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מוּר

𐤌𐤅𐤓

mûwr

H4171 verb

SILEX Entry

Root מור to change, to substitute, to exchange

Definition

To change, alter, or exchange something; in biblical Hebrew, to substitute one thing for another, especially in the sense of replacing or switching items, often with a focus on animals dedicated to sacrificial purposes. The sense extends to 'barter' or 'trade' (transfer something in exchange for another) and 'remove' (in the sense of taking something out of its original context by exchanging it). The core meaning is active alteration of set status by an act of substitution.

Semantic Range

to substitute (especially in ritual or legal contexts), to alter, to exchange, to barter, to remove (by way of exchange), to dispose of, to change (status or designation)

Root / Etymology

Root: מור (m-w-r). This root primarily conveys the idea of changing or replacing. The verb מוּר (mûwr) reflects the causative or active aspect of making something different, often via a transaction or substitution. While the core meaning is 'to change,' the derived noun and verb forms focus on concrete acts of exchange or substitution, especially ritual or contractual contexts.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, מוּר most frequently appears in legal or ritual contexts, notably concerning the rules for vows and dedicated offerings (e.g. Leviticus 27:10, 33), where substitution of animals is strictly regulated—typically, both the original and the substitute become consecrated if an attempt is made to exchange. This highlights the term's specificity within sacrificial law, distinct from other roots like חלף (ḥ-l-ph, 'to change, exchange in a more general or natural sense') or שׁנה (sh-n-h, 'to repeat, do again, or change form'). Unlike common English translations such as 'change' or 'exchange,' the Hebrew term is bounded by legal and ritual parameters and does not denote transformation in an abstract sense. During the monarchic and post-exilic periods, its usage remains tied to the alteration of things set aside for sacred purposes. Later Hebrew does not frequently employ this root productively. The English translation 'remove' reflects a secondary, idiomatic usage and does not capture the central idea of substitution.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to alter; by implication, to barter, to dispose of; [idiom] at all, (ex-) change, remove.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מור (m-w-r) — to change, to substitute, to exchange

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4177 מוֹרָה hair-removing razor
H8545 תְּמוּרָה the substitution

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4171-09 יָמִ֥יר yamir HVhi3ms change he will substitute 4
H4171-10 יְמִירֶ֑/נּוּ yemirenu HVhi3ms/Sp3ms he exchanges it he will substitute it 2
H4171-04 הָמֵ֨ר hamer HVha at all exchanging to cause to exchange 2
H4171-05 הֵמִ֥יר hemir HVhp3ms have changed he substituted 1
H4171-03 הַ/הֵימִ֥יר haheymir HTi/Vhp3ms Has changed he substituted 1
H4171-02 בְּ/הָמִ֣יר behamir HR/Vhc when the earth changes to cause to substitute 1
H4171-06 נָמָֽר namar HVNp3ms changed was substituted 1
H4171-07 וַ/יָּמִ֥ירוּ vayamiru HC/Vhw3mp they exchanged they effected an exchange 1
H4171-01 אָמִֽיר amir HVhi1cs I-will-change substitution 1
H4171-08 יָמֵ֛ר yamer HVhj3ms exchange let him substitute 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4171-09 Leviticus 27:10 יָמִ֥יר yamir HVhi3ms change he will substitute
H4171-04 Leviticus 27:10 הָמֵ֨ר hamer HVha at all exchanging to cause to exchange
H4171-09 Leviticus 27:10 יָמִ֤יר yamir-2 HVhi3ms he shall exchange he will substitute
H4171-10 Leviticus 27:33 יְמִירֶ֑/נּוּ yemirenu HVhi3ms/Sp3ms shall he exchange it he will substitute it
H4171-04 Leviticus 27:33 הָמֵ֣ר hamer HVha surely exchanging to cause to exchange
H4171-10 Leviticus 27:33 יְמִירֶ֔/נּוּ yemirenu-2 HVhi3ms/Sp3ms he exchanges it he will substitute it
H4171-03 Jeremiah 2:11 הַ/הֵימִ֥יר haheymir HTi/Vhp3ms Has changed he substituted
H4171-05 Jeremiah 2:11 הֵמִ֥יר hemir HVhp3ms have changed he substituted
H4171-06 Jeremiah 48:11 נָמָֽר namar HVNp3ms changed was substituted
H4171-08 Ezekiel 48:14 יָמֵ֛ר yamer HVhj3ms exchange let him substitute
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