Iyyar
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Iyyar in the Bible?
The second month of the ecclesiastical Jewish year, typically corresponding to April or May in the Gregorian calendar, named after the Akkadian word for 'strength' or 'valor'.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Iyyar provides context for the timing of the Omer counting period, which bridges Passover and Shavuot, and helps identify the chronological setting of events such as the Exodus from Egypt and the giving of the Torah.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Iyyar. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Iyyar in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Iyyar clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Iyyar." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/iyyar/