Lexical Summary yother: Remnant, excess, remainder, what is left Original Word: יוֹתֵר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance better, moreover, over, profit Active participle of yathar; properly, redundant; hence, over and above, as adjective, noun, adverb or conjunction (as follows) -- better, more(-over), over, profit. see HEBREW yathar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originactive participle of yathar Definition superiority, advantage, excess NASB Translation addition (1), advantage (3), beyond (1), extremely (1), more (1), overly (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יוֺתֵר, יֹתֵר noun masculine superiority, advantage, excess (late) (properly Qal participle of יתר) — absolute יוֺתֵר Ecclesiastes 7:16 2t.; יֹתֵר Ecclesiastes 2:15 4t.; — superiority, advantage מַהיּֿוֺתֵר לֶחָכָם מִןהַֿכְּסִיל Ecclesiastes 6:8 what advantage hath the wise over the fool? probably also יֹתֵר מֵהֵמָּה Ecclesiastes 12:12 (as to) what is more than these (see VB); absolute מַהיֹּֿתֵר לָאָדָם Ecclesiastes 6:11; יֹתֵר לְרֹאֵי הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ Ecclesiastes 7:11; elsewhere adverb to excess, overmuch Ecclesiastes 2:15; Ecclesiastes 7:16; followed by מִן (as often in Late Hebrew), יוֺתֵר מִמֶּנִּי Esther 6:6 more than me; ׳יֹתֵר שֶׁ = besides that Ecclesiastes 12:9. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Conceptual Emphasis This adjective and adverb, most often rendered “more,” “better,” or “advantage,” portrays comparative increase—whether of wisdom, worth, or consequence. It points beyond simple quantity to qualitative surplus: what stands out as preferable, advantageous, or weightier in God’s providential economy. Canonical Distribution Eight occurrences cluster seven times in Ecclesiastes and once in Esther, underscoring two distinct settings: court narrative and wisdom reflection. The term therefore bridges royal providence (Esther) and philosophical examination (Ecclesiastes), presenting “advantage” as both a matter of circumstance and of perspective before God. Esther: Providential Reversal (Esther 6:6) Haman, asked by King Ahasuerus how the monarch should honor “the man whom the king desires to honor,” replies, “Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?”. The word exposes pride that blinds. Human schemes for “more” collide with divine sovereignty; advantage lies not with self-promotion but with those whom God chooses to exalt. The episode anticipates the New Testament teaching that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Ecclesiastes: The Quest for Advantage 1. Intellectual Gain (Ecclesiastes 2:15): “What happens to the fool will also happen to me. Why then have I been so wise? And I said in my heart, ‘This too is futility.’” The anticipated “more” of wisdom seems nullified by death’s inevitability, forcing the reader toward a hope that transcends earthly calculation. Theological Trajectory Yoter presses the reader to weigh temporal advantage against eternal realities. The term’s recurrence in Ecclesiastes culminates in the declaration that true gain rests in covenant obedience. Esther’s narrative then exhibits that principle historically: God grants “more” to the humble (Mordecai) while the self-exalting fall. Ministry Application • Preaching: Use the word to confront worldly metrics of success, directing congregations to Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom.” Christological Fulfillment The Gospel reveals the ultimate yoter in the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:8). What the Preacher sought is realized in the One “greater than Solomon.” Thus, in Him alone believers discover an advantage that neither death nor vanity can nullify. Forms and Transliterations וְיֹתֵ֕ר וְיֹתֵ֖ר וְיֹתֵ֥ר ויתר יֹּתֵ֖ר יּוֹתֵ֥ר יוֹתֵ֑ר יוֹתֵ֥ר יותר יתר veyoTer wə·yō·ṯêr wəyōṯêr yō·ṯêr yō·w·ṯêr yoTer yōṯêr yōwṯêrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Esther 6:6 HEB: לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת יְקָ֖ר יוֹתֵ֥ר מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ NAS: desire to honor more than me? KJV: to do honour more than to myself? INT: is to be done to honor more than Ecclesiastes 2:15 Ecclesiastes 6:8 Ecclesiastes 6:11 Ecclesiastes 7:11 Ecclesiastes 7:16 Ecclesiastes 12:9 Ecclesiastes 12:12 8 Occurrences |
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