Original Word: נִיר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: niyr
Pronunciation: neer
Phonetic Spelling: (neer)
Definition: Fallow ground, freshly plowed field
Meaning: plowing, freshly plowed land

fallow ground, plowing, tillage

Or nir {neer}; from niyr; properly, plowing, i.e. (concretely) freshly plowed land -- fallow ground, plowing, tillage.

see HEBREW niyr

II. נִיר noun [masculine] the tillable, untilled or fallow ground; — ׳נ absolute as accusative of congnate meaning with verb נִירוּ לָכֶם נִ֑יר Hosea 10:12; Jeremiah 4:3 till you the untilled ground (figurative of unaccustomed moral action); construct only רָבאֹֿכֶל נִיר רָאשִׁים Proverbs 13:23 abundant food (yields) the fallow ground of poor men (i.e. with ׳יs blessing). — I. נִיר see נור. p. 632f

II. ניר (√ of following; compare Late Hebrew נִיר, Arabic Syriac (in Lexicons), all = the system of heddles or 'apparatus [of small cords with loops, or eyes] by which the threads of the warp are raised and lowered to make an opening for the passing of the woof' GFM^{PAOS Oct. 1889, clxxix. f.}; compare Assyrian nîru, Syriac , yoke).

Word Origin: Derived from the root נוּר (nur), which is related to the concept of breaking up or tilling the ground.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • Strong's Greek Number 722 (ἄροτρον, arotron): Refers to a plow, an agricultural implement used for tilling the soil.
• Strong's Greek Number 724 (ἀροτριάω, arotriaō): To plow, to till the ground, used metaphorically in the New Testament to describe spiritual labor or preparation.

These Greek terms capture similar agricultural and metaphorical themes as the Hebrew נִיר, emphasizing the importance of preparation and readiness in both physical and spiritual contexts.

Usage: The word נִיר is used in the context of agriculture, specifically referring to the process of plowing or the condition of land that has been prepared for sowing seeds. It is often used metaphorically in the Bible to describe preparation or readiness for a new beginning or transformation.

Context: The Hebrew term נִיר (Nir) appears in the Old Testament to describe the agricultural practice of plowing, which is essential for preparing the soil for planting crops. This process involves turning over the soil to aerate it and incorporate organic material, making it more fertile and ready for seed sowing. In the ancient Near Eastern context, plowing was a critical step in the agricultural cycle, ensuring that the land could produce a bountiful harvest.

In the Bible, נִיר is used both literally and metaphorically. Literally, it refers to the physical act of plowing the land, as seen in various agricultural laws and practices. Metaphorically, it is used to symbolize spiritual preparation and renewal. For example, in Jeremiah 4:3 (BSB), the prophet uses the imagery of plowing to call the people to repentance and spiritual renewal: "For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: 'Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among thorns.'"

The concept of plowing is also linked to themes of judgment and restoration. Just as plowing prepares the land for new growth, spiritual plowing prepares the heart for receiving God's word and experiencing transformation.

נִ֑יר נִ֖ר נִ֣יר ניר נר nir nîrInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts