuance present in the original contexts. In post-biblical Hebrew, the term becomes exceedingly rare, replaced by other words such as מאמר or אמירה.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָמַר; something said; answer, [idiom] appointed unto him, saying, speech, word.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אמר (ʾ-m-r) — to say, speak, declare

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H201 אוֹמָר Omar
H3982 מַאֲמַר authoritative declaration of
H3983 מֵאמַר according to decree-of
H534 אָמִיר prominent summit
H559 אָמַר he said

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H561-06 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc words utterances of 18
H561-01 אֲמָרַ֖/י amaray HNcmpc/Sp1cs my words my utterances 6
H561-10 לְ/אִמְרֵי leimerey HR/Ncmpc to the words to utterances of 4
H561-02 אֲ֭מָרָי/ו amarayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his words his declarations 4
H561-03 אֲמָרֶ֖י/הָ amareyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs her sayings her declarations 4
H561-05 בְּ/אִמְרֵי beimerey HR/Ncmpc by the words of in utterances of 3
H561-11 מֵֽ/אִמְרֵי meimerey HR/Ncmpc from the words from utterances of 3
H561-04 אֲמָרִ֣ים amarim HNcmpa them with words utterances 2
H561-08 אִמְר֣/וֹ imero HNcmsc/Sp3ms decreed his utterance 1
H561-09 לַ֝/אֲמָרַ֗/י laamaray HR/Ncmpc/Sp1cs to my sayings to my declarations 1

Occurrences in Scripture

49 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H561-06 Genesis 49:21 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc words utterances of
H561-06 Numbers 24:4 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc the words of utterances of
H561-06 Numbers 24:16 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc the words of utterances of
H561-06 Deuteronomy 32:1 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc the words utterances of
H561-06 Joshua 24:27 אִמְרֵ֣י imerey HNcmpc the words utterances of
H561-03 Judges 5:29 אֲמָרֶ֖י/הָ amareyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs her words her declarations
H561-05 Isaiah 32:7 בְּ/אִמְרֵי beimerey HR/Ncmpc with words of in utterances of
H561-07 Isaiah 41:26 אִמְרֵי/כֶֽם imereykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp your-words your utterances
H561-05 Hosea 6:5 בְּ/אִמְרֵי beimerey HR/Ncmpc by the words of in utterances of
H561-01 Psalms 5:2 אֲמָרַ֖/י amaray HNcmpc/Sp1cs to my words my utterances
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