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אֲמַר

𐤀𐤌𐤓

ʼămar

H560 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

(Aramaic) To say, speak, declare, express, utter verbally; to command or instruct in speech. Primarily denotes the act of verbal communication, either direct or reported, with applications both to ordinary speaking and to official proclamation or instruction. Context may emphasize the act of stating, requesting, commanding, or narrating.

Semantic Range

to say, to speak, to utter, to declare, to proclaim, to command, to instruct, to tell, to express

Root / Etymology

Aramaic verb corresponding to the Hebrew root א-מ-ר, which means 'to say, speak'. Derived directly from the same Semitic root, but reflects normal phonological and morphological features of Aramaic verbal forms. See especially the Pe‘al stem usage in Imperial and Official Aramaic as seen in biblical texts.

Historical & Contextual Notes

As a basic verb of speech, אֲמַר is used throughout the Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible (notably Daniel and Ezra) to introduce direct and indirect quotations, narrative speech, official pronouncements, and instructions. It functions analogously to Hebrew אָמַר, though phonologically Aramaic. The word appears across various dialects of Aramaic and is the standard verb for 'to say' in those contexts, used for both common speech and the declarations of rulers or officials. In official documents and royal proclamations, it may be closely associated with decrees or responses. The semantic scope of אֲמַר is somewhat broader than the typical English 'say,' also encompassing 'proclaim' or 'declare' in certain formulaic contexts. English translations sometimes render it as 'command' when the verb carries imperatival force, though the basic meaning remains 'to speak' or 'to say.' Later translations (including those in the KJV tradition) often supply additional terms for clarity, which can over-specify the context; in the Aramaic narrative, אֲמַר simply marks speech or verbal assertion. There is no significant shift in meaning between the pre-exilic and exilic periods within biblical Aramaic usage, though extra-biblical inscriptions occasionally show specific administrative or judicial nuances.

Translation Consistency

primary "say" 45 occurrences

'Say' best fits the primary and most common use of H560 (Aramaic אֲמַר): simple verbal utterance or reporting of speech. It matches the overwhelming frequency of 'said' in the corpus, is natural English for both direct and reported speech, and is flexible enough to cover declarations, commands, and instructions without requiring an object (unlike 'tell') or sounding overly formal (as 'declare' or 'proclaim' would). Using 'say' yields consistent, idiomatic renderings across all forms.

Alternatives (5 occurrences):
"tell" (2x) "commanded" (1x) "speak" (1x) "declare" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to אָמַר; {to say (used with great latitude)}; command, declare, say, speak, tell.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

אמר (Omar) — to say, speak, declare

Root אמר to say, to speak, to declare
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H201 אוֹמָר Omar
H3982 מַאֲמַר authoritative declaration of
H534 אָמִיר prominent summit
H559 אָמַר he said
H561 אֵמֶר my utterances

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H560-13 וְ/אָמַ֣ר veamar AC/Vqrmsa and said and he said and he said 24
H560-01 אֲמַר amar AVqrmsa said he said he said 13
H560-14 וְ/אָמְרִ֑ין veamerin AC/Vqrmpa and saying and speaking ones and said 8
H560-05 אָֽמְרִין֙ amerin AVqrmpa they were saying the ones speaking the ones saying 6
H560-11 וַ/אֲמַר֙ vaamar AC/Vqp3ms and he said and he said and he said 4
H560-06 אֱמַ֥ר emar AVqv2ms tell Say! Say! 3
H560-02 אֲמַ֣רְנָא amarena AVqp1cp we said we said we said 2
H560-08 לְ/מֵאמַ֣ר lememar AR/Vqc to say to say to say 2
H560-16 יֵאמַ֥ר yemar AVqi3ms speaks he will say let him say 2
H560-03 אֲמַ֗רוּ amaru AVqp3mp they-said they said they said 1

Occurrences in Scripture

71 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H560-10 Jeremiah 10:11 תֵּאמְר֣וּן temerun AVqi2mp you shall say you will say you will say
H560-06 Daniel 2:4 אֱמַ֥ר emar AVqv2ms tell Say! Say!
H560-13 Daniel 2:5 וְ/אָמַ֣ר veamar AC/Vqrmsa and said and he said and he said
H560-14 Daniel 2:7 וְ/אָמְרִ֑ין veamerin AC/Vqrmpa and said and speaking ones and said
H560-16 Daniel 2:7 יֵאמַ֥ר yemar AVqi3ms tell he will say let him say
H560-13 Daniel 2:8 וְ/אָמַ֔ר veamar AC/Vqrmsa and said and he said and he said
H560-08 Daniel 2:9 לְ/מֵאמַ֣ר lememar AR/Vqc to say to say to say
H560-07 Daniel 2:9 אֱמַ֣רוּ emaru AVqv2mp tell Speak, you men! tell
H560-14 Daniel 2:10 וְ/אָ֣מְרִ֔ין veamerin AC/Vqrmpa and saying and speaking ones and said
H560-11 Daniel 2:12 וַ/אֲמַר֙ vaamar AC/Vqp3ms and commanded and he said and he said
H560-13 Daniel 2:15 וְ/אָמַ֗ר veamar AC/Vqrmsa and said and he said and he said
H560-13 Daniel 2:20 וְ/אָמַ֔ר veamar AC/Vqrmsa and said and he said and he said
H560-01 Daniel 2:24 אֲמַר amar AVqrmsa he-said he said he said
H560-01 Daniel 2:25 אֲמַר amar AVqp3ms he-said he said he said
H560-13 Daniel 2:26 וְ/אָמַ֣ר veamar AC/Vqrmsa and said and he said and he said
H560-13 Daniel 2:27 וְ/אָמַ֑ר veamar AC/Vqrmsa and said and he said and he said
H560-09 Daniel 2:36 נֵאמַ֥ר nemar AVqi1cp we will tell we will say we will tell
H560-01 Daniel 2:46 אֲמַ֖ר amar AVqp3ms commanded he said he said
H560-13 Daniel 2:47 וְ/אָמַ֗ר veamar AC/Vqrmsa and said and he said and he said
H560-05 Daniel 3:4 אָֽמְרִין֙ amerin AVqrmpa is-given the ones speaking the ones saying
H560-14 Daniel 3:9 וְ/אָ֣מְרִ֔ין veamerin AC/Vqrmpa and saying and speaking ones and said
H560-01 Daniel 3:13 אֲמַר֙ amar AVqp3ms said he said he said
H560-13 Daniel 3:14 וְ/אָמַ֣ר veamar AC/Vqrmsa and-said and he said and he said
H560-14 Daniel 3:16 וְ/אָמְרִ֖ין veamerin AC/Vqrmpa and-saying and speaking ones and saying ones
H560-13 Daniel 3:19 וְ/אָמַר֙ veamar AC/Vqrmsa and said and he said and he said
H560-01 Daniel 3:20 אֲמַר֙ amar AVqp3ms he commanded he said he commanded
H560-13 Daniel 3:24 וְ/אָמַ֜ר veamar AC/Vqrmsa and said and he said and he said
H560-14 Daniel 3:24 וְ/אָמְרִין֙ veamerin AC/Vqrmpa and said and speaking ones and said
H560-13 Daniel 3:25 וְ/אָמַ֗ר veamar AC/Vqrmsa and said and he said and he said
H560-13 Daniel 3:26 וְ/אָמַ֗ר veamar AC/Vqrmsa and said and he said and he said
H560-13 Daniel 3:28 וְ/אָמַ֗ר veamar AC/Vqrmsa and said and he said and he said
H560-16 Daniel 3:29 יֵאמַ֤ר yemar AVqi3ms speaks he will say will speak
H560-01 Daniel 4:4 אָמַ֤ר amar AVqrmsa I told he said he said
H560-04 Daniel 4:5 אַמְרֵֽת ameret AVqp1cs I told I said I said
H560-06 Daniel 4:6 אֱמַֽר emar AVqv2ms declare Say! declare
H560-01 Daniel 4:11 אָמַ֗ר amar AVqrmsa he-said he said he said
H560-06 Daniel 4:15 אֱמַ֗ר emar AVqv2ms tell Say! Say!
H560-13 Daniel 4:16 וְ/אָמַ֗ר veamar AC/Vqrmsa and-said and he said and he said
H560-13 Daniel 4:16 וְ/אָמַ֔ר veamar-2 AC/Vqrmsa and-said and he said and he said
H560-13 Daniel 4:20 וְ/אָמַר֩ veamar AC/Vqrmsa and-saying and he said and he said
H560-03 Daniel 4:23 אֲמַ֗רוּ amaru AVqp3mp they-said they said they said
H560-13 Daniel 4:27 וְ/אָמַ֔ר veamar AC/Vqrmsa and said and he said and he said
H560-05 Daniel 4:28 אָֽמְרִין֙ amerin AVqrmpa they are saying the ones speaking they are saying
H560-15 Daniel 4:32 וְ/יֵ֥אמַר veyemar AC/Vqi3ms or say and he will say and he will say
H560-01 Daniel 5:2 אֲמַ֣ר amar AVqp3ms said he said he said
H560-13 Daniel 5:7 וְ/אָמַ֣ר veamar AC/Vqrmsa and said and he said and he said
H560-12 Daniel 5:10 וַ/אֲמֶ֗רֶת vaameret AC/Vqp3fs and said and she said and she said
H560-13 Daniel 5:13 וְ/אָמַ֣ר veamar AC/Vqrmsa and said and he said and he said
H560-13 Daniel 5:17 וְ/אָמַר֙ veamar AC/Vqrmsa and said and he said and he said
H560-01 Daniel 5:29 אֲמַ֣ר amar AVqp3ms said he said he said
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