נִמְרִים
Nimrim, a place East of the Jordan
Definition
Nimrim refers to a geographical location east of the Jordan River, known for its waters. The name itself means 'clear waters' or 'leopards,' and the context in the prophetic books suggests it was a place of fertility and abundance that became desolate. In Isaiah 15:6 and Jeremiah 48:34, the prophets pronounce judgment against Moab, declaring that the waters of Nimrim will be utterly desolated, symbolizing the comprehensive nature of God's coming judgment on the region.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively in prophetic oracles of judgment against the nation of Moab. It appears twice: in Isaiah 15:6 and Jeremiah 48:34. In both instances, the 'waters of Nimrim' are cited as becoming a desolation, a vivid image for the total ruin that will befall Moab's fertile lands. The usage is poetic and symbolic, using a specific, presumably well-known, lush location to represent the totality of the coming devastation.
Etymology
The name נִמְרִים (Nimrîym) is the plural form of a word related to נִמְרָה (Nimrâh, H5247), which means 'leopard' or 'clear water.' It is derived from the root נ־מ־ר (n-m-r), associated with spotting or dappling (like a leopard's coat) and by extension, clear, sparkling water. Thus, the place name likely describes either clear springs or a location associated with leopards. It is also compared to בֵּית נִמְרָה (Beth-Nimrah, H1039), another location with a similar name.
Semantic Range
The mention of Nimrim in prophecy underscores the theme of God's sovereignty in judgment over all nations, not just Israel. The desolation of its life-giving waters serves as a powerful metaphor for divine reversal: God can turn abundance into barrenness as a consequence of pride and opposition to His purposes (as seen in the oracles against Moab). Understanding this place name enriches reading by highlighting how the prophets used specific, tangible geography to communicate the severity and certainty of God's word.
In the ancient Near East, reliable water sources were synonymous with life, prosperity, and security. A place known for its 'clear waters' would have been a vital and prized asset for agriculture and settlement. For the original audience, the prophecy that the waters of Nimrim would become a desolation signaled not just military defeat, but a fundamental undoing of the natural order and economic foundation of Moab, representing total catastrophe.
נִמְרָה (Nimrâh, H5247) — The singular form, a related place name meaning 'leopard' or 'clear water'. בֵּית נִמְרָה (Beth-Nimrah, H1039) — 'House of Nimrah,' a fortified city in Gad, sharing the same etymological root.
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.
Full methodology & sources →