קוּר
to trench; by implication, to throw forth; to wall up, whether literal (to build a wall) or figurative (to estop)
Definition
The Hebrew verb קוּר (qûwr) primarily means 'to dig' or 'to trench,' describing the physical action of excavating earth, as seen in Isaiah 37:25 where it refers to digging wells. By extension, it can mean 'to break down' or 'to destroy,' particularly in the context of demolishing walls or fortifications, as in 2 Kings 19:24. In a figurative sense, it carries the meaning of 'to wall up' or 'to estop,' implying the act of blocking or shutting something out, which is how it is used in Jeremiah 6:7 to describe the persistent production of wickedness.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only five times in the Old Testament, primarily in poetic and prophetic contexts. It appears in the Balaam oracle (Numbers 24:17), in the taunts of Sennacherib recorded in 2 Kings 19:24 and its parallel in Isaiah 37:25, in a prophecy against Jerusalem (Isaiah 22:5), and in a judgment against Judah (Jeremiah 6:7). Its usage shifts from literal digging or destruction of earthworks to a powerful metaphor for the relentless production of evil.
Etymology
קוּר is a primitive root. It is also considered a denominative verb derived from the noun קִיר (qîyr, H7023), meaning 'wall.' This connection explains the semantic range from the action of digging (which often precedes building or undermining a wall) to the concepts of building up or breaking down a wall, both literally and figuratively.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it appears in a major messianic prophecy (Numbers 24:17), where the 'scepter' will 'crush' the forehead of Moab, using language of destructive conquest. In the prophets, its figurative use for persistent sin (Jeremiah 6:7) underscores the deep-seated, entrenched nature of human rebellion that requires divine judgment. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of these passages by connecting the physical act of excavation or demolition with spiritual realities of judgment and entrenched wickedness.
In an ancient Near Eastern context, digging trenches and wells was a vital activity for survival, warfare (siegeworks), and agriculture. The action of 'digging' could thus be associated with both life-giving provision (wells) and destructive conquest (undermining city walls). The metaphorical use to describe a city 'producing' wickedness like a well produces water would have been a vivid, culturally understood image of something deep-seated and continuous.
כָּרָה (kârâh, H3738) — a more common general term for digging or excavating, often for a grave or pit. חָצַב (châtsab, H2672) — to cut, hew, or dig out, typically in stone or rock. פָּרַץ (pârats, H6555) — to break through or down, often used for walls or barriers, emphasizing violent breach rather than the preparatory digging denoted by קוּר.
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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