צֹ֫עַר (tso.ar)
tso.ar
Zoar
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tsoar refers to Zoar, a small city located at the southeastern tip of the Dead Sea. Its name literally means "insignificance" or "little," a fitting title for a settlement that was minor compared to its powerful neighbors Sodom and Gomorrah. In the biblical narrative, this city serves as a place of refuge, spared from the divine judgment that destroys the surrounding region.
According to Genesis 19, Lot flees to Zoar after being warned by angels to escape the coming destruction. The text highlights the contrast between the city's small stature and its survival, showing how God’s mercy extends even to the least significant places when requested. This event is later referenced in prophetic books like Jeremiah and Isaiah, where Zoar symbolizes a remnant that endures amidst widespread ruin.
The word appears nine times in Scripture, primarily in Genesis but also in the prophetic literature. Its recurrence underscores its role as a symbol of preservation. While the larger cities fell, Zoar remained, illustrating a theological theme where God’s grace protects those who seek safety, regardless of their size or status.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Zoar literally means "little" or "insignificant," yet it holds a profound place in Scripture as a city of refuge. When divine judgment swept through the Jordan valley, this small settlement was spared, offering Lot a place to breathe and recover from the trauma he had just escaped. It reminds us that God’s mercy is not limited by size or status; even the smallest places can become sanctuaries of grace when we seek safety in Him.
Later prophets used Zoar as a symbol of survival amidst ruin, showing that preservation often comes to those who remain humble and dependent on God. The city’s story invites us to trust that our current circumstances, however modest they may seem, are held within God’s care. Whether we feel overlooked or overwhelmed, we can find comfort in the knowledge that God sees the little things and protects His people with tender attention.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Zoar4×
- from/ Zoar2×
- [is] Zoar2×
- in/ Zoar1×
- Zoar/ towards1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- צֹֽעַר\׃3×
- צֽוֹעַר\׃1×
- צֹֽעֲרָ/ה\׃1×
- צֹ֖עַר1×
- צֹ֑עַר1×
- מִ/צֹּ֙עַר֙1×
- מִ/צּ֜וֹעַר1×
- בְּ/צ֑וֹעַר1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 19:22
Hurry, escape there, for I can’t do anything until you get there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
This verse explains the origin of the city's name, linking its identity directly to the urgency of God's command to escape judgment.
-
Genesis 13:10
Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar.
Lot’s view of the Jordan plain "as you go to Zoar" highlights the contrast between the fertile land he chose and the small city that would later save him.
-
Isaiah 15:5
My heart cries out for Moab! Her nobles flee to Zoar, to Eglath Shelishiyah; for they go up by the ascent of Luhith with weeping; for on the way to Horonaim, they raise up a cry of destruction.
The nobles fleeing to Zoar during Moab’s crisis show how the city became a recognized symbol of refuge in times of national disaster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Zoar mean?
Why was Zoar spared from destruction?
Where does Zoar appear in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (9 verses across 4 books)
Genesis 6 verses
Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh…
Genesis 14:2they made war with Bera, king of Sodom; Birsha, king of Gomorrah; Shinab, king of Admah; Shemeber, king of Zeboiim; and…
Genesis 14:8The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called…
Genesis 19:22Hurry, escape there, for I can’t do anything until you get there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
Genesis 19:23The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar.
Genesis 19:30Lot went up out of Zoar, and lived in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he was afraid to live in Zoar.…