אִטֵּר
shut up, i.e. impeded (as to the use of the right hand)
Definition
The Hebrew noun אִטֵּר (ʼiṭṭêr) describes a person who is 'shut up' or 'impeded' in the use of their right hand, essentially meaning left-handed or ambidextrous. In its two biblical occurrences, it refers to skilled warriors who use their left hand with great proficiency. In Judges 3:15, Ehud the judge is described this way, which becomes a key tactical advantage. In Judges 20:16, it describes 700 elite Benjamite slingers who could use a sling with their left hand to strike a target precisely.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the book of Judges to describe military specialists. It appears in two contexts: first for the individual judge and deliverer Ehud (Judges 3:15), and second for a large, elite unit of Benjaminite soldiers (Judges 20:16). In both cases, the 'impeded' right hand is not a disability but a notable and effective characteristic of a warrior.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb אָטַר (ʼāṭar, H332), meaning 'to shut' or 'to close.' The noun form אִטֵּר thus carries the sense of being 'shut up' or 'restricted' in the use of the right hand. This is a physical description, not necessarily implying a permanent injury, but a trained or natural preference.
Semantic Range
This word highlights God's use of unexpected traits and people to accomplish His purposes. Ehud's left-handedness, a potential cultural oddity, becomes the very means God uses to deliver Israel from oppression (Judges 3:15-30). It serves as a reminder that God's strength is often perfected in what the world might perceive as a weakness or irregularity, choosing the unlikely to confound the strong.
In the ancient Near East, the right hand was typically associated with strength, skill, and blessing (e.g., the 'right hand of power'). Being 'impeded' in the right hand could be seen as a disadvantage. However, the biblical narratives subvert this expectation, showing that left-handed warriors could possess exceptional, even elite, skill, turning a potential cultural liability into a formidable military asset.
שׂמאול (śemʼôl, H8040) — This is the common Hebrew word for 'left' or 'left hand,' denoting direction or side, whereas אִטֵּר specifically describes a person characterized by the use of that hand.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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