יָמַר (ya.mar)
ya.mar
to exchange
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb yamar carries the core meaning of exchanging or swapping one thing for another. In the Old Testament, it appears only twice, both times in a specific grammatical form called the Hiphil, which emphasizes causing an action. This usage highlights a deliberate act of substitution, where something is traded in place of what was previously held.
These two occurrences are found in Jeremiah and Isaiah, contexts that focus on spiritual and covenantal shifts. In Jeremiah 2:11, the word describes nations exchanging their glory for gods that cannot save, illustrating a hollow trade. Similarly, Isaiah 61:6 uses the related form to describe foreigners serving as priests, marking a change in status and role. The sources suggest this verb captures the essence of turning away from one value system to adopt another.
While some lexicons link it to promising, the primary weight lies in the idea of exchange. It is not merely a physical swap but often reflects a deeper reorientation of loyalty or identity. Translators typically render it as "exchange" or "change," capturing the decisive nature of moving from one state to another without necessarily implying improvement.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word yamar describes a deliberate exchange, a swapping of one thing for another. In Scripture, this act often reveals where our true loyalty lies. When we trade what is lasting for what is fleeting, we lose more than we gain. This verb reminds us that every choice involves a substitution, shifting our focus from God to something else.
In Jeremiah 2:11, the people are described as exchanging their glory for gods that cannot save. This is not just a change of habit but a reorientation of identity. It shows how easily we can trade divine purpose for empty pursuits. Recognizing this pattern helps us guard our hearts against hollow substitutes.
Yet there is hope in this awareness. When we see the cost of such exchanges, we can turn back to what truly sustains us. God invites us to keep our eyes on Him, the source of all true glory. This word calls us to examine our lives and ensure we are not trading away our spiritual inheritance for temporary gains.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- ¿/ has it exchanged1×
- you will boast1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּתְיַמָּֽרוּ\׃1×
- הַ/הֵימִ֥יר1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 2:11
Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doesn’t profit.
This verse uses the word to highlight the tragic substitution of Israel's divine glory with powerless idols, showing how loyalty shifts from God to empty things.
-
Isaiah 61:6
But you will be called Yahweh’s priests. Men will call you the servants of our God. You will eat the wealth of the nations. You will boast in their glory.
Here the term marks a positive reversal where foreigners exchange their former status to serve as priests, illustrating a change in role that honors God.