עִירוּ
i.ru
Iru
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Supported# Analysis of עִירוּ (Iru) Based on the lexicon data provided, עִירוּ (iru) appears only once in the biblical text, making it an extremely rare term in Hebrew Scripture. With a single occurrence, the word offers limited evidence for establishing a broad semantic range or typical usage patterns. The designation as a proper noun (likely a personal name, given the form) suggests it functioned as an identifier rather than as a common word carrying multiple conceptual meanings. The rarity of this term presents a significant analytical challenge. A single occurrence provides minimal context for understanding nuanced meaning or determining whether the word held specialized significance in ancient Hebrew culture. Without additional occurrences to compare or lexical parallels, conclusions about its precise meaning and importance must remain cautious and confined strictly to what the single instance reveals. For biblical scholarship and translation work, terms appearing only once require particular care, as they cannot be contextualized through repeated usage patterns. The presence of עִירוּ in the biblical record indicates it was meaningful enough to preserve in the text, but its singularity limits what can be definitively stated about its linguistic or theological significance beyond its immediate contextual appearance.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence across the text