Lexical Summary qiryah: City, town Original Word: קִרְיָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance city From qarah in the sense of flooring, i.e. Building; a city -- city. see HEBREW qarah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom qarah Definition a town, city NASB Translation cities (1), city (22), fortress* (1), town (5). Brown-Driver-Briggs קִרְיָה noun feminine town, city (synonym of עִיר, chiefly in poetry, and in the higher style; perhaps from above √ as meeting-place of men; compare proper name, of a location MI13 קרית, l.10 קריתן; Jewish-Aramaic קַרְיָה); — absolute ׳ק Isaiah 1:21 +; construct קִרְיַת Numbers 21:28 +; — 1 in General Deuteronomy 2:36; Deuteronomy 3:4. 2 of specific towns, Hosea 6:8 (גִּלְעָד, ᵐ5Manuscripts Γαλγαλα, compare Now); קִרְיַת סִיחֹן Numbers 21:28; Damascus, מְשׂוֺשִׂי ׳ק Jeremiah 49:25 ("" עִיר תְּהִלָּה); especially of Jerusalem Micah 4:10; Isaiah 29:1; Isaiah 33:20, ׳רְחֹבוֺת ק Lamentations 2:11, מֶלֶךְ רָ֑ב ׳ק Psalm 48:3, city for inhabitants 1 Kings 1:41,45, ׳ק נֶאֱמָנָה Isaiah 1:21,26 ("" עִיר הַצֶּדֶק), עַלִּיזָה ׳ק Isaiah 22:2 ("" עִיר הוֺמִיָּה), Isaiah 32:13. 3 in Isaiah 24-26 collective, i.e. denoting various, representative, cities, תֹּהוּ ׳ק Isaiah 24:10, ׳ק בְּצוּרָה Isaiah 25:2, גּוֺיִם עָרִיצִים ׳ק Isaiah 25:3, נִשְׂגָּבָה ׳ק Isaiah 26:5; so probably Habakkuk 2:8,17. 4 indefinite, Habakkuk 2:12 ("" עִיר); Proverbs 29:8, עֹז ׳ק Proverbs 18:19 a city of strength, so עֻזּוֺ ׳ק Proverbs 10:15 (in figurative) = Proverbs 18:11 (id.); = inhabitants, Proverbs 11:10, ׳הֲמוֺן ק Job 39:7. קִרְיַת see קִרְיַת יְעָרִים. above Topical Lexicon General Meaning and Scope קִרְיָה (qiryāh) denotes a population center of recognizable civic identity—“a town” or “a city.” While often interchangeable with עִיר (ʿîr), qiryāh is characteristically poetic and tends to highlight the communal life, defenses, or moral character of the settlement rather than its sheer size. It appears about twenty-nine times, from the Pentateuch through the Minor Prophets. Synonyms and Nuances 1. ʿÎr stresses the physical entity; qiryāh often stresses the corporate personality. Distribution of Occurrences • Conquest narratives: Deuteronomy 2:34; 3:6, 10. Notable Passages Deuteronomy 3:6 “We devoted them to destruction, every city (qiryāh)—men, women, and children”. The term underscores the thoroughness of divine judgment executed through Israel during the conquest. Psalm 48:8 “As we have heard, so we have seen in the city (qiryāh) of the LORD of Hosts.” Here Jerusalem’s civic life becomes a testimony to God’s steadfast love. Isaiah 26:5 “He humbles those who dwell on high; He lays the lofty city (qiryāh) low.” The word frames a universal principle: prideful societies cannot stand before the sovereignty of God. Proverbs 8:3 Wisdom “calls out at the entrance of the gates, at the city (qiryāh) gates.” The city’s gate represents the place of judgment; qiryāh is thus the arena where divine wisdom confronts human conduct. Prophetic and Poetic Usage Qiryāh serves the prophets as a barometer of covenant faithfulness. Isaiah 24:10 envisions a “city of chaos” whose collapse mirrors the cosmic unraveling caused by sin. Zephaniah 3:6 pictures deserted defenses—evidence that neither walls nor alliances can preserve a rebellious populace. Conversely, Zechariah 8:4-5 foresees restored streets echoing with both the wisdom of elders and the laughter of children, an eschatological reversal of earlier desolation. Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Fortification: Several occurrences (e.g., Isaiah 27:10) emphasize ruined ramparts. Archaeology confirms widespread Late Iron Age destruction layers that align with Assyrian and Babylonian campaigns, validating the prophetic warnings tied to qiryāh. Theological Themes • Judgment and Mercy: Qiryāh can be razed (Isaiah 32:14) or renewed (Zechariah 8:4-5), illustrating both the severity and kindness of God. Implications for Ministry and Preaching 1. Urban Mission: The repeated moral assessment of the city challenges contemporary believers to seek the welfare of today’s urban centers (compare Jeremiah 29:7). Summary קִרְיָה paints a rich biblical portrait of civic life under the gaze of God. Whether depicting conquest, worship, wisdom, or ruin, the term reminds readers that entire communities rise or fall according to their relationship with the LORD—and that His redemptive plan ultimately culminates in a redeemed city where righteousness dwells forever. Forms and Transliterations הַקִּרְיָ֑ה הַקִּרְיָ֖ה הקריה מִקִּרְיַ֣ת מִקִּרְיַת־ מִקִּרְיָ֜ה מקריה מקרית מקרית־ קִ֝רְיַ֗ת קִרְיַ֖ת קִרְיַ֛ת קִרְיַ֣ת קִרְיַת־ קִרְיָ֑ה קִרְיָ֔ה קִרְיָ֖ה קִרְיָ֥ה קִרְיָֽה׃ קריה קריה׃ קרית קרית־ hakkirYah haq·qir·yāh haqqiryāh kirYah kirYat mikkirYah mikkirYat miq·qir·yāh miq·qir·yaṯ miq·qir·yaṯ- miqqiryāh miqqiryaṯ miqqiryaṯ- qir·yāh qir·yaṯ qir·yaṯ- qiryāh qiryaṯ qiryaṯ-Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 21:28 HEB: מֵֽחֶשְׁבּ֔וֹן לֶהָבָ֖ה מִקִּרְיַ֣ת סִיחֹ֑ן אָֽכְלָה֙ NAS: A flame from the town of Sihon; KJV: a flame from the city of Sihon: INT: Heshbon A flame the town of Sihon devoured Deuteronomy 2:36 Deuteronomy 3:4 1 Kings 1:41 1 Kings 1:45 Job 39:7 Psalm 48:2 Proverbs 10:15 Proverbs 11:10 Proverbs 18:11 Proverbs 18:19 Proverbs 29:8 Isaiah 1:21 Isaiah 1:26 Isaiah 22:2 Isaiah 24:10 Isaiah 25:2 Isaiah 25:3 Isaiah 26:5 Isaiah 29:1 Isaiah 32:13 Isaiah 33:20 Jeremiah 49:25 Lamentations 2:11 Hosea 6:8 29 Occurrences |
    |