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אֵמֶר

𐤀𐤌𐤓

ʼêmer

H561 noun

SILEX Entry

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.

Translation Consistency

primary "word" 45 occurrences

"Word" is the most natural, versatile English equivalent for אֵמֶר’s range (utterance, spoken statement, proclamation). It matches the common Biblical usage (“the word,” “words”), handles singular/plural idiomatically, and preserves both ordinary and formal/poetic senses better than more formal terms like "declaration."

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"utterances" (1x) "sayings" (1x) "utterance" (1x) "declarations" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

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

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

אמר (Omar) — to say, speak, declare

Root אמר to say, speak, declare
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H201 אוֹמָר Omar
H3982 מַאֲמַר authoritative declaration of
H534 אָמִיר prominent summit
H559 אָמַר he said
H560 אֲמַר he said

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H561-06 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc words utterances of words of 18
H561-01 אֲמָרָ֑/י amaray HNcmpc/Sp1cs my words my utterances my words 6
H561-02 אֲ֝מָרָ֗י/ו amarayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his words his declarations his words 4
H561-03 אֲמָרֶ֖י/הָ amareyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs her sayings her declarations her words 4
H561-10 לְ/אִמְרֵי leimerey HR/Ncmpc to the words to utterances of to words of 4
H561-05 בְּ/אִמְרֵי beimerey HR/Ncmpc by the words of in utterances of in the words of 3
H561-11 מֵֽ/אִמְרֵי meimerey HR/Ncmpc from the words from utterances of from words of 3
H561-04 אֲמָרִ֣ים amarim HNcmpa them with words utterances words 2
H561-07 אִמְרֵי/כֶֽם imereykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp your-words your utterances your utterances 1
H561-08 אִמְר֣/וֹ imero HNcmsc/Sp3ms decreed his utterance his utterance 1

Occurrences in Scripture

49 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H561-06 Genesis 49:21 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc words utterances of words of
H561-06 Numbers 24:4 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc the words of utterances of words of
H561-06 Numbers 24:16 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc the words of utterances of words of
H561-06 Deuteronomy 32:1 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc the words utterances of words of
H561-06 Joshua 24:27 אִמְרֵ֣י imerey HNcmpc the words utterances of words of
H561-03 Judges 5:29 אֲמָרֶ֖י/הָ amareyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs her words her declarations her words
H561-05 Isaiah 32:7 בְּ/אִמְרֵי beimerey HR/Ncmpc with words of in utterances of in the words of
H561-07 Isaiah 41:26 אִמְרֵי/כֶֽם imereykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp your-words your utterances your utterances
H561-05 Hosea 6:5 בְּ/אִמְרֵי beimerey HR/Ncmpc by the words of in utterances of in the words of
H561-01 Psalms 5:2 אֲמָרַ֖/י amaray HNcmpc/Sp1cs to my words my utterances my words
H561-06 Psalms 19:15 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc words of utterances of words of
H561-10 Psalms 54:4 לְ/אִמְרֵי leimerey HR/Ncmpc to the words to utterances of to words of
H561-10 Psalms 78:1 לְ/אִמְרֵי leimerey HR/Ncmpc to the words to utterances of to words of
H561-06 Psalms 107:11 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc the words utterances of words of
H561-06 Psalms 138:4 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc the words of utterances of words of
H561-01 Psalms 141:6 אֲ֝מָרַ֗/י amaray HNcmpc/Sp1cs my words my utterances my words
H561-06 Proverbs 1:2 אִמְרֵ֥י imerey HNcmpc words utterances of words of
H561-03 Proverbs 1:21 אֲמָרֶ֥י/הָ amareyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs her sayings her declarations her words
H561-01 Proverbs 2:1 אֲמָרָ֑/י amaray HNcmpc/Sp1cs my words my utterances my words
H561-03 Proverbs 2:16 אֲמָרֶ֥י/הָ amareyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs words-of-her her declarations her words
H561-11 Proverbs 4:5 מֵֽ/אִמְרֵי meimerey HR/Ncmpc from the words from utterances of from words of
H561-01 Proverbs 4:10 אֲמָרָ֑/י amaray HNcmpc/Sp1cs my sayings my utterances my words
H561-09 Proverbs 4:20 לַ֝/אֲמָרַ֗/י laamaray HR/Ncmpc/Sp1cs to my sayings to my declarations to my sayings
H561-11 Proverbs 5:7 מֵ/אִמְרֵי meimerey HR/Ncmpc from the words of from utterances of from words of
H561-13 Proverbs 6:2 בְ/אִמְרֵי veimerey HR/Ncmpc with the words in utterances of by the words of
H561-05 Proverbs 6:2 בְּ/אִמְרֵי beimerey HR/Ncmpc with the words in utterances of by the words of
H561-01 Proverbs 7:1 אֲמָרָ֑/י amaray HNcmpc/Sp1cs my words my utterances my words
H561-03 Proverbs 7:5 אֲמָרֶ֥י/הָ amareyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs of her words her declarations her words
H561-10 Proverbs 7:24 לְ/אִמְרֵי leimerey HR/Ncmpc to the words of to utterances of to words of
H561-06 Proverbs 8:8 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc words of utterances of words of
H561-06 Proverbs 15:26 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc words utterances of words of
H561-06 Proverbs 16:24 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc words utterances of words of
H561-02 Proverbs 17:27 אֲ֭מָרָי/ו amarayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his words his declarations his words
H561-04 Proverbs 19:7 אֲמָרִ֣ים amarim HNcmpa them with words utterances words
H561-11 Proverbs 19:27 מֵֽ/אִמְרֵי meimerey HR/Ncmpc from the words from utterances of from words of
H561-06 Proverbs 22:21 אִמְרֵ֣י imerey HNcmpc of the words utterances of words of
H561-04 Proverbs 22:21 אֲמָרִ֥ים amarim HNcmpa words utterances words
H561-10 Proverbs 23:12 לְ/אִמְרֵי leimerey HR/Ncmpc to words to utterances of to words of
H561-06 Job 6:10 אִמְרֵ֥י imerey HNcmpc words utterances of words of
H561-06 Job 6:25 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc words utterances of words of
H561-06 Job 6:26 אִמְרֵ֥י imerey HNcmpc speeches utterances of words of
H561-06 Job 8:2 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc the words utterances of words of
H561-08 Job 20:29 אִמְר֣/וֹ imero HNcmsc/Sp3ms decreed his utterance his utterance
H561-02 Job 22:22 אֲ֝מָרָ֗י/ו amarayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his words his declarations his words
H561-06 Job 23:12 אִמְרֵי imerey HNcmpc words utterances of words of
H561-02 Job 32:12 אֲמָרָ֣י/ו amarayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his words his declarations his words
H561-12 Job 32:14 וּ֝/בְ/אִמְרֵי/כֶ֗ם uveimereykhem HC/R/Ncmpc/Sp2mp nor with your words and in your declarations and in your declarations
H561-01 Job 33:3 אֲמָרָ֑/י amaray HNcmpc/Sp1cs my words my utterances my words
H561-02 Job 34:37 אֲמָרָ֣י/ו amarayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his words his declarations his words
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