קִרְיָה
building; a city
Definition
The Hebrew noun קִרְיָה (qiryâh) primarily means 'city' or 'town,' referring to a settled, fortified, or inhabited place. It often denotes a significant urban center, such as a capital city, as seen when it refers to Jerusalem (e.g., 1 Kings 1:41, 1:45). In some poetic contexts, like Numbers 21:28, it can carry a broader sense of a 'building' or 'settlement,' emphasizing its constructed nature. The word consistently implies a place of human habitation and community, distinct from open country.
Biblical Usage
קִרְיָה appears 32 times in the Old Testament, predominantly in historical and poetic books. It is used for conquered cities in narratives like Deuteronomy 2:36 and Joshua 15:13, and for royal cities in 1 Kings. In poetic passages, such as Numbers 21:28, it is employed in taunt songs against destroyed settlements. The word is less common in prophetic literature, with a focus on specific, named cities rather than cities in general.
Etymology
Derived from the root קָרָה (qārâh, H7136), meaning 'to meet' or 'to happen,' but also associated with 'flooring' or 'building' in the sense of constructing beams. This connects to the idea of a city as a built-up, assembled place where people gather. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic, also show terms for 'town' or 'city,' indicating a shared cultural concept of urban settlement.
Semantic Range
As a term for 'city,' קִרְיָה contributes to biblical themes of human civilization, judgment, and refuge. Cities in Scripture can be places of both human achievement and corruption, as seen in stories like Babel or Sodom. Understanding this Hebrew word enriches reading by highlighting the contrast between human-built cities and God's ultimate city, the New Jerusalem, which represents divine order and presence (Revelation 21:2).
In ancient Israelite culture, a קִרְיָה was typically a walled, defensible settlement, often a political or administrative center. This contrasts with modern cities in scale and function, as biblical cities were smaller and served as hubs for tribal identity, worship, and protection. The term implies a community bound by walls and governance, reflecting the importance of security and collective life in the ancient Near East.
עִיר (ʿîr, H5892) — the most common general term for 'city' or 'town,' used more frequently. קֶרֶת (qereth, H7153) — a poetic synonym for 'city,' often in parallel with קִרְיָה. מִבְצָר (mivtsār, H4013) — emphasizes a 'fortress' or 'stronghold,' highlighting defensive aspects.
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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