עֵרִי
𐤏𐤓𐤉
Eri
H6179 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Eri (עֵרִי) is a personal name, meaning 'watchful' or 'one who is vigilant.' The term is used exclusively as a proper noun to refer to a son of Gad and ancestor of the Erite clan, emphasizing a characteristic trait associated with the root's core sense of wakefulness or vigilance.
Semantic Range
proper name of a person, epithet designating vigilance or wakefulness (by root sense); does not function as a common noun or adjective in biblical contexts
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root עוּר (ʿ-w-r), meaning 'to be awake, watchful, alert.' The form עֵרִי is constructed to function as a masculine personal name, likely conveying the attribute of watchfulness or vigilance. The suffix -ִי (-i) may serve as a personalizing or gentilic ending.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עֵרִי appears only in genealogical contexts (Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:16), where it designates a descendant of Gad, specifically the progenitor of the clan called Erites (עֵרִי Numbers 26:16). It is not used as a common noun, nor does it carry the later religious or geographic identities associated with Judeans or Israelites; it simply marks a lineage within the Gadite tribe. The name likely reflects a desirable quality (vigilance) rather than serving as a general term for 'watchful person.' Later English versions transliterate the name as 'Eri,' which accurately reflects its function as a personal name, though the underlying root points to a quality or ideal valued in personal names of the period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עוּר; watchful; Eri, an Israelite; Eri.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עור (ʿ-w-r) — to be awake, to stir, to watch, to arouse
| 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
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6179-01 |
עֵרִ֥י | eri | HNp |
Eri | Watchful-one | 1 |
H6179-02 |
לְ/עֵרִ֕י | leeri | HR/Np |
of Eri | to Watchful-one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6179-01 |
Genesis 46:16 | עֵרִ֥י | eri | HNp |
Eri | Watchful-one |
H6179-02 |
Numbers 26:16 | לְ/עֵרִ֕י | leeri | HR/Np |
of Eri | to Watchful-one |