Lexical Summary Qiryath Arba or Qiryath Haarba: Kiriath Arba or Kiriath HaArba Original Word: קִרְיַת אַרְבַּע Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Kirjath-arba Or (with the article interposed) Qiryath ha- Arbaw (Neh. 11:25) {keer-yath' haw-ar-bah'}; from qiryah and Arba' or arba'; city of Arba, or city of the four (giants); Kirjath-Arba or Kirjath-ha-Arba, a place in Palestine -- Kirjath-arba. see HEBREW qiryah see HEBREW Arba' see HEBREW arba' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom qiryah and arba Definition "city of the four," an older name of Hebron (2275a) NASB Translation Kiriath-arba (9). Brown-Driver-Briggs קִרְיַת אַרְבַּע proper name, of a location older name of Hebron; πόλις Αρβο(κ), Καρ(ι)αθαρβοκ, etc. (probably = fourfold city (otherwise Joshua 14:15; Joshua 15:13; Joshua 21:11), see especially GFM); — Joshua 14:15 (J E D), Judges 1:10b (אַרְבַּ֑ע ׳ק), also Genesis 23:2; Joshua 15:13,54; Joshua 20:7; Joshua 21:11 (all P); ׳הָא ׳ק Genesis 35:27 (P) Nehemiah 11:25. — see חֶבְרוֺן. Topical Lexicon Name and Identification קִרְיַת אַרְבַּע, rendered “Kiriath-arba,” is the earlier name for Hebron, a strategic highland city approximately nineteen miles (thirty kilometers) south-south-west of Jerusalem in the hill country of Judah. The compound title memorializes Arba, “the greatest man among the Anakim” (Joshua 14:15), whose formidable stature symbolized the giant adversaries Israel would face—and, by God’s help, overcome. Occurrences in Scripture Genesis 23:2; 35:27 Joshua 14:15; 15:13; 15:54; 20:7; 21:11 Patriarchal Heritage The name first surfaces in the patriarchal narratives at the death of Sarah: “So Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan” (Genesis 23:2). Abraham’s purchase of the cave of Machpelah there secures the first legal foothold of Israel in the Promised Land, prefiguring the full inheritance that would follow. Later, both Isaac and Jacob dwell in the vicinity (Genesis 35:27), embedding the location in covenant memory. Thus, Kiriath-arba becomes a tangible witness to God’s promises spanning generations. Conquest and Allotment Under Joshua the ancient fears of the Anakim are answered. Caleb, who once urged faith at Kadesh, receives Kiriath-arba as his inheritance: “Therefore Hebron became an inheritance of Caleb… because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel” (Joshua 14:14). The renaming from Kiriath-arba to Hebron (“association, fellowship”) underscores the triumph of faith over fear and marks the transition from Canaanite dominance to Israelite covenant possession. Levitical City and Refuge Hebron is numbered among the six cities of refuge (Joshua 20:7) and assigned to the priestly Kohathites (Joshua 21:11). The transformation from a stronghold of giants to a sanctuary of mercy testifies to the reconciling character of the Lord, who redeems places once marked by hostility and re-purposes them for grace and justice. Judges and Post-Exilic Mention Judges 1:10 recounts Judah’s further victories there, consolidating control after Joshua. Centuries later, during Nehemiah’s resettlement, Kiriath-arba/Hebron again appears as a populated Judean center (Nehemiah 11:25), illustrating the Lord’s preservation of His people and their heritage through exile and return. Theological Themes 1. Covenant Fulfillment: From Abraham’s deed to Caleb’s inheritance, Kiriath-arba illustrates the progressive realization of divine promises. Archaeological and Historical Note Modern-day Tell Rumeida and the surrounding city of Hebron preserve continuous occupation layers dating to the Bronze Age. The venerable Oak of Mamre, traditional burial caverns, and successive fortifications corroborate the city’s antiquity and sustained significance. Practical Ministry Applications • Persevering Faith: Caleb’s forty-five-year wait encourages believers to cling to God’s promises despite delay. Summary Kiriath-arba stands at the intersection of patriarchal beginnings, conquest victories, priestly ministry, and eschatological hope. From Sarah’s tomb to Caleb’s triumph, from a Canaanite citadel to a Levitical haven, the site magnifies the faithfulness of God who turns strongholds of fear into strongholds of fellowship. Forms and Transliterations אַרְבַּ֑ע אַרְבַּ֔ע אַרְבַּ֛ע אַרְבַּ֨ע ארבע הָֽאַרְבַּ֑ע הָֽאַרְבַּע֙ הארבע ’ar·ba‘ ’arba‘ arBa hā’arba‘ hā·’ar·ba‘ haarBaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 23:2 HEB: שָׂרָ֗ה בְּקִרְיַ֥ת אַרְבַּ֛ע הִ֥וא חֶבְר֖וֹן NAS: died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) KJV: died in Kirjatharba; the same [is] Hebron INT: died Sarah Kiriath-arba he the same Hebron Genesis 35:27 Joshua 14:15 Joshua 15:13 Joshua 15:54 Joshua 20:7 Joshua 21:11 Judges 1:10 Nehemiah 11:25 9 Occurrences |