Strong's Lexicon tsur: Rock, Cliff, Boulder Original Word: צוּר Word Origin: From the root verb צוּר (tsur), meaning "to confine," "to bind," or "to besiege." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G4073 (petra): Often used in the New Testament to convey similar imagery of strength and stability, as seen in Matthew 16:18, where Jesus refers to Peter as the "rock" upon which He will build His church. Usage: The Hebrew word "tsur" primarily denotes a rock or a cliff, often symbolizing strength, stability, and protection. In the biblical context, it is frequently used metaphorically to describe God as a reliable refuge and source of salvation. The imagery of God as a "rock" emphasizes His unchanging nature, dependability, and the security He provides to His people. Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient Near Eastern context, rocks and cliffs were natural fortresses and places of refuge. They provided physical protection against enemies and harsh weather. This cultural understanding is reflected in the biblical usage of "tsur" as a metaphor for God's protective and steadfast nature. The Israelites, living in a land with many rocky terrains, would have readily understood the significance of God being their "rock." NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition rock, cliff NASB Translation Rock (10), rock (54), rocks (7), rocky (1), stones (1), strength (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. צוּר noun masculineJob 29:6 rock, cliff; — ׳צ absolute Exodus 17:6 +, construct Deuteronomy 8:15 +; suffix צוּרִי 2 Samuel 22:3, etc.; plural צֻרִים Numbers 23:9 +, צוּרוֺת Job 28:10; construct צוּרֵי 1 Samuel 24:3 (Gi v.1 Samuel 24:2); — 1. a. rocky wall, cliff, Exodus 17:6 (twice in verse) (E), Deuteronomy 8:15 (הַחַלָּמִישׁ ׳צ), Isaiah 48:21 (twice in verse); Psalm 78:15; Psalm 78:20; Psalm 105:41; Psalm 114:8; ("" חַלָּמִישׁ); ׳בּוֺא בַצּ Isaiah 2:10, בִּמְעָרוֺת צֻרִים Isaiah 2:19, ׳בְּנִקְרוֺת הַצּ Isaiah 2:21, compare Exodus 33:21,22 (JE); yielding honey (from its clefts) Psalm 81:17 (compare Deuteronomy 32:13; Dy PerlesAnal. 34 We read צוּף); as look-out Numbers 23:9 (JE), home of goats 1 Samuel 24:3 (Gi v.1 Samuel 24:2), snow-covered Jeremiah 18:14; bearing (olives for) oil Deuteronomy 32:13 (׳חַלְמִישׁ צ), Job 29:6; resort of homeless Job 24:8, pierced by miners Job 28:10, compare perhaps נְחָלִים ׳שִׁית בְּצ אוֺפִיר Job 22:24 deposit (thy) gold in the rock of the wadys (most below צֹר pebble); as quarry, figurative of Abraham as ancestor of Israel Isaiah 51:1; place of security 1 Chronicles 11:15, הַמִּישׁוֺר ׳צ Jeremiah 21:13 (of city), figurative Psalm 27:5; Psalm 61:3; symbol of firmness Nahum 1:6; Job 14:18; Job 18:4; enduring material Job 19:24. b. rock with flat surface 2 Samuel 21:10; Proverbs 30:19. c. block of stone, boulder Judges 6:21; Judges 13:19 (as altar); compare צוּר מִכְשׁוֺל Isaiah 8:14 ("" נֶגֶף אֶבֶן). d. rock with specific name, עוֺרֵב ׳צ Judges 7:25; Isaiah 10:26. 2. a. figurative of God (33 t.) as support and defence of his people (often "" אֱלֹהִים, ׳י, etc.), מָעֻזֵּךְ ׳צ Isaiah 17:10, מָעוֺז ׳צ Psalm 31:3, עֻזִּי ׳צ Psalm 62:8, מָעוֺן ׳צ, Psalm 71:3, יְשֻׁעָתוֺ ׳צ Deuteronomy 32:15 compare 2 Samuel 22:47b (but strike out, see "" Psalm 18:47), Psalm 89:27; Psalm 95:1, וִישׁוּעָתִי ׳צ Psalm 62:3; Psalm 62:7, מַחְסִי ׳צ Psalm 94:22; יִשְׂרָאֵל ׳צ Isaiah 30:29; 2 Samuel 23:3 (personified), צוּרִי Psalm 18:3; Psalm 18:47 = 2 Samuel 22:3,47a, >BIBLE:Psalm 19:15>; Psalm 28:1; Psalm 92:16; Psalm 144:1, לְבָבִי ׳צ Psalm 73:26, צוּרֵנוּ Deuteronomy 32:31, צוּרָם Deuteronomy 32:30; Psalm 78:35; with בְּ essent. ׳בְּיָהּ י עוֺלָמִים ׳צ Isaiah 26:4 (compare Psalm 62:8; see ב I. 7 c); as proper name, of deity (the Rock Deuteronomy 32:4,18 (יְלָֽדְךָ ׳צ), Deuteronomy 32:37; Habakkuk 1:12, +(perhaps) Psalm 75:6 (read בַּצּוּד, see צַוָּאר; see also מְּדָהצוּר). b. of a heathen god Deuteronomy 32:31, compare Isaiah 44:3, מִי צוּר ׳מִבַּלְעֲדֵי א 2 Samuel 22:32 "" Psalm 18:32, compare 1 Samuel 2:2. — See also בֵּית צוּר and חֶלְקַת הַצֻּרִים. — Psalm 89:44 see צֹד below III. צרר, Psalm 49:15 see צוּרָה below III. צור. above Strong's Exhaustive Concordance edge, mighty God one, rock, sharp, stone, strength, strong Or tsur {tsoor}; from tsuwr; properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous) -- edge, X (mighty) God (one), rock, X sharp, stone, X strength, X strong. See also Beyth Tsuwr. see HEBREW tsuwr see HEBREW Beyth Tsuwr Forms and Transliterations בְּ֝צ֗וּר בְּצ֣וּר בְּצוּר־ בַּ֭צּוּרוֹת בַּצּ֥וּר בַצּ֔וּר בַצּ֗וּר בצור בצור־ בצורות הַצֻּר֙ הַצֻּרִ֔ים הַצּ֑וּר הַצּ֖וּר הַצּ֗וּר הַצּ֣וּר הַצּֽוּר׃ הַצּוּר֙ הַצּוּר֮ הצור הצור׃ הצר הצרים וְ֝צ֗וּר וְהַצֻּרִ֖ים וְצ֖וּר וְצ֣וּר וְצ֥וּר וּ֝מִצּ֗וּר וּבְצ֖וּר וּלְצ֨וּר ובצור והצרים ולצור ומצור וצור כְצוּרֵ֖נוּ כצורנו לְֽצוּר־ לְצ֣וּר לְצ֥וּר לצור לצור־ מִצּ֖וּר מִצּ֛וּר מצור צ֔וּר צ֖וּר צ֝֗וּר צ֝וּרִ֗י צ֣וּר צ֥וּר צ֨וּר ׀ צ֭וּר צ֭וּרִי צֻ֭רִים צֻרִ֑ים צֻרִ֔ים צֻרִים֙ צֽוּר׃ צוּרִ֑י צוּרִ֖י צוּרִ֗י צוּרִ֥י צוּרִי֮ צוּרֵ֥י צוּרָ֑ם צוּרָ֣ם צוּר־ צור צור־ צור׃ צורי צורם צרים baṣ·ṣū·rō·wṯ baṣ·ṣūr ḇaṣ·ṣūr baṣṣūr ḇaṣṣūr baṣṣūrōwṯ batzTzur Batztzurot bə·ṣūr bə·ṣūr- bəṣūr bəṣūr- betzur chetzuRenu haṣ·ṣu·rîm haṣ·ṣur haṣ·ṣūr haṣṣur haṣṣūr haṣṣurîm hatzTzur hatztzuRim ḵə·ṣū·rê·nū ḵəṣūrênū lə·ṣūr lə·ṣūr- ləṣūr ləṣūr- letzur miṣ·ṣūr miṣṣūr mitzTzur ṣū·rām ṣū·rê ṣū·rî ṣu·rîm ṣūr ṣūr- ṣūrām ṣūrê ṣūrî ṣurîm Tzur tzuRam tzuRei tzuRi tzuRim ū·ḇə·ṣūr ū·lə·ṣūr ū·miṣ·ṣūr ūḇəṣūr ūləṣūr uleTzur ūmiṣṣūr umitzTzur uveTzur vatzTzur vehatztzuRim veTzur wə·haṣ·ṣu·rîm wə·ṣūr wəhaṣṣurîm wəṣūrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 17:6 HEB: שָּׁ֥ם ׀ עַֽל־ הַצּוּר֮ בְּחֹרֵב֒ וְהִכִּ֣יתָ NAS: you there on the rock at Horeb; KJV: before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; INT: there on the rock Horeb shall strike Exodus 17:6 Exodus 33:21 Exodus 33:22 Numbers 23:9 Deuteronomy 8:15 Deuteronomy 32:4 Deuteronomy 32:13 Deuteronomy 32:15 Deuteronomy 32:18 Deuteronomy 32:30 Deuteronomy 32:31 Deuteronomy 32:31 Deuteronomy 32:37 Joshua 5:2 Joshua 5:3 Judges 6:21 Judges 7:25 Judges 13:19 1 Samuel 2:2 1 Samuel 24:2 2 Samuel 21:10 2 Samuel 22:3 2 Samuel 22:32 2 Samuel 22:47 77 Occurrences |