עִירוּ
𐤏𐤉𐤓𐤅
Iru
H5900 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name, Iru; refers to an individual identified as a descendant of Caleb and a clan leader within the tribe of Judah during the Israelite settlement period. The name is likely related to the Hebrew noun for 'city', suggesting either 'citizen' or signifying a connection with a city. As a personal name, it does not function as an appellative noun within the biblical text but only as an anthroponym.
Semantic Range
Iru (personal name), possible association with 'citizen' or 'city-dweller' based on root, but not an appellative noun in the biblical text
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root ע-י-ר (עִיר), meaning 'city.' The formation עִירוּ is likely a theophoric or patronymic personal name, meaning 'of the city' or possibly 'citizen.' The suffix -וּ could indicate a possessive or archaic formation, though its precise nuance is uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Appears in 1 Chronicles 4:15, listed as a son of Caleb. The context is genealogical and pertains to the early monarchic or pre-monarchic period, within a Judahite context. The name exemplifies the practice of forming personal names from common nouns, in this case, עִיר ('city'), possibly reflecting status or origin. There is no suggestion in the biblical text that Iru was literally a 'citizen' as an occupational or civil status; the meaning is strictly personal and genealogical. English translations typically transliterate the name as 'Iru'; the gloss 'citizen' found in Strong's does not represent usage as a common noun but rather an assumed etymological meaning from the root. The name does not recur elsewhere, nor does it serve as a generic term in the Hebrew Bible. Later English translations may refer to the descendant as an 'Israelite,' but the text more specifically identifies him as a Judahite within Caleb's lineage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עִיר; a citizen; Iru, an Israelite; Iru.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עיר (ʿ-y-r) — to watch, to be awake, to guard, to protect; city, populated place
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H215 | אוֹר | the fortified settlement |
| H5892 | עִיר | my cities |
| H5901 | עִירִי | and City-Dweller |
| H5902 | עִירָם | Iram |
| H6144 | עָר | Ar |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5900-01 |
עִ֥ירוּ | iru | HNp |
Iru | Iru City-man | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5900-01 |
1 Chronicles 4:15 | עִ֥ירוּ | iru | HNp |
Iru | Iru City-man |