5895. ayir

Lexicon

ayir: Young donkey, colt

Original Word: עַיִר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: `ayir
Pronunciation: ah-yeer
Phonetic Spelling: (ah'-yeer)
Definition: Young donkey, colt
Meaning: a young donkey, a colt of a donkey

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

colt, foal, young donkey

From uwr in the sense of raising (i.e. Bearing a burden); properly, a young ass (as just broken to a load); hence an ass-colt -- (ass) colt, foal, young ass.

see HEBREW uwr

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
a male donkey
NASB Translation
colt (1), donkeys (3), foal (2), male donkeys (1), young donkeys (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

עַ֫יִר noun masculine^{Gen 32:16} male ass (young and vigorous); — plural וַעְיָרִם Genesis 32:16 (E); suffix עִירֹה Genesis 49:11 (poem; "" בְּנִי אֲתֹנוֺ); construct עַיִר מֶּרֶא (Ges^{§ 131c} N. 2; or appositive Kö^{Synt. § 333 s} Di and others) Job 11:12 wild ass's colt; plural עֲיָרִים, for riding Judges 10:4a (Judges 10:4b see עִיר), עֲיָרִם), Judges 12:14, singular absolute עַיִר Zechariah 9:9; עֲיָרִים for carrying Isaiah 30:6 Qr (Kt עורים), עֲיָרִם for tillage Isaiah 30:24.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root עוּר (ur), meaning "to rouse" or "to stir."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G3688: ὄνος (onos) • A donkey or ass.
• G4454: πῶλος (polos) • A colt or young animal, often used in the New Testament to refer to the young donkey on which Jesus rode into Jerusalem.

These Greek terms are used in the New Testament to convey similar themes of humility and peace, particularly in the context of Jesus' triumphal entry, aligning with the prophetic imagery found in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Usage: The term עַיִר is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to a young donkey or colt. It is often used in contexts that emphasize the humility or lowliness of the animal, sometimes in contrast to more noble animals like horses.

Context: The Hebrew word עַיִר (ayir) appears in several Old Testament passages, often symbolizing humility, peace, and service. In the ancient Near Eastern context, donkeys were common beasts of burden, valued for their strength and endurance. Unlike horses, which were associated with war and power, donkeys were seen as humble and unassuming.

In Genesis 49:11, Jacob's blessing over Judah includes a reference to binding his foal to the vine, indicating prosperity and abundance. In Judges 10:4 and 12:14, the sons of Jair and Abdon are noted for riding on donkeys, signifying their status and wealth.

The prophetic significance of עַיִר is highlighted in Zechariah 9:9, where the coming king is described as "righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." This prophecy is fulfilled in the New Testament when Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey, as recorded in the Gospels, symbolizing His peaceful and humble kingship.

The use of עַיִר in these contexts underscores themes of humility, service, and the subversion of worldly expectations of power and majesty.

Forms and Transliterations

וְהָעֲיָרִ֗ים וְעַ֥יִר וַעְיָרִ֖ם והעירים ועיר ועירם עֲיָרִ֑ם עֲיָרִ֔ים עֲיָרִ֖ים עֲיָרִ֜ים עִירֹ֔ו עַ֖יִר עיר עירו עירים עירם ‘ă·yā·rim ‘ă·yā·rîm ‘a·yir ‘ăyārim ‘ăyārîm ‘ayir ‘î·rōw ‘îrōw ayaRim Ayir iRo vayaRim veAyir vehaayaRim wa‘·yā·rim wa‘yārim wə‘ayir wə·‘a·yir wə·hā·‘ă·yā·rîm wəhā‘ăyārîm

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 32:15
HEB: אֲתֹנֹ֣ת עֶשְׂרִ֔ים וַעְיָרִ֖ם עֲשָׂרָֽה׃
NAS: female donkeys and ten male donkeys.
KJV: she asses, and ten foals.
INT: female twenty male and ten

Genesis 49:11
HEB: [עִירֹה כ] (עִירֹ֔ו ק) וְלַשֹּׂרֵקָ֖ה
NAS: He ties [his] foal to the vine,
KJV: Binding his foal unto the vine,
INT: ties to the vine colt to the choice colt

Judges 10:4
HEB: עַל־ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים עֲיָרִ֔ים וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים עֲיָרִ֖ים
NAS: on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty
KJV: on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty
INT: on thirty donkeys had thirty donkeys

Judges 10:4
HEB: עֲיָרִ֔ים וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים עֲיָרִ֖ים לָהֶ֑ם לָהֶ֞ם
INT: donkeys had thirty donkeys like that

Judges 12:14
HEB: עַל־ שִׁבְעִ֣ים עֲיָרִ֑ם וַיִּשְׁפֹּ֥ט אֶת־
NAS: on seventy donkeys; and he judged
KJV: on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged
INT: on seventy donkeys judged Israel

Job 11:12
HEB: נָ֭בוּב יִלָּבֵ֑ב וְעַ֥יִר פֶּ֝֗רֶא אָדָ֥ם
NAS: will become intelligent When the foal of a wild donkey
KJV: be born [like] a wild ass's colt.
INT: vain will become the foal of a wild A man

Isaiah 30:6
HEB: עַל־ כֶּ֨תֶף עֲיָרִ֜ים חֵֽילֵהֶ֗ם וְעַל־
NAS: on the backs of young donkeys And their treasures
KJV: upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures
INT: on the backs of young their riches and

Isaiah 30:24
HEB: וְהָאֲלָפִ֣ים וְהָעֲיָרִ֗ים עֹֽבְדֵי֙ הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה
NAS: Also the oxen and the donkeys which work
KJV: The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear
INT: the oxen and the donkeys work the ground

Zechariah 9:9
HEB: חֲמ֔וֹר וְעַל־ עַ֖יִר בֶּן־ אֲתֹנֽוֹת׃
NAS: on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal
KJV: upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal
INT: A donkey on A colt the foal of a donkey

9 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5895
9 Occurrences

‘ă·yā·rîm — 4 Occ.
‘a·yir — 1 Occ.
‘î·rōw — 1 Occ.
wa‘·yā·rim — 1 Occ.
wə·‘a·yir — 1 Occ.
wə·hā·‘ă·yā·rîm — 1 Occ.