עִירָא (i.ra)
i.ra
Ira
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name עִירָא (Ira) appears six times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily within the genealogical lists and officer records of 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. It identifies men who served during the United Monarchy under King David, functioning as high-ranking officials or members of his elite military corps.
Etymologically, the name is linked to the root for "city" or "watch," suggesting a meaning like "watchful of a city" or "one who guards." This semantic weight aligns with the roles these individuals held. The texts distinguish between at least two figures: one described as a Jairite and another as a Tekoite, son of Ikkesh, both celebrated among David’s mighty warriors.
These brief mentions highlight the administrative and military structure that sustained David’s reign. Rather than focusing on individual narratives, the biblical authors use this name to catalog the loyal servants who protected and governed the kingdom, preserving their memory within the historical record of Israel’s monarchy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Ira appears in the biblical record not as a central character with a dramatic story, but as a dedicated official serving King David. This suggests that faithfulness often looks like steady, reliable service rather than public acclaim. These men held positions of trust, managing resources and protecting the kingdom with diligence.
For your own life, this reminds us that God values quiet integrity. Whether you are leading a team or supporting others behind the scenes, your consistent effort matters to Him. You do not need to be in the spotlight to play a vital role in God's work.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Ira6×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עִירָא֙3×
- עִירָ֥א2×
- עִירָ֤א1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 20:26
and Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.
This verse highlights Ira's role as chief minister, showing that faithful service often involves high responsibility and trust within the community.
-
II Samuel 23:26
Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
Here Ira is listed among David’s mighty warriors, indicating that his loyalty extended to military protection and personal courage.
-
I Chronicles 27:9
The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. In his division were twenty-four thousand.
This passage specifies his command of twenty-four thousand men in the sixth month, illustrating the scale of organization he helped maintain.