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אִמֵּר

𐤀𐤌𐤓

Imer

H564 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אמר to speak, say, utter

Definition

Proper name designating both a priestly clan and individual descendants within that lineage; specifically refers to members of a certain division of priests in the biblical record, and also used as a personal name for several Israelites. The primary meaning is as a clan or household name, not a descriptive or common noun. In narrative and genealogical contexts, indicates descendants of a common ancestor, typically serving priestly functions during the First Temple and early Second Temple periods. The word does not function as an adjective or common noun in the Hebrew Bible.

Semantic Range

priestly clan name, descendant of Immer, personal name of Israelite individuals, name of a priestly course; never a common noun or descriptive term

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root אָמַר (ʾ-m-r), meaning 'to speak, say;' however, the relationship between the root and the proper name אִמֵּר is uncertain, as the name functions as a proper noun with no clear semantic connection to the root's primary meanings. It may represent a shortened form of a theophoric or other personal name, or could be a clan eponym derived from an ancestor.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the biblical text, אִמֵּר (Immēr) is important primarily as a priestly family. Members of this group are listed among the priestly courses (1 Chronicles 24:14), as residents of Jerusalem after the exile (Nehemiah 7:40; Ezra 2:37), and some are found in records of those returning from Babylonian exile. The name is also applied to individuals, e.g., a leader of the priestly gatekeepers (Jeremiah 20:1). English Bibles typically render it as 'Immer,' following the transliteration. The association of the name with the root 'to speak, be talkative' is possibly a later popular etymology and is not supported by contextual usage. The family of Immer continued to have significance in Second Temple times. The word has no descriptive or common noun usage and is found only in genealogical and prosopographical contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָמַר; talkative; Immer, the name of five Israelites; Immer.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אמר (ʾ-m-r) — to speak, say, utter

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H201 אוֹמָר Omar
H3982 מַאֲמַר authoritative declaration of
H3983 מֵאמַר according to decree-of
H534 אָמִיר prominent summit
H559 אָמַר he said

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H564-01 אִמֵּ֣ר imer HNp Immer Immer 8
H564-02 לְ/אִמֵּ֖ר leimer HR/Np to Immer to Immer 1
H564-03 וְ/אִמֵּ֑ר veimer HC/Np and Immer and Immer 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H564-01 Jeremiah 20:1 אִמֵּ֣ר imer HNp Immer Immer
H564-01 Ezra 2:37 אִמֵּ֔ר imer HNp Immer Immer
H564-01 Ezra 2:59 אִמֵּ֑ר imer HNp Immer Immer
H564-01 Ezra 10:20 אִמֵּ֔ר imer HNp Immer Immer
H564-01 Nehemiah 3:29 אִמֵּ֖ר imer HNp Immer Immer
H564-01 Nehemiah 7:40 אִמֵּ֔ר imer HNp Immer Immer
H564-03 Nehemiah 7:61 וְ/אִמֵּ֑ר veimer HC/Np and Immer and Immer
H564-01 Nehemiah 11:13 אִמֵּֽר imer HNp Immer Immer
H564-01 1 Chronicles 9:12 אִמֵּֽר imer HNp Immer Immer
H564-02 1 Chronicles 24:14 לְ/אִמֵּ֖ר leimer HR/Np to Immer to Immer
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