סוּר
Sur, a gate of the temple
Definition
Sur is a proper noun referring to a specific gate of the temple in Jerusalem. It is mentioned only once in the Bible, in 2 Kings 11:6, where it is identified as one of the gates where royal guards were stationed to protect the young king Joash during a coup. This gate is also referred to as the 'gate of the foundation' in the parallel account in 2 Chronicles 23:5, suggesting it may have been a secondary or alternate name for the same structure. The term designates a physical entrance point within the temple complex, playing a specific role in a pivotal historical event of securing the Davidic line.
Biblical Usage
The word Sur is used only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Kings 11:6. Its usage is strictly as a proper noun for a temple gate. The context is the detailed military arrangement by Jehoiada the priest to protect Joash from the usurper Queen Athaliah. There are no other occurrences or varied usages in the biblical text.
Etymology
The name Sur (סוּר) is identical to the common Hebrew verb sûr (H5494), which means 'to turn aside, depart, or remove.' As a place name, it likely derives from this root, possibly indicating a gate where one 'turns aside' into a specific area or a gate that functioned as a point of 'removal' or separation. It shares its form with the wilderness area 'the rock' (H6697, צוּר), but they are different words.
Semantic Range
While Sur itself is a specific location, its single appearance is theologically significant within the narrative of God's preservation of the Davidic covenant. The strategic posting of guards at this gate was instrumental in protecting the rightful heir, Joash, ensuring the continuation of the messianic line from which Christ would come (2 Samuel 7:16). It highlights God's providential care in history, using even the details of temple architecture to fulfill His promises.
In the ancient Near East, temple gates were not merely entrances but highly significant architectural and social spaces, often named for their function, location, or a notable feature. The dual naming of this gate (as both 'Sur' and 'gate of the foundation' in 2 Chronicles 23:5) reflects this cultural practice. Its role in a military guard detail underscores that temple precincts could also serve as strategic defensive locations in times of political crisis.
shaʿar (H8179) — The general Hebrew word for 'gate'; Sur is a specific instance of a shaʿar. petach (H6607) — Another word for 'opening' or 'entrance,' often used more broadly than the formal 'gate.'
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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