Original Word: צוּר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: tsuwr
Pronunciation: tsoor
Phonetic Spelling: (tsoor)
KJV: edge, X (mighty) God (one), rock, X sharp, stone, X strength, X strong See also H1049
NASB: rock, rocks, rocky, stones, strength
Word Origin: [from H6696 (צּוּר - To bind)]

1. (properly) a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed)
2. (generally) a rock or boulder
3. (figuratively) a refuge
4. (also) an edge (as precipitous)

edge, mighty God one, rock, sharp, stone, strength, strong

Or tsur {tsoor}; from tsuwr; properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous) -- edge, X (mighty) God (one), rock, X sharp, stone, X strength, X strong. See also Beyth Tsuwr.

see HEBREW tsuwr

see HEBREW Beyth Tsuwr

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
rock, cliff
NASB Translation
Rock (10), rock (54), rocks (7), rocky (1), stones (1), strength (1).

I. צוּר noun masculine^{Job 29:6} rock, cliff; — ׳צ absolute Exodus 17:6 +, construct Deuteronomy 8:15 +; suffix צוּרִי 2 Samuel 22:3, etc.; plural צֻרִים Numbers 23:9 +, צוּרוֺת Job 28:10; construct צוּרֵי 1 Samuel 24:3 (Gi v.1 Samuel 24:2); —

1. a. rocky wall, cliff, Exodus 17:6 (twice in verse) (E), Deuteronomy 8:15 (הַחַלָּמִישׁ ׳צ), Isaiah 48:21 (twice in verse); Psalm 78:15; Psalm 78:20; Psalm 105:41; Psalm 114:8; ("" חַלָּמִישׁ); ׳בּוֺא בַצּ Isaiah 2:10, בִּמְעָרוֺת צֻרִים Isaiah 2:19, ׳בְּנִקְרוֺת הַצּ Isaiah 2:21, compare Exodus 33:21,22 (JE); yielding honey (from its clefts) Psalm 81:17 (compare Deuteronomy 32:13; Dy Perles^{Anal. 34} We read צוּף); as look-out Numbers 23:9 (JE), home of goats 1 Samuel 24:3 (Gi v.1 Samuel 24:2), snow-covered Jeremiah 18:14; bearing (olives for) oil Deuteronomy 32:13 (׳חַלְמִישׁ צ), Job 29:6; resort of homeless Job 24:8, pierced by miners Job 28:10, compare perhaps נְחָלִים ׳שִׁית בְּצ אוֺפִיר Job 22:24 deposit (thy) gold in the rock of the wadys (most below צֹר pebble); as quarry, figurative of Abraham as ancestor of Israel Isaiah 51:1; place of security 1 Chronicles 11:15, הַמִּישׁוֺר ׳צ Jeremiah 21:13 (of city), figurative Psalm 27:5; Psalm 61:3; symbol of firmness Nahum 1:6; Job 14:18; Job 18:4; enduring material Job 19:24.

b. rock with flat surface 2 Samuel 21:10; Proverbs 30:19.

c. block of stone, boulder Judges 6:21; Judges 13:19 (as altar); compare צוּר מִכְשׁוֺל Isaiah 8:14 ("" נֶגֶף אֶבֶן).

d. rock with specific name, עוֺרֵב ׳צ Judges 7:25; Isaiah 10:26.

2. a. figurative of God (33 t.) as support and defence of his people (often "" אֱלֹהִים, ׳י, etc.), מָעֻזֵּךְ ׳צ Isaiah 17:10, מָעוֺז ׳צ Psalm 31:3, עֻזִּי ׳צ Psalm 62:8, מָעוֺן ׳צ, Psalm 71:3, יְשֻׁעָתוֺ ׳צ Deuteronomy 32:15 compare 2 Samuel 22:47b (but strike out, see "" Psalm 18:47), Psalm 89:27; Psalm 95:1, וִישׁוּעָתִי ׳צ Psalm 62:3; Psalm 62:7, מַחְסִי ׳צ Psalm 94:22; יִשְׂרָאֵל ׳צ Isaiah 30:29; 2 Samuel 23:3 (personified), צוּרִי Psalm 18:3; Psalm 18:47 = 2 Samuel 22:3,47a, >BIBLE:Psalm 19:15>; Psalm 28:1; Psalm 92:16; Psalm 144:1, לְבָבִי ׳צ Psalm 73:26, צוּרֵנוּ Deuteronomy 32:31, צוּרָם Deuteronomy 32:30; Psalm 78:35; with בְּ essent. ׳בְּיָהּ י עוֺלָמִים ׳צ Isaiah 26:4 (compare Psalm 62:8; see ב I. 7 c); as

proper name, of deity (the Rock Deuteronomy 32:4,18 (יְלָֽדְךָ ׳צ), Deuteronomy 32:37; Habakkuk 1:12, +(perhaps) Psalm 75:6 (read בַּצּוּד, see צַוָּאר; see also מְּדָהצוּר).

b. of a heathen god Deuteronomy 32:31, compare Isaiah 44:3, מִי צוּר ׳מִבַּלְעֲדֵי א 2 Samuel 22:32 "" Psalm 18:32, compare 1 Samuel 2:2. — See also בֵּית צוּר and חֶלְקַת הַצֻּרִים. — Psalm 89:44 see צֹד below III. צרר, Psalm 49:15 see צוּרָה below III. צור. above

Literal Rock Formations

“Rock” first appears in Exodus 17:6 when Moses strikes the rock at Horeb: “I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. When you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” The term depicts cliffs, boulders, and crags that offer water, shade, and shelter in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 32:13; Judges 6:21). In Numbers 20:8–11 the rock is again the source of life-giving water, revealing that even in a literal sense the rock is God-appointed provision.

Stronghold and Physical Security

Israel’s topography is dotted with natural fortresses. David hid “in the strongholds of En Gedi” (1 Samuel 23:29) and sang, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer” (Psalm 18:2). The material stability of massive stone landscapes becomes an emblem of unassailable protection (Psalm 31:2–3; Isaiah 33:16).

Covenant Title for the LORD

The word quickly rises from physical reality to theological confession. Moses proclaims, “He is the Rock, His work is perfect” (Deuteronomy 32:4). A deliberate contrast follows: “their rock is not like our Rock” (32:31). Here the Rock embodies God’s moral perfection, covenant faithfulness, and absolute uniqueness.

Source of Salvation and Refuge

Throughout the Psalms the Rock is explicitly tied to salvation. “The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock! May God my salvation be exalted” (Psalm 18:46). “He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I will never be shaken” (Psalm 62:2). The term therefore undergirds assurance: rescue is as firm as stone, yet divinely animated.

Judicial Strength and Unchanging Righteousness

Isaiah employs the title in judgment contexts. “Trust in the LORD forever, because GOD the LORD is the Rock eternal” (Isaiah 26:4). Conversely, idolaters fashion powerless rocks: “They shall be ashamed… who say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth’” (Jeremiah 2:27). The Rock judges false securities.

Prophetic and Messianic Resonance

The water-giving rock prefigures Christ, as the Apostle Paul writes, “They drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4). Isaiah’s cornerstone prophecy stands in the same conceptual field: the tested “precious cornerstone” (Isaiah 28:16) mirrors the Old Testament Rock theme and reaches fulfillment in the Messiah (1 Peter 2:6–8).

The City of Tyre

The Phoenician port Tyre (צור) shares the root and serves as a living parable. Once a proud maritime “rock,” it falls under divine judgment (Ezekiel 26–28). Earthly rocks crumble when they exalt themselves above the true Rock.

Worship and Doxology

Worship language repeatedly summons the congregation to acknowledge God as Rock. “Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout to the Rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1). The imagery fosters reverent confidence and public testimony.

Pastoral and Ministry Application

1. Counseling: Believers grappling with instability find grounding in promises tied to the Rock (Psalm 61:2).
2. Prayer: Invoking God as Rock shapes petitions with certainty: “Be my rock of refuge” (Psalm 31:2).
3. Preaching: The motif links Old and New Testaments, enabling gospel proclamation that moves from Exodus waters to the living water in Christ (John 7:37).
4. Missions and Apologetics: The exclusivity of the Rock undercuts syncretism—“there is no God apart from Me, a righteous God and a Savior” (Isaiah 45:21).

Ethical Implications

Stability in holiness reflects the character of the Rock. “The work of righteousness will be peace… and secure dwellings” (Isaiah 32:17–18). This steadfastness calls believers to unwavering integrity.

Eschatological Security

Isaiah’s “Rock eternal” (26:4) and Daniel’s stone “cut without human hands” (Daniel 2:34–35) converge in the final kingdom that crushes all others yet grows to fill the earth. The Rock is both refuge for the redeemed and wrecking stone for oppressors.

New Testament Continuity

Jesus’ parable of the wise man building on the rock (Matthew 7:24) echoes the Hebrew concept: obedience produces immovable life. Peter confesses, “You are the Christ,” and hears, “on this rock I will build My church” (Matthew 16:16–18), linking apostolic faith to the ancient testimony.

Summary

צור portrays God as immovable strength, covenantal refuge, righteous Judge, prophetic cornerstone, and life-giving Savior. Its 77 occurrences span wilderness narratives, royal songs, prophetic indictments, and eschatological visions, each reinforcing that ultimate security rests not in stone itself but in the living LORD who is the Rock.

בְּ֝צ֗וּר בְּצ֣וּר בְּצוּר־ בַּ֭צּוּרוֹת בַּצּ֥וּר בַצּ֔וּר בַצּ֗וּר בצור בצור־ בצורות הַצֻּר֙ הַצֻּרִ֔ים הַצּ֑וּר הַצּ֖וּר הַצּ֗וּר הַצּ֣וּר הַצּֽוּר׃ הַצּוּר֙ הַצּוּר֮ הצור הצור׃ הצר הצרים וְ֝צ֗וּר וְהַצֻּרִ֖ים וְצ֖וּר וְצ֣וּר וְצ֥וּר וּ֝מִצּ֗וּר וּבְצ֖וּר וּלְצ֨וּר ובצור והצרים ולצור ומצור וצור כְצוּרֵ֖נוּ כצורנו לְֽצוּר־ לְצ֣וּר לְצ֥וּר לצור לצור־ מִצּ֖וּר מִצּ֛וּר מצור צ֔וּר צ֖וּר צ֝֗וּר צ֝וּרִ֗י צ֣וּר צ֥וּר צ֨וּר ׀ צ֭וּר צ֭וּרִי צֻ֭רִים צֻרִ֑ים צֻרִ֔ים צֻרִים֙ צֽוּר׃ צוּרִ֑י צוּרִ֖י צוּרִ֗י צוּרִ֥י צוּרִי֮ צוּרֵ֥י צוּרָ֑ם צוּרָ֣ם צוּר־ צור צור־ צור׃ צורי צורם צרים baṣ·ṣū·rō·wṯ baṣ·ṣūr ḇaṣ·ṣūr baṣṣūr ḇaṣṣūr baṣṣūrōwṯ batzTzur Batztzurot bə·ṣūr bə·ṣūr- bəṣūr bəṣūr- betzur chetzuRenu haṣ·ṣu·rîm haṣ·ṣur haṣ·ṣūr haṣṣur haṣṣūr haṣṣurîm hatzTzur hatztzuRim ḵə·ṣū·rê·nū ḵəṣūrênū lə·ṣūr lə·ṣūr- ləṣūr ləṣūr- letzur miṣ·ṣūr miṣṣūr mitzTzur ṣū·rām ṣū·rê ṣū·rî ṣu·rîm ṣūr ṣūr- ṣūrām ṣūrê ṣūrî ṣurîm Tzur tzuRam tzuRei tzuRi tzuRim ū·ḇə·ṣūr ū·lə·ṣūr ū·miṣ·ṣūr ūḇəṣūr ūləṣūr uleTzur ūmiṣṣūr umitzTzur uveTzur vatzTzur vehatztzuRim veTzur wə·haṣ·ṣu·rîm wə·ṣūr wəhaṣṣurîm wəṣūrInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts