Lexical Summary nir: break Original Word: נִיר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance break up A root probably identical with that of niyr, through the idea of the gleam of a fresh furrow; to till the soil -- break up. see HEBREW niyr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to break up, freshly till NASB Translation break (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [נִיר] verb break up, freshly till; — Qal Imperative masculine plural נִ֫ירוּ, with accusative of congnate meaning with verb נִיר Hosea 10:12; Jeremiah 4:3. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imagery of נִיר (Nir) The term depicts land that has been freshly plowed or deliberately left fallow. Visually, it is soil broken open, exposed to sun and rain, ready to receive seed. Spiritually, it becomes a vivid metaphor for the human heart made receptive to the word of God after the hard crust of sin and complacency has been shattered. Occurrences in Scripture • Jeremiah 4:3 – “Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns.” Historical and Agricultural Background In ancient Israel, farmers sometimes left a field uncultivated for a season so that nutrients could replenish. Before planting resumed, the hardened surface had to be plowed—often with wooden or iron-tipped plowshares drawn by oxen. Breaking the crust was essential; otherwise seed would never penetrate, moisture would not be retained, and crops would fail. Prophets could assume every listener knew this routine, making the image of נִיר an ideal vehicle for calling the nation to repentance. Prophetic Applications Jeremiah preached to Judah during looming judgment; Hosea addressed the northern kingdom in a time of moral collapse. Both employed נִיר to urge personal and corporate repentance: plow up spiritual apathy, discard thorns of idolatry, then sow righteousness. The prophets link action (“break up”) with timing (“it is time to seek the LORD”) and promise (“until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain”), showing that divine blessing follows genuine heart-work. Theological and Spiritual Themes 1. Preparation precedes fruitfulness. Just as seed cannot germinate in unbroken ground, grace does not flourish in an unyielding heart (compare Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23). Practical Ministry Implications • Preaching and teaching: Use the image of נִיר to illustrate why confession and surrender must precede revival. Related Biblical Motifs • Plowing imagery: Luke 9:62; 1 Kings 19:19-21. Summary נִיר offers more than an agricultural snapshot; it is a divine summons to expose and soften every hardened place of the soul. When believers heed the prophetic call to “break up your fallow ground,” the Lord meets prepared hearts with an abundant harvest of righteousness and covenant love. Forms and Transliterations נִ֥ירוּ נירו nî·rū Niru nîrūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 4:3 HEB: יְהוּדָה֙ וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם נִ֥ירוּ לָכֶ֖ם נִ֑יר NAS: and to Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, KJV: and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, INT: of Judah Jerusalem Break your fallow not Hosea 10:12 2 Occurrences |
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