קִיר (H7023) — Hebrew Lexicon

קִיר

𐤒𐤉𐤓

qîyr

H7023 noun

SILEX Entry

Root קור to dig, to bore, to excavate

Definition

A vertical structure serving as a boundary, partition, barrier, or structural support; specifically, a wall of a building, enclosure, or fortification. In extended usages, refers to the side of a space or surface, and occasionally to objects resembling or evoking the function or form of a wall. May refer to interior or exterior walls, and may connote protection, separation, or delimitation.

Semantic Range

wall, partition, structural support, side (of a space or container), city wall, house wall, side of a pit or cave, metaphorical barrier or separation

Root / Etymology

From the root קוּר (qûr), generally associated with meanings such as 'to dig' or 'to bore through.' The noun קִיר (qîyr) likely arises from the concept of something raised or constructed adjacent to excavated earth (i.e., a wall built beside or above a trench), though the semantic connection between the verb and the noun is indirect. Feminine form: קִירָה (qîrāh).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In most biblical passages, קִיר is used for walls of buildings, city fortifications, or interior partitions. It occurs both in prose (Genesis 49:22, Exodus 25:12 etc.) and poetry (Isaiah 22:5, Habakkuk 2:11), and can describe both manmade and occasionally natural walls or sides (e.g., the 'side' of a pit in Psalm 40:3). The word often carries associations of security and delimitation but is also used metaphorically—for example, as 'side' in certain idioms, or in prophecies about walls crying out (Habakkuk 2:11) symbolically. Compared to other Hebrew terms for wall, such as חוֹמָה (ḥômāh, often fortification or city wall) or גָּדֵר (gāder, fence, enclosure), קִיר tends to denote a basic vertical structural element, whether as part of a house, room, or fortification, and is less specific about scale or function. While some English translations reflect this breadth, others (notably the KJV) sometimes render the term more narrowly as 'wall,' potentially missing contextual nuances, such as the word’s use for 'side' or supporting structure. In later periods and post-biblical Hebrew, קִיר increasingly came to refer to internal walls of buildings. In Isaiah 22:5, the spelling variant קִר appears, and in some poetic or idiomatic contexts it may denote more general 'sides.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or קִר; (Isaiah 22:5), or (feminine) קִירָה; from קוּר; a wall (as built in a trench); [phrase] mason, side, town, [idiom] very, wall.

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Root Family

קור (q-w-r) — digging, boring, excavating

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H4726	מָקוֹר	wellspring
H6979	קוּר	she made a breach
H6980	קוּר	their spider-webs
H6982	קוֹרָה	the roof-beam
H7024	קִיר	wall of
H7025	קִיר חֶרֶשׂ	wall
H7174	קַרְקֹר	in Qarqor

Word Forms

18 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H7023-04`	הַ/קִּֽיר	haqir	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the wall	the wall	15
`H7023-10`	קִ֥יר	qir	`HNcmsc`	wall	wall of	11
`H7023-01`	בַּ/קִּ֑יר	baqir	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in the wall	in the boundary-wall	9
`H7023-02`	בְּ/קִ֣יר	beqir	`HR/Ncmsc`	against the wall	in a wall	8
`H7023-11`	קִיר֤וֹת	qirot	`HNcmpc`	walls	walls of	6
`H7023-03`	בְּ/קִירֹ֣ת	beqirot	`HR/Ncmpc`	in the walls	in walls of	3
`H7023-05`	הַ/קִּיר֑וֹת	haqirot	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the walls	the boundary-walls	3
`H7023-14`	בַ/קִּ֑יר	vaqir	`HRd/Ncmsa`	through the wall	in the wall	3
`H7023-12`	קִירֹתָ֛י/ו	qirotayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	its walls	his walls	2
`H7023-08`	לְ/קִ֣יר	leqir	`HR/Ncmsc`	to the wall	to a boundary-wall	2
`H7023-16`	וְ/קִ֧יר	veqir	`HC/Ncmsc`	and wall	and wall	2
`H7023-09`	מִ/קִּ֤יר	miqir	`HR/Ncmsc`	from the wall	from a wall of	2
`H7023-17`	וְ/קִֽירֹתָ֖י/ו	veqirotayv	`HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`	and its walls	and his walls	2
`H7023-13`	וּ/בַ/קִּ֑יר	uvaqir	`HC/Rd/Ncmsa`	and in the wall	and in the wall	2
`H7023-06`	כְּ/קִ֥יר	keqir	`HR/Ncmsa`	like a wall	like a wall	1
`H7023-15`	וְ/הַ/קִּ֖יר	vehaqir	`HC/Td/Ncmsa`	and the wall	and the wall	1
`H7023-18`	וְ/קִ֣ירוֹתֶ֔י/הָ	veqiroteyha	`HC/Ncmpc/Sp3fs`	and-its-walls	her walls	1
`H7023-07`	לַ/קִּיר֑וֹת	laqirot	`HRd/Ncmpa`	to-the-walls	walls	1

Occurrences in Scripture

74 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H7023-12`	Exodus 30:3	קִירֹתָ֛י/ו	qirotayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	its walls	his walls
`H7023-12`	Exodus 37:26	קִירֹתָ֛י/ו	qirotayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	its walls	his walls
`H7023-10`	Leviticus 1:15	קִ֥יר	qir	`HNcmsc`	the wall	wall of
`H7023-10`	Leviticus 5:9	קִ֣יר	qir	`HNcmsc`	the side	wall of
`H7023-03`	Leviticus 14:37	בְּ/קִירֹ֣ת	beqirot	`HR/Ncmpc`	in walls	in walls of
`H7023-04`	Leviticus 14:37	הַ/קִּֽיר	haqir	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the wall	the wall
`H7023-03`	Leviticus 14:39	בְּ/קִירֹ֥ת	beqirot	`HR/Ncmpc`	in the walls	in walls of
`H7023-04`	Numbers 22:25	הַ/קִּ֔יר	haqir	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the wall	the wall
`H7023-04`	Numbers 22:25	הַ/קִּ֑יר	haqir-2	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the wall	the wall
`H7023-09`	Numbers 35:4	מִ/קִּ֤יר	miqir	`HR/Ncmsc`	from the wall	from a wall of
`H7023-02`	Joshua 2:15	בְּ/קִ֣יר	beqir	`HR/Ncmsc`	on the wall	in a wall
`H7023-13`	1 Samuel 18:11	וּ/בַ/קִּ֑יר	uvaqir	`HC/Rd/Ncmsa`	and the wall	and in the wall
`H7023-13`	1 Samuel 19:10	וּ/בַ/קִּ֔יר	uvaqir	`HC/Rd/Ncmsa`	and in the wall	and in the wall
`H7023-01`	1 Samuel 19:10	בַּ/קִּ֑יר	baqir	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in the wall	in the boundary-wall
`H7023-04`	1 Samuel 20:25	הַ/קִּ֔יר	haqir	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the wall	the wall
`H7023-02`	1 Samuel 25:22	בְּ/קִֽיר	beqir	`HR/Ncmsa`	against a wall	in a wall
`H7023-02`	1 Samuel 25:34	בְּ/קִֽיר	beqir	`HR/Ncmsa`	against the wall	in a wall
`H7023-10`	2 Samuel 5:11	קִ֑יר	qir	`HNcmsa`	wall	wall of
`H7023-01`	1 Kings 5:13	בַּ/קִּ֑יר	baqir	`HRd/Ncmsa`	of the wall	in the boundary-wall
`H7023-10`	1 Kings 6:5	קִ֨יר	qir	`HNcmsc`	wall	wall of
`H7023-11`	1 Kings 6:5	קִיר֤וֹת	qirot	`HNcmpc`	walls	walls of
`H7023-03`	1 Kings 6:6	בְּ/קִֽירוֹת	beqirot	`HR/Ncmpc`	in the walls	in walls of
`H7023-11`	1 Kings 6:15	קִיר֨וֹת	qirot	`HNcmpc`	walls	walls of
`H7023-11`	1 Kings 6:15	קִיר֣וֹת	qirot-2	`HNcmpc`	walls	walls of
`H7023-05`	1 Kings 6:16	הַ/קִּיר֑וֹת	haqirot	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the walls	the boundary-walls
`H7023-01`	1 Kings 6:27	בַּ/קִּ֔יר	baqir	`HRd/Ncmsa`	the wall	in the boundary-wall
`H7023-01`	1 Kings 6:27	בַּ/קִּ֣יר	baqir-2	`HRd/Ncmsa`	the wall	in the boundary-wall
`H7023-11`	1 Kings 6:29	קִיר֨וֹת	qirot	`HNcmpc`	walls	walls of
`H7023-02`	1 Kings 14:10	בְּ/קִ֔יר	beqir	`HR/Ncmsa`	against the wall	in a wall
`H7023-02`	1 Kings 16:11	בְּ/קִ֑יר	beqir	`HR/Ncmsa`	against the wall	in a wall
`H7023-02`	1 Kings 21:21	בְּ/קִ֔יר	beqir	`HR/Ncmsa`	against the wall	in a wall
`H7023-10`	2 Kings 4:10	קִיר֙	qir	`HNcmsa`	walled	wall of
`H7023-02`	2 Kings 9:8	בְּ/קִ֔יר	beqir	`HR/Ncmsa`	against the wall	in a wall
`H7023-04`	2 Kings 9:33	הַ/קִּ֛יר	haqir	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the wall	the wall
`H7023-04`	2 Kings 20:2	הַ/קִּ֑יר	haqir	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the wall	the wall
`H7023-10`	Isaiah 22:5	קִ֖ר	qir	`HNcmsa`	walls	wall of
`H7023-10`	Isaiah 25:4	קִֽיר	qir	`HNcmsa`	against the wall	wall of
`H7023-04`	Isaiah 38:2	הַ/קִּ֑יר	haqir	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the wall	the wall
`H7023-10`	Isaiah 59:10	קִ֔יר	qir	`HNcmsa`	wall	wall of
`H7023-11`	Jeremiah 4:19	קִיר֥וֹת	qirot	`HNcmpc`	O walls	walls of
`H7023-10`	Ezekiel 4:3	קִ֣יר	qir	`HNcmsc`	wall	wall of
`H7023-01`	Ezekiel 8:7	בַּ/קִּֽיר	baqir	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in the wall	in the boundary-wall
`H7023-14`	Ezekiel 8:8	בַ/קִּ֑יר	vaqir	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in the wall	in the wall
`H7023-01`	Ezekiel 8:8	בַּ/קִּ֔יר	baqir	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in the wall	in the boundary-wall
`H7023-04`	Ezekiel 8:10	הַ/קִּ֖יר	haqir	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the wall	the wall
`H7023-14`	Ezekiel 12:5	בַ/קִּ֑יר	vaqir	`HRd/Ncmsa`	through the wall	in the wall
`H7023-14`	Ezekiel 12:7	בַ/קִּ֖יר	vaqir	`HRd/Ncmsa`	through the wall	in the wall
`H7023-01`	Ezekiel 12:12	בַּ/קִּ֥יר	baqir	`HRd/Ncmsa`	through-the-wall	in the boundary-wall
`H7023-04`	Ezekiel 13:12	הַ/קִּ֑יר	haqir	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the-wall	the wall
`H7023-04`	Ezekiel 13:14	הַ/קִּ֨יר	haqir	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the-wall	the wall
`H7023-01`	Ezekiel 13:15	בַּ/קִּ֔יר	baqir	`HRd/Ncmsa`	on the wall	in the boundary-wall
`H7023-04`	Ezekiel 13:15	הַ/קִּ֔יר	haqir	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the wall	the wall
`H7023-04`	Ezekiel 23:14	הַ/קִּ֔יר	haqir	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the wall	the wall
`H7023-05`	Ezekiel 33:30	הַ/קִּיר֔וֹת	haqirot	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the walls	the boundary-walls
`H7023-10`	Ezekiel 41:5	קִֽיר	qir	`HNcmsc`	wall	wall of
`H7023-01`	Ezekiel 41:6	בַּ/קִּ֨יר	baqir	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in-the wall	in the boundary-wall
`H7023-02`	Ezekiel 41:6	בְּ/קִ֥יר	beqir	`HR/Ncmsc`	in-wall	in a wall
`H7023-04`	Ezekiel 41:9	הַ/קִּ֧יר	haqir	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the wall	the wall
`H7023-16`	Ezekiel 41:12	וְ/קִ֧יר	veqir	`HC/Ncmsc`	and-wall-of	and wall
`H7023-18`	Ezekiel 41:13	וְ/קִ֣ירוֹתֶ֔י/הָ	veqiroteyha	`HC/Ncmpc/Sp3fs`	and-its-walls	her walls
`H7023-04`	Ezekiel 41:17	הַ/קִּ֨יר	haqir	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the wall	the wall
`H7023-16`	Ezekiel 41:20	וְ/קִ֖יר	veqir	`HC/Ncmsc`	and wall	and wall
`H7023-17`	Ezekiel 41:22	וְ/קִֽירֹתָ֖י/ו	veqirotayv	`HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`	and-its-walls	and his walls
`H7023-07`	Ezekiel 41:25	לַ/קִּיר֑וֹת	laqirot	`HRd/Ncmpa`	to-the-walls	walls
`H7023-15`	Ezekiel 43:8	וְ/הַ/קִּ֖יר	vehaqir	`HC/Td/Ncmsa`	and the wall	and the wall
`H7023-04`	Amos 5:19	הַ/קִּ֔יר	haqir	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the wall	the wall
`H7023-09`	Habakkuk 2:11	מִ/קִּ֣יר	miqir	`HR/Ncmsa`	from the wall	from a wall of
`H7023-06`	Psalms 62:4	כְּ/קִ֥יר	keqir	`HR/Ncmsa`	like a wall	like a wall
`H7023-10`	1 Chronicles 14:1	קִ֔יר	qir	`HNcmsa`	of stone	wall of
`H7023-11`	1 Chronicles 29:4	קִיר֥וֹת	qirot	`HNcmpc`	the walls	walls of
`H7023-17`	2 Chronicles 3:7	וְ/קִֽירוֹתָ֥י/ו	veqirotayv	`HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`	and its walls	and his walls
`H7023-05`	2 Chronicles 3:7	הַ/קִּירֽוֹת	haqirot	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the walls	the boundary-walls
`H7023-08`	2 Chronicles 3:11	לְ/קִ֣יר	leqir	`HR/Ncmsc`	to the wall	to a boundary-wall
`H7023-08`	2 Chronicles 3:12	לְ/קִ֣יר	leqir	`HR/Ncmsc`	to the wall	to a boundary-wall

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