נֶתֶר
𐤍𐤕𐤓
nether
H5427 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A naturally occurring alkaline mineral substance, typically identified as natron or an early form of sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate, used in antiquity for cleaning or washing due to its effervescent reaction with acids. In biblical usage, refers to a cleansing agent made from mineral deposits.
Semantic Range
alkali, natron, soda ash, mineral salt used for washing or cleansing, effervescent mineral, cleaning agent
Root / Etymology
From the root נתר (נָתַר), which in related Semitic languages carries senses related to leaping or shaking (e.g., Aramaic, Arabic), with the connection likely metaphoric (the 'bubbling' or 'effervescing' effect of natron or alkaline substances in water). The precise root-connection in Hebrew is debated and may be secondary or derived by folk etymology.
Historical & Contextual Notes
נֶתֶר appears in the Hebrew Bible in contexts relating to washing or cleansing (e.g., Proverbs 25:20; Jeremiah 2:22), where it denotes an alkaline cleansing agent, likely natron—a naturally occurring soda ash used by ancient peoples for laundry, cleansing, and embalming. This is not equivalent to modern 'nitre' (potassium nitrate). The translation as 'nitre' in some English Bibles reflects the knowledge and terminology of the early modern period, not the actual ancient substance. There are important distinctions between נֶתֶר and other terms such as בֹּרִית (borit, 'soap' or 'lye'), which referred to plant ash-based lye. נֶתֶר refers specifically to a mineral product. Use of נֶתֶר in biblical imagery underscores the limits of physical cleansing to address deeper moral or spiritual conditions. Its documented use in the ancient Near East underscores its everyday importance to Israelite material culture. Later translations, especially in the King James and similar versions, render the term 'nitre', which by the 17th century designated potassium nitrate—a different chemical and not what is meant by the biblical term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נָתַר; mineral potash (so called from effervescing with acid); nitre.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נתר (n-t-r) — to leap, to rebound, to spring
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5427-02 |
נָ֑תֶר | nater | HNcmsa |
niter | effervescent natron | 1 |
H5427-01 |
בַּ/נֶּ֔תֶר | baneter | HRd/Ncmsa |
with lye | with effervescent natron | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5427-01 |
Jeremiah 2:22 | בַּ/נֶּ֔תֶר | baneter | HRd/Ncmsa |
with lye | with effervescent natron |
H5427-02 |
Proverbs 25:20 | נָ֑תֶר | nater | HNcmsa |
niter | effervescent natron |