Lexical Summary nether: Natron, lye, alkali Original Word: נֶתֶר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance nitre From nathar; mineral potash (so called from effervescing with acid) -- nitre. see HEBREW nathar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nathar Definition natron or carbonate of soda NASB Translation lye (1), soda (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs נֶ֫תֶר noun [masculine] natron, or carbonate of soda, a mineral alkali (Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; Aramaic נִתְרָא, ![]() Topical Lexicon Overview of נֶתֶר in Scripture The term refers to a naturally occurring alkaline substance commonly employed in the ancient world for laundering, medicinal cleansing, and certain industrial processes. In both of its biblical appearances it functions figuratively, leveraging the cultural familiarity of an effective cleansing agent to communicate moral or relational truths. Occurrences and Immediate Literary Context • Proverbs 25:20 compares an ill-timed act of cheer to “vinegar poured on soda,” highlighting how an incompatible combination neutralizes the desired effect—an image sharpened by the effervescent reaction everyone in Solomon’s audience would have recognized. Historical and Material Culture Archaeological chemistry confirms that natron beds along the Dead Sea and Wadi Natrun in Egypt produced an alkaline compound prized for scouring cloth, treating wounds, and preparing corpses for mummification. Merchants transported the mineral throughout the Levant, making it a staple of everyday life in Israelite households. Its familiar fizzing action when mixed with an acid made it a vivid pedagogical tool for sages and prophets. Symbolic and Theological Significance 1. Inefficacy of Human Effort. Jeremiah’s imagery exposes the futility of ritual or moral self-improvement apart from divine forgiveness (compare Isaiah 64:6; Titus 3:5). Intertestamental and New Testament Echoes While the specific mineral is not named in the New Testament, its theological trajectory continues: John the Baptist calls for repentance symbolized by baptismal washing (Matthew 3:11); Jesus offers living water that purifies from within (John 4:14); and Paul speaks of believers “washed, sanctified, and justified” (1 Corinthians 6:11). The ineffective lye of Jeremiah stands in deliberate tension with the efficacious blood of Christ (Hebrews 10:22). Pastoral and Homiletical Applications • Counselors can draw on Proverbs 25:20 when teaching empathy, reminding congregants to match comfort to circumstance. Further Study Suggestions Compare the cleansing motifs of Psalm 51:2, Isaiah 1:16-18, and Revelation 7:14; examine ancient Egyptian texts on natron usage; explore Second Temple literature on ritual purity to appreciate how prophetic critiques laid groundwork for New Testament soteriology. Forms and Transliterations בַּנֶּ֔תֶר בנתר נָ֑תֶר נתר ban·ne·ṯer banNeter banneṯer nā·ṯer Nater nāṯerLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Proverbs 25:20 HEB: חֹ֣מֶץ עַל־ נָ֑תֶר וְשָׁ֥ר בַּ֝שִּׁרִ֗ים NAS: [or like] vinegar on soda, Is he who sings KJV: [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so [is] he that singeth INT: vinegar on soda sings songs Jeremiah 2:22 2 Occurrences |