🔼The name Zair: Summary
- Meaning
- Small, Young
- Etymology
- From the verb צער (sa'ar), to be or become small or insignificant.
🔼The name Zair in the Bible
The name Zair occurs just once in the Bible. It's the name of a place where king Joram crossed over to in order to thwart an Edomite lunge for independence (2 Kings 8:21). The Edomites were apparently under Judaic control but had decided to proclaim their own king. Joram's brutal intervention triggered Edom's perpetual revolt, which in turn seems to have triggered the revolt of Libnah (2 Kings 8:22).
🔼Etymology of the name Zair
The name Zair is identical to the adjective צעיר (sa'ir), meaning small or young:
צער
The verb צער (sa'ar) means to be or become small or insignificant. Adjective צעיר (sa'ir) may mean small or young, younger, youngest. Noun צעירה (se'ira) means youth, young or subservient person. Noun מצער (mis'ar) refers to any place or agent of smallness; a small town, one's humble beginnings, a few men, a little while.
🔼Zair meaning
For a meaning of the name Zair, both NOBSE Study Bible Name List and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names read Little. BDB Theological Dictionary does not translate our name but does confirm that it is identical to the adjective צעיר (sa'ir).