Lexical Summary tirah: Encampment, dwelling place, fortress Original Word: טִירָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance goodly castle, habitation, palace, row Feminine of (an equivalent to) tuwr; a wall; hence, a fortress or a hamlet -- (goodly) castle, habitation, palace, row. see HEBREW tuwr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as tur Definition encampment, battlement NASB Translation battlement (1), camp (1), camps (3), encampments (1), rows (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [טִירָה] noun feminine encampment, battlement (from idea of surrounding, enclosure; Syriac  sheepfold, ἔπαυλις) — construct טִירַת Songs 8:9; טִירָתָם Psalm 69:25; plural טִירוֺת Ezekiel 46:23; suffix טִירֹתָם Numbers 31:10; Genesis 25:16; טִירוֺתָם 1 Chronicles 6:39; טִירוֺתֵיהֶם Ezekiel 25:4; — 1 encampment, especially of circular encampment of nomad tribes, mentioned with חצר Genesis 25:16; with ערים Numbers 31:10; Ezekiel 25:4 ("" מִשׁכניהם); encampment (poetry) = habitation Psalm 69:26 ("" אהליהם); more Generally, 1 Chronicles 6:39 ("" מושׁבות). 2 in metaphor כָּ֑סֶף ׳ט Songs 8:9 a battlement of silver. 3 row of stones, only plural טִירוֺת Ezekiel 46:23, virtually plural of טוּר 1, q. v. Topical Lexicon Range of Meaning and Thematic Threadטִירָה (tîrâh) describes a settlement that is more transient than a walled city yet more organized than a single tent—an encampment, hamlet, or cluster of dwellings that can be moved or rebuilt with relative ease. In Scripture it functions as a tangible reminder of life lived “in between”: secure enough for families and herds, but never so permanent that its occupants can forget their pilgrim status before the Lord. Patriarchal and Tribal Life (Genesis 25:16) “These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names by their villages and encampments: twelve princes according to their tribes.” The Ishmaelites inherit the nomadic pattern of Abraham. Their טִירוֹת mark the landscape of Arabia as semi-permanent bases for trade and herding. The verse underscores God’s faithfulness to Abraham’s wider family, granting structure (“villages”) yet retaining mobility (“encampments”). Even outside the covenant line, order and leadership reflect the Creator’s design. Warfare and Judgment (Numbers 31:10; Ezekiel 25:4) “They burned all the cities where they lived, as well as all their camps.” (Numbers 31:10) Against Midian and later against Ammon, the Lord’s judgments fall not only on fortified towns but also on the tent-villages. Destroyed טִירוֹת signify complete defeat: nothing from the enemy’s ordinary life—household, flock, or sanctuary—survives the divine verdict. The same word in Ezekiel 25:4 anticipates eastern raiders pitching encampments on Ammonite soil, reversing the shame once inflicted on Israel. Levitical Settlements (1 Chronicles 6:54) “Now these are their dwelling places according to their settlements within their borders, to the sons of Aaron of the Kohathite clan…” Here טִירָה designates priestly homesteads among the tribes. Though the priests possess defined pasturelands, the vocabulary of encampment subtly maintains their pilgrim identity. They serve a God who “tabernacles” (John 1:14), so their own residences echo tents of meeting—fixed yet ready for movement at the Lord’s command. Imprecatory Lament (Psalm 69:25) “May their camp be deserted; may their tents be deserted.” David’s plea transfers the corporate imagery of Exodus wanderings to the enemies of the righteous. A deserted טִירָה epitomizes covenant curse: community dissolved, worship silenced, protection withdrawn. The verse becomes prophetic of Judas in Acts 1:20, illustrating how the Spirit weaves lexical threads across canon and covenant. Wisdom and Courtship Metaphor (Song of Songs 8:9) “If she is a wall, we will build on her a tower of silver; but if she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.” טִירָה appears here as “tower” or “turret,” extending its range to a fortified structure within the bride’s domain. The lovers picture protective architecture rising from an otherwise mobile settlement—purity guarded inside a covenant relationship. The imagery invites spiritual application: chastity and faithfulness create secure space in which love flourishes. Temple Vision and Sacred Service (Ezekiel 46:23) “Under the ledges all around there were hearths of stone for the offerings.” Ezekiel’s restored-temple blueprint employs טִירָה for rows or compartments containing hearths. The prophet envisions ordered stations for sacrifice—fixed placements within an overall sanctuary that still recalls Israel’s tented history. In the coming kingdom, mobility gives way to permanence, yet the vocabulary of encampment lingers to remind worshipers of past pilgrimage and future consummation. Historical Trajectory 1. Nomadism to Settlement: From Ishmael’s tribes to Levitical pasturelands, טִירָה tracks Israel’s shift from wandering tents to organized villages, without ever fully losing the theology of sojourning. Ministry Significance • Pilgrim Identity. Believers today are “aliens and strangers” (1 Peter 2:11). The ephemeral טִירָה exhorts the church to hold earthly property lightly and heavenly citizenship firmly. Christological Reflection John proclaims that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” literally “tabernacled” (ἐσκήνωσεν). Jesus embodies the ultimate טִירָה—God pitching His tent in human history. His resurrection guarantees a better homeland (Hebrews 11:16) where the transient gives way to the eternal, and every scattered encampment converges into “the camp of the saints” (Revelation 20:9). Forms and Transliterations הַטִּיר֖וֹת הטירות וּבְטִֽירֹתָ֑ם ובטירתם טִ֣ירַת טִֽירָתָ֥ם טִֽירֹתָ֑ם טִירֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ טירותיהם טירת טירתם לְטִירוֹתָ֖ם לטירותם haṭ·ṭî·rō·wṯ hattiRot haṭṭîrōwṯ lə·ṭî·rō·w·ṯām letiroTam ləṭîrōwṯām ṭî·rā·ṯām ṭî·raṯ ṭî·rō·ṯām ṭî·rō·w·ṯê·hem Tirat ṭîraṯ tiraTam ṭîrāṯām tiroTam ṭîrōṯām tiroteiHem ṭîrōwṯêhem ū·ḇə·ṭî·rō·ṯām ūḇəṭîrōṯām uvetiroTamLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 25:16 HEB: שְׁמֹתָ֔ם בְּחַצְרֵיהֶ֖ם וּבְטִֽירֹתָ֑ם שְׁנֵים־ עָשָׂ֥ר NAS: by their villages, and by their camps; twelve KJV: by their towns, and by their castles; twelve INT: are their names their villages their camps both ten Numbers 31:10 1 Chronicles 6:54 Psalm 69:25 Songs 8:9 Ezekiel 25:4 Ezekiel 46:23 7 Occurrences |
    |