צִנּוֹר (tsin.nur)
tsin.nur
water
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word tsinnur refers to a pipe, spout, or water conduit. It describes a physical channel designed to direct the flow of liquid, functioning much like a modern aqueduct or drainpipe. The term is concrete and technical, focusing on the object’s utility in moving water from one place to another.
This noun appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in 2 Samuel 5:8. In that context, it is part of David’s challenge to his troops regarding the capture of Jerusalem’s fortress. The verse mentions driving out the blind and the lame, those who hate David’s soul, implying they are unfit for service near these water conduits. Some translations render this as a derogatory remark about the inhabitants’ reliance on such infrastructure, while others see it as a metaphorical dismissal of their defenders.
Its rarity highlights its specific function in ancient urban planning. Unlike words for general streams or rivers, tsinnur implies human engineering—a constructed path for water. This precision reminds readers that biblical descriptions of city life often include detailed references to the infrastructure that sustained communities.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tsinnur describes a constructed water conduit, a pipe or spout designed to direct the flow of liquid in ancient cities. It appears only once in Scripture, in 2 Samuel 5:8, during David’s capture of Jerusalem. The text mentions driving out those who hate David, specifically referencing the blind and the lame near these water channels. This rare term highlights the importance of infrastructure in sustaining community life.
For your faith, this concrete detail reminds us that God cares about the practical realities of daily existence. Just as a tsinnur directs water to where it is needed, Scripture guides our spiritual lives with precision. We can trust that the same God who orchestrated David’s victory also provides for our needs in specific, tangible ways.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- by the/ water tunnel1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַּ/צִּנּ֔וֹר1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 5:8
David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him go up to the watercourse and strike those lame and blind, who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame can’t come into the house.”
This is the only occurrence of tsinnur in the Hebrew Bible, where it identifies a water conduit central to David's military strategy against the Jebusites.