יֶ֫תֶר

From the study of Joshua 23:12

Range of meaning

Yeter: what is left over, remainder, the rest (also 'excess'). Nish'ar: to be left, remain, survive.

Against the English

KJV/YLT "remnant" can mislead readers who know the prophetic 'faithful remnant' idea; here it is simply the leftover population of Canaan. BSB "the rest" and NIV "survivors" are plainer.

Used elsewhere in the period

Joshua 13:1–6 and 23:4–5 speak of "the land that remains" and "these nations that remain," acknowledging that the conquest was incomplete. Judges 1–3 picks up the same theme.

From the study of Micah 5:3

Range of meaning

Remainder, what is left over, the rest. Also excess or preeminence (Genesis 49:3). It comes from a root meaning "to be left over."

Against the English

KJV and YLT say "remnant"; BSB, ESV, NASB and WEB say "the rest."

How it drifted

In church use "remnant" has become a technical term for a faithful inner group. Here yeter simply means the rest of the ruler's kin who are still away from home.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used for "the rest of" a group in many narrative texts (for example 2 Samuel 10:10; Nehemiah 2:16). Micah's own remnant word is she'erit (2:12; 4:7; 5:7–8), a related idea that uses a different word.

From the study of Proverbs 17:7

Range of meaning

Basic sense: what is left over or stands above the rest, so remainder, surplus, excess. From there: preeminence, superiority (Gen 49:3, "preeminent in dignity, preeminent in power"). With śāpāh ("lip") the phrase occurs only here.

Against the English

Renderings vary: "excellent speech" (KJV, NASB, WEB), "eloquent words/lips" (BSB, NIV, NLT), "fine speech" (ESV), "lip of excellency" (YLT). These all follow the "preeminence" sense. A minority reads "excessive" or "arrogant" speech.

Used elsewhere in the period

Gen 49:3–4 (yeter twice, "excellence," for Reuben's birthright dignity). Elsewhere it usually means "the rest, remainder" (e.g., Exod 23:11; Judg 7:6). The adjective yattîr ("extraordinary, excessive") appears in Daniel's Aramaic (Dan 5:12; 6:3). The Septuagint has pista, "faithful/trustworthy" lips. The Vulgate has verba composita, "well-composed words."