נִמְרָה
𐤍𐤌𐤓𐤄
Nimerah
H5247 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A toponym referring to a location east of the Jordan River, associated with water sources characterized by clarity or possibly by the presence of animals like leopards. The term denotes an inhabited site notable for its springs or water, and possibly for geographic features or fauna linked to its name. The semantic range includes the specific locale known as Nimrah, as well as references to natural water features in the region.
Semantic Range
Nimrah (the named place east of the Jordan), a site associated with water or springs, possibly a descriptor of clarity or leopard-like features; related to place names such as Beit Nimrah ('House of Nimrah'); connoting either the presence of leopards, variegation, or notable water features.
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root נמר, which means 'leopard,' but by extension can also mean 'spotted' or 'variegated.' The formation as a toponym may refer either to the presence of leopards or to some notable visual quality (e.g., 'clear', 'sparkling') of the water at the location, though the precise transfer of meaning remains somewhat conjectural. The name Nimrah may thus describe either the terrain/water (clear, lively, variegated) or attribute the place to an animal association. The same root underlies related place names, such as נמרים (Nimrim) and compounded forms like בית נמרה (Beit Nimrah, 'House of Nimrah').
Historical & Contextual Notes
Nimrah is mentioned as a Transjordanian settlement allotted to the tribe of Gad (Numbers 32:3, 36), associated with lush pastures and water sources, hence its identification with springs or clear streams. In later biblical and post-biblical tradition, Nimrah and its variant forms (notably Nimrim) continued to be noted as water-rich locations east of the Jordan. There is some historical overlap or confusion in references between Nimrah and Beit Nimrah/Nimrim, reflecting shifts in settlement patterns or regional naming conventions over time. English translations uniformly render it as a place name, sometimes leaving the meaning implicit. Traditional translation as 'clear water' derives from an assumed connection to clarity or variegation, but this association is not linguistically certain; a link to fauna, specifically leopards (namer), cannot be ruled out. The term does not carry religious or tribal connotations beyond its geographic usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as נָמֵר; clear water; Nimrah, a place East of the Jordan; Nimrah. See also בֵּית נִמְרָה, נִמְרִים.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נמר (n-m-r) — to be spotted, to be variegated, leopard
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1039 | בֵּית נִמְרָה | Leopard-Settlement |
| H5245 | נְמַר | leopard |
| H5246 | נָמֵר | like a spotted feline |
| H5249 | נִמְרִים | Clear-Waters |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5247-01 |
וְ/נִמְרָ֔ה | venimerah | HC/Np |
and Nimrah | and Nimrah | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5247-01 |
Numbers 32:3 | וְ/נִמְרָ֔ה | venimerah | HC/Np |
and Nimrah | and Nimrah |