צוּר (tsur)
tsur
Zur
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Tsur means "rock," a fitting title for two distinct figures in Scripture who share this identity. In Numbers 25:15 and 31:8, it identifies the father of Cozbi, one of the five Midianite princes killed during the judgment that followed Israel’s idolatry at Peor. This Tsur represents a lineage opposed to God’s people, his name standing in stark contrast to the stability he lacked.
A second man with this name appears in 1 Chronicles 8:30 as a member of the tribe of Benjamin. He is listed among the descendants of Kish, making him a relative of King Saul. Here, the name "Rock" connects to a family line that held significant political power in Israel’s early monarchy, grounding his identity in tribal heritage rather than foreign opposition.
While the common noun tsur frequently describes God as a solid refuge, these personal names use the term simply as a proper identifier. The sources do not suggest theological wordplay for either individual; instead, they highlight how a single Hebrew root can apply to both enemies and allies within Israel’s history. The repetition of this name underscores the ordinary nature of such titles in ancient naming conventions.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Tsur translates simply to "rock." In ancient Israel, names often reflected a person’s character or their family’s hopes. This word appears in Scripture as a personal identifier for men from very different backgrounds. For some, it marked a lineage opposed to God’s people; for others, it connected them to the tribe of Benjamin and the royal line of Saul.
While the common noun tsur is frequently used to describe God as a solid refuge, these specific individuals carry the name merely as a proper identifier. The sources do not suggest deep theological wordplay for either person. Instead, they highlight how a single Hebrew root could apply to both enemies and allies within Israel’s history.
This repetition underscores the ordinary nature of such titles in ancient naming conventions. It reminds us that God’s story unfolds through real people with real names, each playing a part in the broader narrative of His covenant with Israel.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Zur3×
- and/ Zur2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- צ֤וּר2×
- צ֑וּר1×
- וְ/צ֥וּר1×
- וְ/צ֣וּר1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 25:15
The name of the Midianite woman who was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur. He was head of the people of a fathers’ house in Midian.
This verse identifies Zur as the father of Cozbi, linking him directly to the Midianite lineage that led Israel into idolatry at Peor.
-
Numbers 31:8
They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.
Here Zur is listed among the five kings of Midian slain by Israel, showing his name attached to a political and military opposition against God’s people.
-
I Chronicles 8:30
with his firstborn son Abdon, Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab,
This entry places a different Zur in the tribe of Benjamin as a descendant of Kish, connecting him to the family line of King Saul.