צֵר
𐤑𐤓
Tser
H6863 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun referring to a place name, likely signifying 'rock' or 'crag,' indicating a physical location characterized by rocky terrain. The word does not describe a generic 'rock,' but rather functions as a toponym identifying a specific locality, Tsêr (Zer) in the territory east of the Jordan River.
Semantic Range
rock (as location), rocky place, crag (as toponym); used exclusively as a proper noun for a fortified city (Tsêr, Zer) east of the Jordan River
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root צָרַר (tsarar), meaning 'to be narrow, to bind, to be in distress.' The derived form צֵר (tsêr) is a masculine noun or proper noun meaning 'rock.' Here it is used specifically as a place name. The root emphasizes narrowness, constraint, or something tightly formed, which in the physical sense comes to refer to a rock or crag, with the place name adopting that connotation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Tsêr (Zer) is mentioned in Joshua 19:35 as one of the fortified cities in the tribal allotment of Naphtali, east of the Sea of Kinneret (Galilee). The name reflects topographical features rather than ethnic or political identity. The connection to the root meaning 'to be narrow' supports the identification of the site as rocky or craggy terrain. Early translations sometimes render the place name as 'Zer' or 'Zer,' following the Septuagint's Ζήρ. English versions occasionally use 'Zer' but often transliterate the name rather than translate it. The usage of Tsêr as a toponym does not extend to a common noun for 'rock' elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible, where צֶרִי (tsuri) or סֶלַע (sela‘) are used for 'rock' or 'cliff.' Thus, its semantic scope is limited to its function as a place name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from צָרַר; rock; Tser, a place in Palestine; Zer.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צרר (ts-r-r) — to be narrow, to bind, to be in distress
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6862 | צַר | the constrictor |
| H6869 | צָרָה | in the constraining distress |
| H6872 | צְרוֹר | in a bound bundle of |
| H6887 | צָרַר | to cause distress |
| H6888 | צְרֵרָה | Enclosure-town |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6863-01 |
צֵ֔ר | tser | HNp |
Zer | Tsêr | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6863-01 |
Joshua 19:35 | צֵ֔ר | tser | HNp |
Zer | Tsêr |