יוֹתֵר
𐤉𐤅𐤕𐤓
yôwthêr
H3148 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
That which remains or is left over; surplus, remainder, or excess. In various contexts, denotes what is additional, more than required or expected, or what is superior in quantity or quality.
Semantic Range
surplus, excess, remainder, what is left over, what remains, more (in quantity or degree), superior, better, over and above, furthermore, in addition
Root / Etymology
From the root יתר, meaning 'to remain over, be left over, exceed.' יוֹתֵר is the masculine singular active participle form, functioning as an adjective, substantive, or adverb to indicate something exceeding, surpassing, or left as residue. The participial form gives the nuance of 'being extra' or 'what remains.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, יוֹתֵר often expresses the idea of surplus or excess, whether of material goods (leftover portions, surplus grain, remaining people) or abstract quantities (more numerous, greater honor). It can function adjectivally (the 'surplus' portion), substantively (the 'remainder'), or adverbially ('moreover,' 'further'). Distinct from related terms such as שְׁאֵרִית (she'erit, 'remnant') or נוֹתָר (notar, 'that which is left'), יוֹתֵר focuses on quantifiable excess rather than a surviving remnant per se. In post-biblical and later Hebrew, it comes to mean 'more' in comparison or preference ('better'), a usage already emerging in some biblical texts (e.g., Ecclesiastes). English translations sometimes render יוֹתֵר as 'more' or 'better,' but these do not always capture the sense of surplus or exceeding. Its usage spans all periods of biblical Hebrew, with little significant change in meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
active participle of יָתַר; properly, redundant; hence, over and above, as adjective, noun, adverb or conjunction; better, more(-over), over, profit.
Bantu Hebrew
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יתר (y-t-r) — remain over, be left over, exceed
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1956 | הוֹתִיר | Hothir |
| H3491 | יָתוּר | leftover gleaning |
| H3492 | יַתִּיר | in Yattir |
| H3493 | יַתִּיר | Exceeding-One |
| H3498 | יָתַר | in the one remaining |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3148-02 |
יוֹתֵ֑ר | yoter | HNcmsa |
more | the remaining one | 5 |
H3148-01 |
וְ/יֹתֵ֖ר | veyoter | HC/Ncmsa |
And-further | and surplus | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3148-02 |
Ecclesiastes 2:15 | יוֹתֵ֑ר | yoter | HNcmsa |
the remaining one | |
H3148-02 |
Ecclesiastes 6:8 | יּוֹתֵ֥ר | yoter | HNcmsa |
the remaining one | |
H3148-02 |
Ecclesiastes 6:11 | יֹּתֵ֖ר | yoter | HNcmsa |
the remaining one | |
H3148-01 |
Ecclesiastes 7:11 | וְ/יֹתֵ֖ר | veyoter | HC/Ncmsa |
and surplus | |
H3148-02 |
Ecclesiastes 7:16 | יוֹתֵ֑ר | yoter | HNcmsa |
the remaining one | |
H3148-01 |
Ecclesiastes 12:9 | וְ/יֹתֵ֕ר | veyoter | HC/Ncmsa |
And moreover | and surplus |
H3148-01 |
Ecclesiastes 12:12 | וְ/יֹתֵ֥ר | veyoter | HC/Ncmsa |
And-further | and surplus |
H3148-02 |
Esther 6:6 | יוֹתֵ֥ר | yoter | HNcmsa |
more | the remaining one |