◄ 5899. ir hattemarim ►
Lexical Summary
ir hattemarim: City of Palms

Original Word: עִיר הַתְּמָרִים
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: `Iyr hat-Tmariym
Pronunciation: eer hat-teh-mah-reem
Phonetic Spelling: (eer hat-tem-aw-reem')
KJV: the city of palmtrees
Word Origin: [from H5892 (עִיר עָר עָיַר - City) and the plural of H8558 (תָּמָר - palm trees) with the article interpolated]

1. city of the palmtrees
2. Ir-hat-Temarim, a place in Israel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Ir-hat-Temarim, a place in Palestine -- the city of palm trees

From iyr and the plural of tamar with the article interpolated; city of the palmtrees; Ir-hat-Temarim, a place in Palestine -- the city of palmtrees.

see HEBREW iyr

see HEBREW tamar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
see ir and tamar.

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Usage

While עִיר הַתְּמָרִים never appears as a stand-alone place-name, the phrase “City of Palms” serves as a well-known epithet for Jericho, drawing attention to its luxuriant date groves and perennial springs.

Association with Jericho

Deuteronomy 34:3 calls the Jordan-valley oasis “the Valley of Jericho, the city of palms.” Judges 3:13 records that Eglon of Moab “took possession of the City of Palms,” and 2 Chronicles 28:15 places returning prisoners there on their way to Jericho. Each reference underscores one reality: the “City of Palms” is Jericho, the lush eastern gateway to the Promised Land.

Historical Significance

1. Oasis Stronghold Strategically positioned where desert, mountain, and river routes meet, Jericho’s springs and palms made it a coveted military and commercial prize (Judges 3:13).
2. Firstfruits of Conquest Joshua 6 portrays Jericho as Israel’s inaugural victory; the cursed city and its bounty belonged wholly to the LORD, illustrating that even abundant resources must be consecrated to Him.
3. Symbol of Covenant Blessing Its fertility confirmed the promise of “a good land … of springs and fountains” (Deuteronomy 8:7-9).
4. Royal and Priestly Way-station David’s shamed envoys waited here (2 Samuel 10:5); priests and Levites traveled the Jericho road to Jerusalem (Luke 10:30-32), showing the city’s enduring importance.

Symbolic and Theological Themes

• Life from Barren Soil An oasis amid wilderness, the City of Palms pictures God’s power to bring fruitfulness where none is expected.
• Devotion of First Things Jericho’s total destruction after conquest teaches that prosperity without obedience ends in judgment.
• Victory and Righteousness Palms symbolize triumph (John 12:13; Revelation 7:9) and the flourishing of the righteous (Psalm 92:12). The epithet therefore foreshadows Christ’s victory and believers’ future glory.

Ministry Application

• Encouragement for Difficult Fields God can raise thriving ministry in spiritually arid places.
• Stewardship Like Jericho’s firstfruits, every gain belongs first to God.
• Gospel Hope The palms that greeted Jesus in Jerusalem recall the victory first hinted at in Jericho’s fallen walls and consummated at the cross.

Archaeological and Geographical Insights

Excavations at Tell es-Sultan reveal collapsed Late Bronze mud-brick ramparts, irrigation canals, and date-stone remains—tangible evidence of the palm-rich environment Scripture describes. The site’s elevation, nearly 250 m below sea level, ensures warm winters suitable for year-round agriculture.

Prophetic and Eschatological Glimpses

Pilgrims from Transjordan ascended through Jericho to Jerusalem, a journey echoed in prophecies of coming restoration (Isaiah 35:1-2) and in Zechariah’s vision of the Messiah’s arrival from the east (Zechariah 14:4-5). Thus the City of Palms frames both Israel’s entry into the land and the anticipated entrance of the King in glory.

Summary

Strong’s 5899 spotlights Jericho as a fertile oasis, the first conquest in Canaan, and a lasting witness that true blessing flows from wholehearted devotion to the LORD. The palm-lined city therefore becomes a living parable of life, victory, and covenant faithfulness across redemptive history.

Links
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