תּוּר (tur)
tur
to spy
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 22 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb tur describes the act of moving about to seek out or explore, often with a specific purpose in mind. It appears most frequently in the book of Numbers, where it characterizes the twelve men sent to scout the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:17). In this context, the word captures the physical journey of investigation, as these spies traversed the territory to gather intelligence about its people and resources.
Beyond military or geographical reconnaissance, tur also carries a commercial sense. The participle form can refer to a merchant or trader who travels from place to place (1 Kings 10:15). This dual usage highlights a shared root idea of movement with intent, whether that intent is to assess a battlefield or to find goods for trade. Wisdom literature further extends this meaning, using the verb to describe the intellectual effort of searching out understanding and truth (Ecclesiastes 7:25).
A distinct nuance appears in the Hiphil stem, which shifts the focus from self-directed exploration to guiding others. In Psalm 18:33 and Proverbs 12:26, the verb describes one who leads or shows the way. Here, the righteous person acts as a guide for a friend, revealing the path forward. This usage transforms the concept of "spying out" into an act of helpful direction, emphasizing clarity and support rather than mere observation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word tur captures the act of moving with a specific purpose, whether to scout a new land or to seek understanding. In Numbers, twelve men were sent to explore Canaan, their journey representing more than just physical travel. It involved gathering truth about what lay ahead. This same root appears in wisdom literature, where the heart searches for meaning and direction. The word reminds us that seeking is a natural part of life, whether we are navigating new circumstances or looking for deeper insight.
Sometimes this searching leads to fear, as when the spies brought back a report focused on obstacles. Other times, it leads to clarity, like Joshua and Caleb who saw God’s promise in the same land. The verb also shifts to describe guidance, where one person shows another the way forward. This transformation from observation to direction highlights how our own searchings can become a source of help for others.
When you face uncertainty, remember that seeking is not a sign of weakness but of engagement with your world. You do not need to have all the answers immediately. The path often reveals itself step by step, through careful observation and trusted counsel. May your own searchings lead you to peace and clear direction in the days ahead.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 22 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ spy out6×
- to/ seek out2×
- the/ merchants2×
- you will go about1×
- you spied out1×
- those/ [who] spied out1×
- they had spied out1×
- so/ they may spy out1×
- it explores1×
- he makes a search1×
- from/ spying out1×
- and/ to/ examine1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לָ/ת֣וּר4×
- לָ/ת֥וּר3×
- תָּר֣וּ1×
- תַּרְתֶּ֣ם1×
- תַּ֣רְתִּי1×
- תָתֻ֜רוּ1×
- מִ/תּ֣וּר1×
- לָ/ת֖וּר1×
- יָתֵ֣ר1×
- יְת֣וּר1×
- וַ/יָּתֻ֣רוּ1×
- וַ/יָּתִ֥ירוּ1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 13:2
“Send men, that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel. Of every tribe of their fathers, you shall send a man, every one a prince among them.”
This verse establishes the primary narrative context where Moses commissions men to physically explore the land of Canaan.
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Numbers 14:7
They spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land.
Caleb uses this term to describe their shared experience of surveying the territory, contrasting his faithful view with the others' fear.
-
Ecclesiastes 7:25
I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.
The Preacher applies the word to the intellectual effort of seeking wisdom and understanding the schemes of life.
-
Proverbs 12:26
A righteous person is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
In this wisdom context, the verb describes how a righteous person guides or shows the way to a friend, shifting from spying to leading.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word tur mean?
Where is this word most commonly found in the Bible?
How is this word different from simply looking?
Every Occurrence (22 verses across 8 books)
Numbers 13 verses
They set forward from the Mount of Yahweh three days’ journey. The ark of Yahweh’s covenant went before them three…
Numbers 13:2“Send men, that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel. Of every tribe of their…
Numbers 13:16These are the names of the men who Moses sent to spy out the land. Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua.
Numbers 13:17Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way by the South, and go up into the hill…
Numbers 13:21So they went up, and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, to the entrance of Hamath.
Numbers 13:25They returned from spying out the land at the end of forty days.
Numbers 13:32They brought up an evil report of the land which they had spied out to the children of Israel, saying, “The land,…
Numbers 14:6Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of those who spied out the land, tore their clothes.
Numbers 14:7They spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out,…
Numbers 14:34After the number of the days in which you spied out the land, even forty days, for every day a year, you will bear your…
Numbers 14:36The men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation to murmur against him by…
Numbers 14:38But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive of those men who went to spy out the land.
Numbers 15:39It shall be to you for a fringe, that you may see it, and remember all Yahweh’s commandments, and do them; and that you…