### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Nimrîym**, represented by `{{H5249}}`, refers to **Nimrim**, a place east of the Jordan defined as "clear waters." It appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible. Despite its name suggesting a source of life, its scriptural usage is consistently tied to prophetic declarations of judgment and desolation upon Moab.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H5249}}` appears exclusively in prophecies announcing the downfall of Moab. Isaiah declares that the "waters of **Nimrim** shall be desolate" as a sign of this ruin, a scene made vivid by the surrounding ecological collapse: "for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing" [[Isaiah 15:6]]. Jeremiah later echoes this same prophecy, connecting the desolation of Nimrim's waters with the great "cry" of anguish rising from Moab's cities, illustrating the widespread suffering [[Jeremiah 48:34]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are used in conjunction with Nimrim to describe the scene of judgment:
* `{{H4923}}` **mᵉshammâh** (desolate): This word, meaning "a waste or amazement," directly describes the state of the waters of Nimrim in both of its occurrences ([[Isaiah 15:6]], [[Jeremiah 48:34]]).
* `{{H3001}}` **yâbêsh** (to dry up or wither): This verb explains the consequence of Nimrim's desolation, as the "hay is withered away" and the vital vegetation is lost [[Isaiah 15:6]].
* `{{H2201}}` **zaʻaq** (a shriek or outcry): This term frames the prophecy in Jeremiah, where the news of Nimrim's desolation is part of a larger cry of mourning that extends across the land of Moab [[Jeremiah 48:34]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5249}}` is found in its specific use as a symbol of judgment.
* **Prophetic Judgment:** Nimrim serves as a specific geographical marker within divine judgment. Its destruction is not a random event but a direct fulfillment of the prophecies delivered against Moab ([[Isaiah 15:6]], [[Jeremiah 48:34]]).
* **Reversal of Blessing:** The name itself implies "clear waters," a source of fertility and life. Its only biblical mentions, however, are in the context of its waters becoming "desolate." This stark contrast emphasizes the severity of the judgment, turning a place of vitality into one of barrenness.
* **Tangible Consequences:** The desolation of Nimrim is described with physical consequences—the hay withers, the grass fails, and nothing green remains [[Isaiah 15:6]]. This shows how divine judgment is portrayed not as an abstract concept, but as a reality that devastates the land and its resources.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5249}}` is a place name whose biblical identity is defined by its prophetic ruin. Though its name suggests life-giving waters, Nimrim functions exclusively as a symbol of desolation within the judgments pronounced by Isaiah and Jeremiah. The fate of the waters of Nimrim illustrates a powerful biblical theme: how a source of natural blessing can be rendered utterly barren as a direct consequence of divine judgment.
TRV