קִרְיַת אַרְבַּע

Kirjath-Arba or Kirjath-ha-Arba, a place in Palestine

Definition

קִרְיַת אַרְבַּע (Kirjath-Arba) is the ancient name for the city of Hebron, located in the hill country of Judah. It means 'city of Arba,' named after Arba, the greatest of the Anakim, a race of giants (Joshua 14:15). The name can also be interpreted as 'city of the four,' possibly referring to four clans or settlements. In the biblical narrative, it is most famously the place where Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah as a burial site for Sarah (Genesis 23:2), establishing a key patriarchal connection to the Promised Land. Later, it was conquered by Caleb and given to him as an inheritance (Joshua 14:13-15), and it also served as one of the six Cities of Refuge (Joshua 20:7).

Biblical Usage

This proper noun is used exclusively as a place name in historical and geographical contexts. It appears seven times across Genesis, Joshua, Judges, and Nehemiah. In Genesis, it establishes the patriarchal burial ground (Genesis 23:2, 35:27). In Joshua, it details the city's conquest, renaming to Hebron, and its role as a City of Refuge (Joshua 14:15, 15:54, 20:7). Judges 1:10 records its capture from the Canaanites, and Nehemiah 11:25 lists it among the towns resettled by the people of Judah after the exile.

Etymology

The name is a compound of two Hebrew words: קִרְיָה (qiryâ, H7151), meaning 'city,' and אַרְבַּע (ʼarbaʻ, H704), meaning 'four,' or the personal name 'Arba.' The form with the article, קִרְיַת הָאַרְבַּע (Qiryath ha-Arba'), means 'city of the four.' The name thus points to its founding or association with Arba, the ancestor of the Anakim, or to a confederation of four. The shift in name to Hebron reflects its Israelite conquest and new identity.

Semantic Range

Kirjath-Arba is theologically significant as the location where Abraham's purchase of land (Genesis 23) constitutes the first legal ownership of property in Canaan by the patriarchs, a tangible down payment on God's promise of the land. Its conquest by Caleb (Joshua 14) exemplifies faithful inheritance based on trusting God's promise. Its designation as a City of Refuge (Joshua 20:7) highlights themes of God's mercy and justice within the land. The transition from a city of giants (Anakim) to a city of refuge and inheritance powerfully symbolizes God's power to redeem and transform strongholds.

In its original context, the name 'city of Arba' identified it as a Canaanite stronghold associated with the feared Anakim, a race of giants (Numbers 13:33, Deuteronomy 9:2). This cultural backdrop makes Caleb's and Joshua's conquest of it (Joshua 11:21-22) a dramatic demonstration of Israel's victory over formidable enemies through God's power. The purchase of the cave of Machpelah there by Abraham was a significant cultural and legal transaction, securing a permanent family tomb in the land.

חֶבְרוֹן (Chevrôn, H2275) — The more common name for the same city, used after its conquest by Israel. אַרְבַּע (ʼArbaʻ, H704) — The personal name of the city's legendary founder, the 'father of Anak.'

Word Details

Scripture References