7151. qiryah
Lexical Summary
qiryah: City, town

Original Word: קִרְיָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: qiryah
Pronunciation: keer-YAH
Phonetic Spelling: (kir-yaw')
KJV: city
NASB: city, town, cities
Word Origin: [from H7136 (קָרָה - To encounter) in the sense of flooring, i.e. building]

1. a city

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 Origin
from 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.
2. Qiryāh is commonly paired with descriptions such as “fortified,” “busy,” or “faithless,” inviting moral evaluation.
3. When conjoined with “gate” or “streets,” qiryāh calls attention to civic structures that symbolize justice or its collapse (Proverbs 8:3; Isaiah 29:2).

Distribution of Occurrences

• Conquest narratives: Deuteronomy 2:34; 3:6, 10.
• Covenant warning: Deuteronomy 13:12-18.
• Wisdom literature: Proverbs 8:3; 9:14.
• Psalms: Psalm 48:8; 55:9.
• Prophets: Isaiah 14:31; 24:10; 26:5; 27:10; 32:14; Jeremiah 49:25; Zephaniah 3:6, 14; Zechariah 8:4-5, among others.

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.
2. Civic Identity: Deuteronomy 13:12-18 requires an investigation when apostasy is rumored in “one of your cities (qiryāh).” The legislation presumes social cohesion and the collective responsibility of each town for covenant fidelity.
3. Market and Forum: Wisdom passages reveal lively commerce and legal proceedings at the gates, underscoring the city as the crucible of social ethics.

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.
• Corporate Accountability: The fate of a qiryāh is tied to communal righteousness or wickedness.
• Foreshadowing the New Jerusalem: Positive uses of qiryāh, especially in Psalms and prophetic restoration oracles, anticipate the ultimate holy city described in Revelation 21.

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).
2. Social Justice: The prominence of gates and marketplaces in qiryāh texts underscores the need for just economic and legal structures.
3. Eschatological Hope: Preachers may draw on Zechariah 8 to instill confidence that God is able to transform broken communities into places of peace and generational continuity.
4. Warning against Complacency: Isaiah’s proclamations to a “lofty city” offer sobering parallels to modern cultural pride.

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 GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman'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
HEB: לֹ֤א הָֽיְתָה֙ קִרְיָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׂגְבָ֖ה
NAS: there was no city that was too
KJV: even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong
INT: no become city which high

Deuteronomy 3:4
HEB: לֹ֤א הָֽיְתָה֙ קִרְיָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־
NAS: at that time; there was not a city which
KJV: at that time, there was not a city which we took
INT: not become A city which did not

1 Kings 1:41
HEB: מַדּ֥וּעַ קֽוֹל־ הַקִּרְיָ֖ה הוֹמָֽה׃
NAS: Why is the city making such an uproar?
KJV: Wherefore [is this] noise of the city being in an uproar?
INT: Why the sound is the city making

1 Kings 1:45
HEB: שְׂמֵחִ֔ים וַתֵּהֹ֖ם הַקִּרְיָ֑ה ה֥וּא הַקּ֖וֹל
NAS: rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar.
KJV: from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again.
INT: rejoicing an uproar the city This is the noise

Job 39:7
HEB: יִ֭שְׂחַק לַהֲמ֣וֹן קִרְיָ֑ה תְּשֻׁא֥וֹת נ֝וֹגֵ֗שׂ
NAS: the tumult of the city, The shoutings
KJV: the multitude of the city, neither regardeth
INT: scorns the tumult of the city the shoutings of the driver

Psalm 48:2
HEB: יַרְכְּתֵ֣י צָפ֑וֹן קִ֝רְיַ֗ת מֶ֣לֶךְ רָֽב׃
NAS: north, The city of the great
KJV: of the north, the city of the great
INT: the far north the city King of the great

Proverbs 10:15
HEB: ה֣וֹן עָ֭שִׁיר קִרְיַ֣ת עֻזּ֑וֹ מְחִתַּ֖ת
NAS: wealth is his fortress, The ruin
KJV: [is] his strong city: the destruction
INT: wealth the rich city his strong the ruin

Proverbs 11:10
HEB: צַ֭דִּיקִים תַּעֲלֹ֣ץ קִרְיָ֑ה וּבַאֲבֹ֖ד רְשָׁעִ֣ים
NAS: with the righteous, the city rejoices,
KJV: with the righteous, the city rejoiceth:
INT: the righteous rejoices the city perish the wicked

Proverbs 18:11
HEB: ה֣וֹן עָ֭שִׁיר קִרְיַ֣ת עֻזּ֑וֹ וּכְחוֹמָ֥ה
NAS: is his strong city, And like a high
KJV: [is] his strong city, and as an high
INT: wealth A rich city is his strong wall

Proverbs 18:19
HEB: אָ֗ח נִפְשָׁ֥ע מִקִּרְיַת־ עֹ֑ז [וּמְדֹונִים
NAS: a strong city, And contentions
KJV: [is harder to be won] than a strong city: and [their] contentions
INT: A brother offended city A strong brawling

Proverbs 29:8
HEB: לָ֭צוֹן יָפִ֣יחוּ קִרְיָ֑ה וַ֝חֲכָמִ֗ים יָשִׁ֥יבוּ
NAS: set a city aflame,
KJV: bring a city into a snare:
INT: Scornful set A city wise turn

Isaiah 1:21
HEB: הָיְתָ֣ה לְזוֹנָ֔ה קִרְיָ֖ה נֶאֱמָנָ֑ה מְלֵאֲתִ֣י
NAS: the faithful city has become
KJV: How is the faithful city become an harlot!
INT: has become A harlot city the faithful fruit

Isaiah 1:26
HEB: עִ֣יר הַצֶּ֔דֶק קִרְיָ֖ה נֶאֱמָנָֽה׃
NAS: of righteousness, A faithful city.
KJV: of righteousness, the faithful city.
INT: the city of righteousness city A faithful

Isaiah 22:2
HEB: עִ֚יר הֽוֹמִיָּ֔ה קִרְיָ֖ה עַלִּיזָ֑ה חֲלָלַ֙יִךְ֙
NAS: you exultant city; Your slain
KJV: a joyous city: thy slain
INT: town boisterous city exultant your slain

Isaiah 24:10
HEB: נִשְׁבְּרָ֖ה קִרְיַת־ תֹּ֑הוּ סֻגַּ֥ר
NAS: The city of chaos is broken down;
KJV: The city of confusion is broken down:
INT: is broken the city of chaos is shut

Isaiah 25:2
HEB: מֵעִיר֙ לַגָּ֔ל קִרְיָ֥ה בְצוּרָ֖ה לְמַפֵּלָ֑ה
NAS: A fortified city into a ruin;
KJV: [of] a defenced city a ruin:
INT: A city A heap city A fortified A ruin

Isaiah 25:3
HEB: עַם־ עָ֑ז קִרְיַ֛ת גּוֹיִ֥ם עָרִיצִ֖ים
NAS: will glorify You; Cities of ruthless
KJV: glorify thee, the city of the terrible
INT: people A strong Cities nations of ruthless

Isaiah 26:5
HEB: יֹשְׁבֵ֣י מָר֔וֹם קִרְיָ֖ה נִשְׂגָּבָ֑ה יַשְׁפִּילֶ֤נָּה
NAS: the unassailable city; He lays
KJV: the lofty city, he layeth it low;
INT: dwell high city the unassailable lays

Isaiah 29:1
HEB: אֲרִיאֵ֣ל אֲרִיאֵ֔ל קִרְיַ֖ת חָנָ֣ה דָוִ֑ד
NAS: Ariel the city [where] David
KJV: to Ariel, the city [where] David
INT: Ariel Ariel the city camped David

Isaiah 32:13
HEB: בָּתֵּ֣י מָשׂ֔וֹשׂ קִרְיָ֖ה עַלִּיזָֽה׃
NAS: houses [and for] the jubilant city.
KJV: of joy [in] the joyous city:
INT: houses the joyful city the jubilant

Isaiah 33:20
HEB: חֲזֵ֣ה צִיּ֔וֹן קִרְיַ֖ת מֽוֹעֲדֵ֑נוּ עֵינֶיךָ֩
NAS: upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts;
KJV: upon Zion, the city of our solemnities:
INT: Look Zion the city of our appointed your eyes

Jeremiah 49:25
HEB: (תְּהִלָּ֑ת ק) קִרְיַ֖ת מְשׂוֹשִֽׂי׃
NAS: has not been deserted, The town of My joy!
KJV: not left, the city of my joy!
INT: the city deep the town of my joy

Lamentations 2:11
HEB: וְיוֹנֵ֔ק בִּרְחֹב֖וֹת קִרְיָֽה׃ ס
NAS: faint In the streets of the city.
KJV: swoon in the streets of the city.
INT: and infants the streets of the city

Hosea 6:8
HEB: גִּלְעָ֕ד קִרְיַ֖ת פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן
NAS: Gilead is a city of wrongdoers,
KJV: Gilead [is] a city of them that work
INT: Gilead city work of wrongdoers

29 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7151
29 Occurrences


haq·qir·yāh — 2 Occ.
qir·yāh — 15 Occ.
qir·yaṯ — 9 Occ.
miq·qir·yāh — 1 Occ.
miq·qir·yaṯ — 2 Occ.

7150
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