Hebrew word · H7025

קִיר חֶרֶשׂ

kir-

Kir-hareseth

Qir means 'wall,' and by extension a walled town or citadel. Ḥaraset/ḥeres is of uncertain meaning. It is often connected with ḥeres, 'potsherd, earthenware,' though other explanations of the name have been proposed.

Appears 10 times in 5 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

Kir-hareseth or Kir-hares or Kir-haresh = "wall of potsherds"

one of the two chief strongholds of Moab

Another name of qir (קִיר "Kir" H7024B)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 2 Kings 3:25

Range of meaning

Qir means 'wall,' and by extension a walled town or citadel. Ḥaraset/ḥeres is of uncertain meaning. It is often connected with ḥeres, 'potsherd, earthenware,' though other explanations of the name have been proposed. The same place is called Kir-hareseth (here; Isa 16:7), Kir-heres (Isa 16:11; Jer 48:31, 36), and probably 'Kir of Moab' (Isa 15:1).

Against the English

English versions keep it as a proper name, spelled variously (Kir-haraseth, Kir Hareseth). Ancient translations did not: the Septuagint and Vulgate translate the parts as ordinary words ('wall,' 'torn down,' 'earthen').

Used elsewhere in the period

Isaiah 15–16 and Jeremiah 48 treat it as a chief city of Moab, mourned for its 'raisin-cakes' (Isa 16:7). It is usually identified with modern el-Kerak, a natural fortress on a high ridge with steep valleys around it. The Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone, c. 840 BCE) describes Mesha building up a royal quarter called QRḤH. Whether that is related to this name is debated.

From the study of Isaiah 16:11

Range of meaning

The name of Moab's chief fortified city, almost certainly modern al-Karak in Jordan, on a steep spur above the Dead Sea plain. Qîr means 'wall' or 'walled town'. The meaning of the second element is uncertain: it may be related to ḥereś ('potsherd'), giving something like 'town of potsherds', or it may be a non-Israelite name reshaped by Hebrew speakers.

Against the English

Spellings vary: Kir-heres, Kir Heres, Kir-haresh (KJV), Kir-hareseth (Isa 16:7; 2 Kgs 3:25). They are forms of the same city's name.

Used elsewhere in the period

2 Kgs 3:25–27: Mesha king of Moab held out at Kir-hareseth against Israel, Judah and Edom and sacrificed his firstborn son on the wall. Jer 48:31, 36 has 'the men of Kir-heres'. Isa 15:1 has 'Kir of Moab'.

From the study of Isaiah 16:7

Range of meaning

A place name: Moab's royal fortress city, also called Kir-heres (Jeremiah 48:31, 36) and probably 'Kir of Moab' (Isaiah 15:1). Qir means 'wall' or 'walled city'. The meaning of the second part is debated: 'potsherd/brick' (from ḥeres), or perhaps a form meaning 'new city'.

Against the English

English versions simply transliterate the name. The Vulgate translated it as a description, 'walls of baked brick', and that hides that it is a city.

Used elsewhere in the period

2 Kings 3:25: the Israelite–Judean–Edomite army besieges Kir-hareseth, and there King Mesha of Moab sacrifices his firstborn on the wall. Isaiah 16:11; Jeremiah 48:31, 36. Usually identified with el-Kerak, a natural fortress on a high plateau east of the Dead Sea.

Where it appears

2 Kings · 2

  1. 2 Kings 3:25 בַּקִּ֖יר חֲרָ֑שֶׂת in <the> Kir, Hareseth

    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.

    Here: Qir is the ordinary Hebrew word for 'wall' and is also used for a walled town (Isa 15:1 'Kir of Moab'). Here it begins the name of Moab's stronghold. The Hebrew puts 'the' before it, which suggests the word was still heard as 'the Wall/Citadel.'

Isaiah · 4

  1. Isaiah 16:7 קִיר־ חֲרֶ֛שֶׂת Kir, Hareseth

    Therefore let Moab wail; let them wail together for Moab. Moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, you who are utterly stricken.

    Here: The first part of the city's name. Qir means 'wall' or 'walled town'.

  2. Isaiah 16:11 לְקִ֥יר חָֽרֶשׂ׃ for Kir, Heres

    Therefore my heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir-heres.

    Here: 'For Kir-.' Qîr means 'wall' or 'walled town'. This is the first half of the name of Moab's great fortress city.

Jeremiah · 4

  1. Jeremiah 48:31 קִֽיר־ חֶ֖רֶשׂ Kir, Heres

    Therefore I will wail for Moab; I will cry out for all of Moab; I will moan for the men of Kir-heres.

    Here: The first part of the city's name. Qîr means "wall" and stands for a fortified town.

  2. Jeremiah 48:36 קִֽיר־ חֶ֔רֶשׂ Kir, Heres

    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.

    Here: The first part of the place name. Qîr means "wall" or "walled town." This was Moab's great fortress city.

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