7153. Qiryath Arba or Qiryath Haarba
Lexical Summary
Qiryath Arba or Qiryath Haarba: Kiriath Arba or Kiriath HaArba

Original Word: קִרְיַת אַרְבַּע
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Qiryath `Arba`
Pronunciation: keer-YAHT ar-BAH or keer-YAHT ha-ar-BAH
Phonetic Spelling: (keer-yath' ar-bah')
KJV: Kirjath-arba
NASB: Kiriath-arba
Word Origin: [from H7151 (קִריָה - city) and H704 (אַרבַּע - Arba) or H702 (אַרבַּע אַרבָּעָה - four)]

1. city of Arba, or city of the four (giants)
2. Kirjath-Arba or Kirjath-ha-Arba, a place in Israel

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 Origin
from 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

Judges 1:10

Nehemiah 11:25

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.
2. Faith versus Fear: The city contrasts the dread inspired by Arba and the Anakim with the steadfast confidence of Caleb.
3. Refuge and Atonement: As a city of refuge, Hebron prefigures Christ, the ultimate sanctuary for the repentant (Hebrews 6:18).
4. Resurrection Hope: The patriarchal tombs at Machpelah root future resurrection in a real place within the land, anticipating the bodily resurrection affirmed in Scripture.

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.
• Leadership and Legacy: Abraham’s foresight in purchasing a burial site models stewardship that blesses future generations.
• Mercy in Community: The city of refuge legislation calls congregations to uphold justice tempered by compassion.

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‘ haarBa
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman'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
HEB: מַמְרֵ֖א קִרְיַ֣ת הָֽאַרְבַּ֑ע הִ֣וא חֶבְר֔וֹן
NAS: at Mamre of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron),
KJV: unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which [is] Hebron,
INT: to his father Mamre of Kiriath-arba he which Hebron

Joshua 14:15
HEB: לְפָנִים֙ קִרְיַ֣ת אַרְבַּ֔ע הָאָדָ֧ם הַגָּד֛וֹל
NAS: was formerly Kiriath-arba; [for Arba] was the greatest
KJV: before [was] Kirjatharba; [which Arba was] a great
INT: of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-arba man was the greatest

Joshua 15:13
HEB: אֶת־ קִרְיַ֥ת אַרְבַּ֛ע אֲבִ֥י הָעֲנָ֖ק
NAS: to Joshua, [namely], Kiriath-arba, [Arba being] the father
INT: of the LORD to Joshua Kiriath-arba the father of Anak

Joshua 15:54
HEB: וְחֻמְטָ֗ה וְקִרְיַ֥ת אַרְבַּ֛ע הִ֥יא חֶבְר֖וֹן
NAS: and Humtah and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron),
KJV: And Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which [is] Hebron,
INT: and Humtah and Kiriath-arba he which Hebron

Joshua 20:7
HEB: וְאֶת־ קִרְיַ֥ת אַרְבַּ֛ע הִ֥יא חֶבְר֖וֹן
NAS: of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron)
KJV: Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which [is] Hebron,
INT: country of Ephraim and Kiriath-arba he which Hebron

Joshua 21:11
HEB: אֶת־ קִרְיַת֩ אַרְבַּ֨ע אֲבִ֧י הָֽעֲנ֛וֹק
NAS: Thus they gave them Kiriath-arba, [Arba being] the father
INT: gave like Kiriath-arba the father of Anak

Judges 1:10
HEB: לְפָנִ֖ים קִרְיַ֣ת אַרְבַּ֑ע וַיַּכּ֛וּ אֶת־
NAS: formerly [was] Kiriath-arba); and they struck
KJV: before [was] Kirjatharba:) and they slew
INT: of Hebron formerly Kirjath-arba beat Sheshai

Nehemiah 11:25
HEB: יָֽשְׁב֞וּ בְּקִרְיַ֤ת הָֽאַרְבַּע֙ וּבְנֹתֶ֔יהָ וּבְדִיבֹן֙
NAS: lived in Kiriath-arba and its towns,
KJV: dwelt at Kirjatharba, and [in] the villages
INT: of Judah lived Kiriath-arba towns Dibon

9 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7153
9 Occurrences


’ar·ba‘ — 7 Occ.
hā·’ar·ba‘ — 2 Occ.

7152
Top of Page
Top of Page