קִרְיָה (qir.yah)
qir.yah
town
A:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-F
Word Overview
The word qiryah is a straightforward term for a town or city, appearing seven times in the Hebrew Bible. It functions as the Aramaic equivalent of the more common Hebrew qiryah (H7151), reflecting the linguistic shift that occurred during the Babylonian exile and subsequent return. In these texts, it simply denotes an inhabited settlement without adding specific political or religious nuance.
Its usage is concentrated in the book of Ezra, where it describes the physical locations involved in the rebuilding efforts. For instance, the text mentions people living in qiryah alongside those in open country (Ezra 2:25), distinguishing urban centers from rural villages. This practical distinction helps map the demographic and geographical reality of the returned community.
Translators typically render this word as "town" or "city," depending on the context’s scale. The term itself carries no inherent theological weight beyond its function as a place name or settlement descriptor. It serves as a neutral label for human habitation within the historical narrative of restoration.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qiryah simply means town or city. In Ezra, it marks the places where people lived after returning from exile. This helps us see God’s work in real life, not just in temples.
When we read about rebuilding towns, we remember that faith lives in everyday settings. Your home, workplace, and neighborhood are part of this story too. God cares about your daily life.
This word reminds us that restoration happens step by step. It is not always dramatic, but it is real. We can trust that God is present in our ordinary moments.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- city/ the6×
- in/ [the] city1×
- and/ city/ the1×
- [is] a city1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קִרְיְתָ֥/א3×
- קִרְיְתָ֨/א2×
- קִרְיָ֣א1×
- קִרְיְתָ֣/א1×
- וְ/קִרְיְתָ֥/א1×
- בְּ/קִרְיָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 4:12
Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and bad city, and have finished the walls and repaired the foundations.
This verse uses qiryah to describe Jerusalem as a rebellious city, showing how the term marks political tension during rebuilding.
-
Ezra 4:13
Be it known now to the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.
Here qiryah highlights fears that a rebuilt city might gain independence, revealing the political stakes of restoration.
-
Ezra 4:15
that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will see in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have started rebellions within it in the past. That is why this city was destroyed.
The reference to this city as rebellious in past records shows how qiryah connects present events to historical patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does qiryah mean in the Bible?
How is qiryah different from other words for city?
Why does Ezra use this word so often?
Every Occurrence (7 verses across 1 books)
Ezra 7 verses
and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over and settled in the city of Samaria, and in…
Ezra 4:12Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the…
Ezra 4:13Be it known now to the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or…
Ezra 4:15that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will see in the book of the records, and know…
Ezra 4:16We inform the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, then you will have no possession beyond the River.
Ezra 4:19I decreed, and search has been made, and it was found that this city has made insurrection against kings in the past,…
Ezra 4:21Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built until a decree is made by me.