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עָוַר

𐤏𐤅𐤓

ʻâvar

H5786 verb

SILEX Entry

Root עור to be blind, to become blind, to cause blindness

Definition

To be or become blind, to lose vision or to have one's vision impaired; also, to cause someone to be unable to see, i.e., to blind or to render sightless. Used both of literal physical blindness and, metaphorically, a lack of perception or understanding.

Semantic Range

to be blind (literally), to lose sight, to become blind, to cause to go blind, to blind (someone), to obscure perception (metaphorically), to render unable to see or recognize

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root עוֹר, meaning 'blindness' or 'blind.' The verb form עָוַר is built on this root and typically refers to either the state of being blind or the action of causing blindness. Although denominative from עוֹר, the root's semantic center is the idea of occlusion or obstructed vision.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עָוַר occurs in contexts describing literal blindness, often congenital or inflicted. It is used in both active (to blind) and passive (to be blind) forms. The term appears in legal texts (e.g., Leviticus 19:14, Deuteronomy 27:18) prohibiting causing the blind to stumble, indicating awareness of the needs of the visually impaired in ancient Israelite society. It is further employed metaphorically in prophetic and wisdom literature to denote spiritual or moral insensitivity (e.g., Isaiah 29:9-10; Psalms 146:8), especially the inability or refusal to perceive truth or justice. The word is distinct from עִוֵּר (ivver), the adjective/noun for 'blind person.' Translation traditions sometimes broaden the metaphorical sense to 'spiritually blind' or 'ignorant,' but the core lexical sense relates directly to physical sight. In later periods, the verb's metaphorical sense deepens, especially in exilic and post-exilic texts, denoting a divinely-imposed inability to perceive or understand.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (rather denominatively from עוֹר through the idea of a film over the eyes); to blind; blind, put out. See also עַיִר.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עור (ʿ-w-r) — to blind, to become blind, to lose perception

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H216 אוֹר in the skin
H219 אוֹרָה skins of
H4589 מָעוֹר their exposed genitals
H5782 עוּר Let me rouse up
H5783 עוּר she will be roused

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5786-01 עִוֵּ֔ר iver HVpp3ms he blinded blind one 3
H5786-02 יְעַוֵּ֣ר yeaver HVpi3ms blinds he will blind 2

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5786-02 Exodus 23:8 יְעַוֵּ֣ר yeaver HVpi3ms blinds he will blind
H5786-02 Deuteronomy 16:19 יְעַוֵּר֙ yeaver HVpi3ms blinds he will blind
H5786-01 2 Kings 25:7 עִוֵּ֔ר iver HVpp3ms they-made-blind blind one
H5786-01 Jeremiah 39:7 עִוֵּ֑ר iver HVpp3ms he made blind blind one
H5786-01 Jeremiah 52:11 עִוֵּ֑ר iver HVpp3ms he blinded blind one
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