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 Judge living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jdg.10.3

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 • A Judge • Gileadite judge who led Israel

Judge living before Israel's Monarchy

Jair the Gileadite was a judge who led Israel for twenty-two years.

• A Judge living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jdg.10.3;
• only referred to as Jair יָאִיר.

Jair the Gileadite is introduced in Judges 10:3-5 as a judge who led Israel for twenty-two years. He came after Tola and was succeeded by Jephthah. Jair had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys and controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which were called Havvoth-jair. This suggests that Jair and his family held significant influence and power in the region. The text does not provide any further details about Jair's leadership or accomplishments during his time as a judge. After his death, Jair was buried in Kamon, a location likely within Gilead.

All entries for Jair: יָאִיר