Greek word · G5184

Τύρος

tyros

Tyre

Tyre (Hebrew Tsor, "rock"), an ancient Phoenician island-city that became a peninsula after Alexander's siege causeway (332 BC). In Roman times it was a free, wealthy trading city.

Appears 11 times in 11 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Τύρος, -ου, ἡ

Tyre, a maritime city of Phænicia: Mark 7:31, Acts 21:3, 7; Τ. κ, Σιδών, Matthew 11:21-22 15:21, Mark 3:8 7:24, Luke 6:17 10:13-14.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 15:21

Range of meaning

Tyre (Hebrew Tsor, "rock"), an ancient Phoenician island-city that became a peninsula after Alexander's siege causeway (332 BC). In Roman times it was a free, wealthy trading city.

Against the English

No translation issue. The meaning lies in what the name stood for.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Hebrew Bible, Tyre stands for proud, rich Gentile power under judgment (Isa 23; Ezek 26–28; Amos 1:9–10; Joel 3:4–8). Josephus calls the Tyrians the Jews' "bitterest enemies" (Against Apion 1.70). He also describes Kedasa (Kedesh), a Tyrian inland village "always at enmity" with the Galileans (Jewish War 4.105). Tyre depended on Galilean grain (compare Acts 12:20; 1 Kgs 5:9–11). The temple tax was paid in Tyrian silver shekels.

From the study of Matthew 11:21

Range of meaning

Two Phoenician port cities on the Mediterranean coast north-west of Galilee. They were Gentile, rich from trade, and ancient rivals and neighbours of Israel.

Against the English

English names them correctly, but modern readers lose their symbolic weight. To first-century Jews these were not neutral foreign towns. They were the textbook objects of prophetic judgment.

Used elsewhere in the period

Oracles against them: Isaiah 23; Ezekiel 26–28 (the proud 'prince of Tyre'); Joel 3:4–8 (they sold Judeans as slaves); Amos 1:9–10; Zechariah 9:2–4. Jezebel was a Sidonian princess (1 Kings 16:31). Josephus says the Tyrians were the Phoenicians most hostile to Jews (Against Apion 1.70). Yet people from 'around Tyre and Sidon' came to Jesus (Mark 3:8), and a Canaanite woman from that region shows great faith (Matthew 15:21–28).

From the study of Matthew 11:22

Range of meaning

The two leading Phoenician cities on the Mediterranean coast, in what is now Lebanon. In the Hebrew Bible they stand for commercial wealth, arrogance and idolatry. Several oracles are directed against them: Isaiah 23; Jeremiah 47:4; Ezekiel 26–28; Joel 3:4–8; Amos 1:9–10; Zechariah 9:2–4.

Against the English

To an English reader they are just place names. To Jesus' hearers they were proverbial: pagan cities that the prophets had already sentenced, and also living neighbours who were resented.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ezekiel 28 mocks the 'prince of Tyre' who said 'I am a god'. Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, 'king of the Sidonians' (1 Kings 16:31). Josephus says that among the Phoenicians the Tyrians were especially hostile to Jews (Against Apion 1.70), and he reports Tyrians killing and imprisoning Jews when the revolt against Rome broke out (Jewish War 2.478). Tyre's economic pull on Galilee was considerable, and its silver shekel was the standard coin for the Temple tax.

Where it appears

Matthew · 3

  1. Matthew 11:21 Τύρῳ Tyre

    “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

    Here: The great Gentile port city on the Phoenician coast, about 55 km from Chorazin. In the prophets it stands for arrogant, wealthy paganism under God's judgment.

  2. Matthew 11:22 Τύρῳ for Tyre

    But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

    Here: Dative case, meaning 'for Tyre'. Tyre was the great Phoenician port city on the coast north-west of Galilee. It was rich, pagan, and the target of prophetic oracles, and it serves here as the standard example of a Gentile city under judgment.

  3. Matthew 15:21 Τύρου of Tyre

    Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.

    Here: Tyre was a major Phoenician port city on the coast north-west of Galilee. It was a Gentile (non-Jewish) city, and its farmland and villages bordered Upper Galilee directly.

Mark · 3

  1. Mark 3:8 Τύρον Tyre

    Jerusalem, Idumea, the region beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to Him when they heard what great things He was doing.

  2. Mark 7:24 Τύρου of Tyre

    Jesus left that place and went to the region of Tyre. Not wanting anyone to know He was there, He entered a house, but was unable to escape their notice.

    Here: The great Phoenician port city north of Galilee: Gentile, pagan, rich, and remembered in Israel's prophets as a proud enemy. To go there was to step outside Jewish land.

  3. Mark 7:31 Τύρου of Tyre

    Then Jesus left the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.

Luke · 3

  1. Luke 6:17 Τύρου of Tyre

    Then Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of His disciples was there, along with a great number of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon.

  2. Luke 10:13 Τύρῳ Tyre

    Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

  3. Luke 10:14 Τύρῳ for Tyre

    But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 21:3 Τύρον· Tyre;

    After sighting Cyprus and passing south of it, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo.

  2. Acts 21:7 Τύρου Tyre

    When we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.