צֵר (tser)
tser
Zer
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The name Tser appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, recorded in Joshua 19:35 as a fortified city within the territory of Naphtali. The lexicon sources identify its meaning as "flint," suggesting that the town’s name likely described either the rocky, hard stone of the local landscape or perhaps served as a metaphor for the strength and defensibility of the settlement itself.
While the text provides no further narrative detail about this specific location, its inclusion in the tribal allotments highlights the precise way land was divided among Israel’s tribes. The identification of Tser as a "flint" town offers a small but concrete glimpse into the physical geography of ancient Galilee, where rugged terrain often shaped the identity and names of the communities that lived there.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Tser appears only once in Scripture, nestled within the list of fortified cities assigned to the tribe of Naphtali in Joshua 19:35. Its meaning, likely "flint," paints a picture of a place defined by its rugged, rocky terrain. This concrete detail reminds us that God’s promises are grounded in real geography and actual communities, not abstract ideas.
When we read these ancient lists, it is easy to feel distant from the story. Yet, this single mention shows how carefully God kept track of every family and every plot of land during the conquest. It offers a quiet assurance that He knows the specifics of our lives just as intimately as He knew the flinty hills of Galilee.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Zer1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- צֵ֔ר1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 19:35
The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth,
This verse identifies Tser as one of the fortified cities belonging to Naphtali, anchoring the name in a specific historical and tribal context.