Word Study for H3296 (יַעֲרֵי אֹרְגִים)

Yaʻărêy ʼÔrᵉgîym /yah-ar-ay' o-reg-eem'/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom the plural of יַעַר and the masculine plural active participle of אָרַג

Meaningwoods of weavers; Jaare-Oregim, an Israelite

KJV usageJaare-oregim.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Yaʻărêy ʼÔrᵉgîym — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew name Yaʻărêy ʼÔrᵉgîym, represented by H3296, is understood to mean "woods of weavers." This name is exceptionally rare, appearing only 1 time in a single verse in the Bible. It is used to identify a specific Israelite man, Jaare-oregim.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole biblical reference to Jaare-oregim H3296 occurs within a historical account of Israel's conflicts. The name is used to provide the lineage of Elhanan, a warrior from Bethlehem. In a battle with the Philistines, the scripture records that Elhanan, the son of Jaare-oregim, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite 2 Samuel 21:19. The name's only function in the narrative is to serve as this paternal identifier.

Related Words & Concepts

The context of this verse connects Yaʻărêy ʼÔrᵉgîym to several key terms related to conflict and craftsmanship:

H5221 nâkâh (to strike): This root word, meaning to slay or kill, describes the central action of Elhanan. The text states he slew the Philistine warrior 2 Samuel 21:19.
H4421 milchâmâh (a battle): Meaning a battle or warfare, this term establishes the setting. The event took place during a battle between Israel and the Philistines 2 Samuel 21:19.
H707 ʼârag (to weave): This verb, meaning to weave, is the root of the "Oregim" part of the name. It is also used in the same verse to describe the giant's weapon, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam 2 Samuel 21:19.
H2595 chănîyth (spear): This word for a spear or lance identifies the formidable weapon wielded by Elhanan's opponent, emphasizing the danger of the encounter 2 Samuel 21:19.

Theological Significance

While the name H3296 itself does not carry direct theological weight, its context highlights several important themes:

Conflict and Deliverance: The passage is part of the ongoing narrative of Israel's struggles with the Philistines H6430, who are consistently depicted as antagonists of God's people 1 Samuel 17:45.
Heroism in Battle: The act of slaying a formidable enemy, whose spear H2595 was famously large, underscores the prowess and courage of Israelite warriors. Such victories are often framed within the context of God giving success in battle H4421, as seen in other accounts 2 Chronicles 20:15.
Historical Record: The precise mention of "Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite" grounds the story in a specific genealogy and location, reinforcing the historical nature of the biblical accounts.

Summary

In summary, Yaʻărêy ʼÔrᵉgîym H3296 is a proper name whose importance is derived entirely from its single mention in scripture. It functions as a genealogical marker, identifying the father of a hero in one of Israel's battles. The name's literal meaning, "woods of weavers," creates a striking connection to the description of the enemy's weapon in the same verse, cementing its place in this specific historical record.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun and a verb across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

יַעְרֵי
אֹרְגִים

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in 2 Samuel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.