What does נִיר (nir) mean in the Bible?
נִיר (nir): Breaking/turning soil; foundational agricultural labor that opens earth for fertility and growth
Hebrew · H5214
נִיר
To till the soil
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נִירH5214
Pronunciationnir
What does נִיר (nir) mean in the Bible?
נִיר (nir): Breaking/turning soil; foundational agricultural labor that opens earth for fertility and growth
Full entry for נִיר (H5214) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5214?
The BSB source-word alignment has 2 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include Break up (2).
Where does נִיר (nir) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Jeremiah 4:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Hosea (1), Jeremiah (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItBreak up2×Jeremiah 4:3, Hosea 10:12
Show sample aligned rows
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowJeremiah 4:3
Aligned rows2
Books represented2
Jeremiah1Hosea1
Source forms
נִ֥ירוּ2xnî·rūJeremiah 4:3, Hosea 10:12
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural2xJeremiah 4:3, Hosea 10:12
Evidence Summary
Creation
Hebrew word. Breaking/turning soil; foundational agricultural labor that opens earth for fertility and growth
Strong'sH5214
Lexical occurrences2 versesWord forms1 form2 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkHosea 10:9-15Source Gloss
to till the soil
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Breaking/turning soil; foundational agricultural labor that opens earth for fertility and growth
to till the soil BDB: break up Usage: break up.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms2
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense2×
Sequential imperfectHos 10:12 · Jer 4:32×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
fallow ground
Showing 1 selected witness from 2 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
נִיר is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Image of hardened heart requiring repentance.Hosea 10:9-15
Canonical Themes
Creation