Lexical Definition

‎יָאִיר‎ Yâʼîyr (yaw-ere') Jair ^N:N-M-P
from ‎אוֹר‎; enlightener

Jair.

• § Jair = "he enlightens"
• Jair, the name of four Israelites

1) a descendant of Manasseh who conquered many towns during the time of the conquest
2) the Gileadite, a judge of Israel for 22 years during the time of the judges; father of 30 sons
3) a Benjamite, son of Kish, and father of Mordecai
4) father of Elhanan, one of David's mighty warriors

See Greek: Ἰάειρος

Extended Information

• A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.32.41
• son of: Segub (שְׂגוּב)
• Also named: ya.i.ri (‎י‎ָ‎א‎ִ‎ר‎ִ‎י‎ "Jairite" יָאִרִי)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎יָאִיר‎ proper name, masculine (he enlightens, or one giving light).

1. son of Manasseh Num 32:41 (twice in verse); Deut 3:14 (twice in verse); Josh 13:30; 1Kgs 4:13; 1Chr 2:22; 1Chr 2:23.

2. a judge in Gilead Judg 10:3; Judg 10:4; Judg 10:5.

3. father of Mordecai Esth 2:5.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • Son of Segub • Manassite leader who captured Gilead

Man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness

Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, captured the region of Gilead.

• A man from the tribe of Judah living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.32.41;
• referred to as Jair יָאִיר, or Jairite יָאִרִי;
• a son of Segub שְׂגוּב.

Jair was a descendant of Manasseh, the son of Joseph, who played a significant role in the conquest and settlement of the region east of the Jordan River. According to Numbers 32:41 and Deuteronomy 3:14, Jair captured the settlements in Gilead and named them Havvoth-jair, which means "the towns of Jair." 1 Chronicles 2:22 states that Jair controlled twenty-three cities in Gilead. In 2 Samuel 20:26, a person named Ira the Jairite is mentioned as one of David's officials, possibly indicating that Jair's descendants continued to hold influential positions. 1 Kings 4:13 refers to the towns of Jair in the context of Solomon's administrative districts, suggesting that the region remained associated with Jair's name long after his lifetime.

All entries for Jair: יָאִיר ☩ יָאִרִי

Related Profiles:

• Segub (father)