אִמַּר
𐤀𐤌𐤓
ʼimmar
H563 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A young sheep, specifically a lamb; refers to a juvenile member of the flock, distinguished from adult sheep. In Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible, the term denotes a lamb, most commonly in sacrificial or cultic contexts, and sometimes simply as part of livestock or possessions.
Semantic Range
lamb, young sheep, sacrificial lamb
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Aramaic root אמר, likely related to 'bringing forth, speaking,' but the direct connection to 'lamb' is uncertain; on the form אִמַּר as a noun, it specifically denotes 'lamb' in Biblical Aramaic.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The word אִמַּר appears only in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, particularly in Ezra 6:9, 6:17, and 7:17, where it occurs alongside other sacrificial animals (bulls, rams, and sheep) to designate lambs for offerings in the restored Second Temple. The Hebrew equivalent is כֶּבֶשׂ (keves), which also designates a male lamb but is used throughout the Hebrew portions of the Bible. English translations generally render אִמַּר as 'lamb,' which captures the basic meaning but does not distinguish the specifically Aramaic and post-exilic usage. During the Persian period, sacrificial terminology in Judean-Aramaic texts aligns closely with administrative language of the time, sometimes reflecting the influence of imperial decrees regarding temple supplies and rituals. There is no evidence that the term אִמַּר carried symbolic associations in its original context, unlike some animal terms that developed metaphorical significance in later Jewish or Christian tradition. Notably, אִמַּר is never used to describe the people or any metaphorical entity; its meaning remained concrete and restricted to actual animals.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) perhaps from אֲמַר (in the sense of bringing forth); a lamb; lamb.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אמר (ʾ-m-r) — to bring forth, to say, to utter; as noun: young sheep, lamb
| 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
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H563-01 |
אִמְּרִ֖ין | imerin | ANcmpa |
lambs | lambs | 2 |
H563-02 |
וְ/אִמְּרִ֣ין | veimerin | AC/Ncmpa |
and-lambs | and lambs | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences