צְרֵרָה

Tsererah for Tseredah

Definition

Tsererah is a place name that appears only once in the Old Testament, in Judges 7:22. It is identified as a location to which the Midianite army fled after their defeat by Gideon. The name is generally understood to be a textual variant or scribal transcription for the more common place name Tseredah (צְרֵדָה, H6868), which is the hometown of Jeroboam I (1 Kings 11:26). As a proper noun, it refers to a specific geographical location, likely a town or settlement in the region of the Jordan Valley or the western foothills, marking a point in the chaotic retreat of the enemy forces.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only in Judges 7:22, within the narrative of Gideon's victory over the Midianites. The context is military and geographical, describing the route of the fleeing army: 'toward Zererath.' Its usage is singular and serves purely to identify a point on a map in this historical account. No other patterns or books use this specific form.

Etymology

The word צְרֵרָה (Tsererah) is considered by scholars to be a probable scribal variation or erroneous transcription of the more established place name צְרֵדָה (Tseredah, H6868). The root may be related to words implying 'pressing' or 'binding' (צרר), but as a proper noun, its etymology is obscure and its primary significance is its identification as a specific location.

Semantic Range

As a place name, Tsererah reflects the detailed geographical knowledge preserved in Israel's historical records. Its mention anchors the miraculous victory of Judges 7 in a real, tangible landscape. For the original audience, it may have evoked a known locale, adding concrete detail to the story of God delivering Israel through Gideon.

Tseredah (Tsᵉrêdâh, H6868) — The more standard spelling of this place name, identified as the hometown of Jeroboam.

Word Details

Scripture References