עַיִר
𐤏𐤉𐤓
ʻayir
H5895 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A young male donkey, especially one of less than full maturity; specifically, a colt or foal of a donkey. The term is used most often in reference to beasts of burden that are not yet mature, sometimes distinguished by their untamed or unbroken status. Rarely, the term may extend metaphorically to connote youthful vigor or inexperience, but its primary lexical meaning is zoological.
Semantic Range
young male donkey, colt, foal, untamed or unbroken donkey
Root / Etymology
Root/Etymology: Derived from the root עוּר (ʿ-w-r), which fundamentally means 'to rouse, stir up, awaken.' The form עַיִר likely develops from this root as 'one roused up,' i.e., an energetic or unbroken young animal. This semantic derivation is based on the sense of active movement or awakening, fitting the untamed or vigorous nature of a young donkey. The precise connection between the root and the animal word is customary in Semitic languages, where terms for young animals are frequently derived from roots denoting movement or vitality.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Historical & Contextual Notes: In Israelite society, the donkey (חֲמוֹר) was a key beast of burden, vital for transportation and agricultural work. The term עַיִר is specifically used for a young male donkey that has not yet reached maturity or full domestication. This is distinct from other terms, such as פֶּרֶד (mule) or עֲרוֹד (wild ass). Biblical references to עַיִר often emphasize the animal's untamed or inexperienced nature, such as in poetic passages (Genesis 49:11; Job 11:12), where the vitality or stubbornness of youth is metaphorically drawn upon. In certain texts, parallelism may contrast עַיִר with mature donkeys or other domesticated species, highlighting the difference between unbroken and experienced beasts of burden. While many English translations render the word as 'colt' or 'foal,' the specific zoological species and state of domestication is contextually significant in the Hebrew Bible. The word does not carry religious or cultic significance and is not used for later religious or ethnic identities. No direct evidence shows semantic expansion or significant shift over time; however, later Jewish interpretive tradition and some translations use 'foal' or 'colt' in messianic contexts, but these are not present in original Israelite usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עוּר in the sense of raising (i.e. bearing a burden); properly, a young ass (as just broken to a load); hence an ass-colt; (ass) colt, foal, young ass.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עור (ʿ-w-r) — to rouse, awaken, stir up
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H216 | אוֹר | in the skin |
| H219 | אוֹרָה | skins of |
| H4589 | מָעוֹר | their exposed genitals |
| H5782 | עוּר | Let me rouse up |
| H5783 | עוּר | she will be roused |
Word Forms
7 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5895-01 |
עֲיָרִ֔ים | ayarim | HNcmpa |
cities | young male donkeys | 4 |
H5895-07 |
עיר/ה | yrh | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his foal | his young male donkey | 1 |
H5895-03 |
עִיר֔/וֹ | iro | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his foal | his city | 1 |
H5895-02 |
עַ֖יִר | ayir | HNcmsa |
a colt | unbroken young donkey | 1 |
H5895-05 |
וְ/עַ֥יִר | veayir | HC/Ncmsc |
and colt | young male donkey of | 1 |
H5895-04 |
וַ/עְיָרִ֖ם | vaeyarim | HC/Ncmpa |
and foals | young donkey colts | 1 |
H5895-06 |
וְ/הָ/עֲיָרִ֗ים | vehaayarim | HC/Td/Ncmpa |
and-the-young-donkeys | the young male donkeys | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5895-04 |
Genesis 32:16 | וַ/עְיָרִ֖ם | vaeyarim | HC/Ncmpa |
and foals | young donkey colts |
H5895-07 |
Genesis 49:11 | עיר/ה | yrh | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his foal | his young male donkey |
H5895-03 |
Genesis 49:11 | עִיר֔/וֹ | iro | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his foal | his city |
H5895-01 |
Judges 10:4 | עֲיָרִ֔ים | ayarim | HNcmpa |
donkeys | young male donkeys |
H5895-01 |
Judges 10:4 | עֲיָרִ֖ים | ayarim-2 | HNcmpa |
cities | young male donkeys |
H5895-01 |
Judges 12:14 | עֲיָרִ֑ם | ayarim | HNcmpa |
donkey colts | young male donkeys |
H5895-01 |
Isaiah 30:6 | עֲיָרִ֜ים | ayarim | HNcmpa |
of young donkeys | young male donkeys |
H5895-06 |
Isaiah 30:24 | וְ/הָ/עֲיָרִ֗ים | vehaayarim | HC/Td/Ncmpa |
and-the-young-donkeys | the young male donkeys |
H5895-02 |
Zechariah 9:9 | עַ֖יִר | ayir | HNcmsa |
a colt | unbroken young donkey |
H5895-05 |
Job 11:12 | וְ/עַ֥יִר | veayir | HC/Ncmsc |
and colt | young male donkey of |