יִמְרָה
Jimrah, an Israelite
Definition
Yimrâh is a proper noun referring to an Israelite man from the tribe of Asher, mentioned only once in the Bible. He is listed as a son of Zophah in a genealogical record of the tribe of Asher (1 Chronicles 7:36). The name itself is likely derived from the Hebrew root יָמַר (yāmar), meaning 'to exchange' or 'to barter,' possibly suggesting a meaning like 'he exchanges' or 'interchange.' As a personal name, it serves primarily to identify an individual within a family lineage, with no other narrative or descriptive details provided in Scripture.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in a genealogical context. It appears in 1 Chronicles 7:36 within a list of the descendants of Asher, specifically as one of the sons of Zophah. Its usage is purely for familial identification within a tribal genealogy, with no narrative action or descriptive context attached to the individual.
Etymology
The name Yimrâh (יִמְרָה) is likely derived from the Hebrew root יָמַר (yāmar, H3235), which means 'to exchange' or 'to barter.' It is probably a noun form related to this verb, possibly carrying a sense like 'interchange' or 'exchange.' This connection suggests the name may have originally described a characteristic or hope associated with the individual, such as prosperity in trade or a symbolic change in fortune.
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, personal names often carried meaning, derived from verbs, nouns, or divine names, reflecting circumstances of birth, parental hopes, or character traits. Yimrâh, meaning something like 'exchange,' fits this pattern. Its appearance in a genealogy underscores the importance of tribal and familial lineage for identity, inheritance rights, and the preservation of the covenant community. For modern readers, such a name highlights how even minor figures in lists contributed to the collective story of God's people.
Zophah (Tsôphach, H6690) — Yimrâh's father, another individual in the same Asherite genealogy. Suah (Sûach, H5477) — A brother of Yimrâh listed in 1 Chronicles 7:36.
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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