Lexical Summary Tsior: Zoar Original Word: צִיעֹר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Zior From tsa'ar; small; Tsior, a place in Palestine -- Zior. see HEBREW tsa'ar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tsaar Definition a place near Hebron NASB Translation Zior (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs צִיעֹר proper name, of a location Σωρθ, A ᵐ5L Σιωρ, Joshua 15:54, probably ‚â±îr, 5 miles north-northeast from Hebron, BuhlGeogr.158. Topical Lexicon Geographic Setting Zior appears in the inspired record as one of the towns allotted to the tribe of Judah in the hill-country region (Joshua 15:54). The context of the list places it in the southern highlands, south-southwest of Jerusalem and north of the Negev. It is named alongside Humtah and Kiriath Arba (Hebron), suggesting proximity to Hebron’s elevated ridge and the adjacent pastoral slopes. Modern scholars usually identify the site with Khirbet es-Sebî, about six kilometers north-northwest of Hebron, though absolute certainty is elusive. The region is marked by limestone hills, terraced agriculture, and ancient cistern systems—features consistent with a town whose very name conveys “smallness” or “littleness,” fitting a modest settlement nestled among larger, more prominent neighbors. Biblical Occurrence Joshua 15 details Judah’s inheritance, first tracing the outer borders (Joshua 15:1–12) and then cataloguing cities within each topographic zone—lowland, foothill, and hill-country. In the hill-country section a cluster of nine cities is given: “Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages” (Joshua 15:54). The placement of Zior beside Hebron, a city of patriarchal and Davidic significance, grants the small town strategic importance within Judah’s settlement pattern. While only mentioned once, its inclusion affirms that the inheritance map was concrete and complete, down to the smallest communities, testifying to God’s detailed faithfulness in fulfilling the Abrahamic promise of land (Genesis 15:18-21). Historical and Archaeological Context Archaeological surveys near the suggested site have uncovered Iron Age pottery, terrace walls, and rock-cut installations typical of Judahite rural life. Even if no monumental remains stand, the material culture of ordinary Judeans provides insight into covenantal obedience worked out in everyday vocations—farming, herding, and family worship. The town likely served as a satellite village supporting Hebron’s administrative and cultic center. Its hills would later witness the movements of Judean kings, prophets, and ultimately the Messiah who traced earthly lineage through Judah (Matthew 1:1-3). Theological and Ministry Reflections 1. God values the “small.” Zior’s solitary mention underscores that Scripture remembers communities and individuals the world may overlook (compare Micah 5:2; 1 Corinthians 1:27-29). Legacy in Judean and Christian Memory While Zior fades from subsequent narratives, its mention in Joshua anchors the territory later associated with Caleb’s exploits (Joshua 14:13-15), the refuge city of Hebron, and David’s first royal capital (2 Samuel 2:1-4). Thus, the humble town is woven into salvation history: part of the land where the patriarchs walked, where covenant kings ruled, and where prophets foretold the coming King. For readers and teachers of Scripture, Zior serves as a reminder that every detail in the biblical record contributes to the grand tapestry culminating in Jesus Christ—“For all the promises of God find their ‘Yes’ in Him” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Forms and Transliterations וְצִיעֹ֑ר וציער vetziOr wə·ṣî·‘ōr wəṣî‘ōrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 15:54 HEB: הִ֥יא חֶבְר֖וֹן וְצִיעֹ֑ר עָרִ֥ים תֵּ֖שַׁע NAS: (that is, Hebron), and Zior; nine KJV: which [is] Hebron, and Zior; nine INT: he which Hebron and Zior cities nine 1 Occurrence |
    |