צְרֵדָה (tse.re.dah)
tse.re.dah
Zeredah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun tseredah refers to Zeredah, a place name in the territory of Manasseh that means "fortress." It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, serving as the specific location where Jeroboam lived before he became king (1 Kings 11:26; 2 Chronicles 9:28). The sources identify it as a town or territory, highlighting its role as a stable base of operations for the future ruler.
One source also suggests that Zeredah may be another name for Zarethan, a known center for metalworking. If this identification is correct, the location’s significance extends beyond mere geography; it would connect Jeroboam to the skilled artisans who produced the bronze pillars and vessels for Solomon’s temple. This potential link adds a layer of industrial context to his rise from obscurity in a fortified town to the throne of Israel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Zeredah appears only twice in Scripture, yet it marks a crucial turning point in biblical history. It was the hometown of Jeroboam before he became king, a place where God’s plans were quietly unfolding long before the public stage opened. Though often overlooked, these brief mentions remind us that God sees and uses people in their ordinary settings.
Some scholars suggest Zeredah may be linked to Zarethan, a center for metalworking. If true, this connection places Jeroboam among skilled artisans who helped build Solomon’s temple. His rise from a fortified town to the throne shows how God can use unexpected backgrounds to shape history. We find comfort in knowing that our own quiet seasons are never wasted in God’s eyes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Zeredah1×
- <the>/ Zeredah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- צְרֵדָֽתָה\׃1×
- הַ/צְּרֵדָ֗ה1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 11:26
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, also lifted up his hand against the king.
This verse identifies Zeredah as Jeroboam's hometown, marking the starting point of his rise to power and highlighting God's sovereign use of ordinary places in history.
-
II Chronicles 4:17
The king cast them in the plain of the Jordan, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah.
Here Zeredah is mentioned as a location near where Solomon’s temple vessels were cast, potentially linking the town to the skilled craftsmanship that adorned God’s house.