A Moabite city, later destroyed by the Babylonians
Kir
Named in 7 verses across 4 books, first in 1 Samuel 22:3.
קִירKir
קִיר חֶרֶשׂKir-hareseth
מִצְפֶּהMizpeh
Also called Kir-hareseth, Mizpeh.
The name means “a city; wall; meeting.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Kir Written by AI
Kir, also referred to as Mizpeh, was a city in Moab, east of the Dead Sea. It is mentioned several times in the prophetic books of Isaiah and Jeremiah in the context of God's judgment against Moab. Isaiah prophesied that Kir would be destroyed in a night (Isaiah 15:1), and Jeremiah foretold that Kir would face judgment and destruction by the Babylonians (Jeremiah 48:1, 23). The city was known for its fortifications, as the name "Kir" means "wall" or "fortress." According to 2Ki.3.25, during the campaign of the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom against Moab, they destroyed the cities and stopped up the springs of water, including those of Kir-hareseth, which may be another name for Kir. The exact location of Kir is uncertain, but it was likely situated in southern Moab, possibly near the modern-day town of Al-Karak.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
This entry is on the name Kir, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.
A wall or fortress, a place to which Tiglath-pileser carried the Syrians captive after he had taken the city of Damascus (2 Kings 16:9; Amos 1:5; 9:7). Isaiah (22:6), who also was contemporary with these events, mentions it along with Elam. Some have supposed that Kir is a variant of Cush (Susiana), on the south of Elam.
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
31.181, 35.702 See it on a map
Where the Bible names it
- 1 Samuel 22:3
From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I learn what God will do for me.”
- 2 Kings 3:25
They destroyed the cities, and each man threw stones on every good field until it was covered. They stopped up every spring and cut down every good tree. Only Kir-haraseth was left with stones in place, but men with slings surrounded it and attacked it as well.
- Isaiah 15:1
This is the burden against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is devastated, destroyed in a night!
- Isaiah 16:7
Therefore let Moab wail; let them wail together for Moab. Moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, you who are utterly stricken.
- Isaiah 16:11
Therefore my heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir-heres.
- Jeremiah 48:31
Therefore I will wail for Moab; I will cry out for all of Moab; I will moan for the men of Kir-heres.
- Jeremiah 48:36
Therefore My heart laments like a flute for Moab; it laments like a flute for the men of Kir-heres, because the wealth they acquired has perished.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.