English · KJV
H5899

עִיר הַתְּמָרִים

ʻÎyr hat-Tᵉmârîym /eer hat-tem-aw-reem'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom עִיר and the plural of תָּמָר with the article interpolated
Meaningcity of the palmtrees; Ir-hat-Temarim, a place in Palestine
KJV usagethe city of palmtrees.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻÎyr hat-Tᵉmârîym — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew phrase ʻÎyr hat-Tᵉmârîym, represented by H5899, is a descriptive name for a place in Palestine, meaning city of the palmtrees. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible. The name is a compound of the words for 'city' H5892 and the plural of 'palm tree' H8558.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H5899 is used to pinpoint a specific geographical location. Two verses explicitly identify this place as Jericho. When Moses views the promised land, the plain of the valley of Jericho is called "the city of palm trees" Deuteronomy 34:3. Similarly, when captives from Judah were cared for and released, they were brought to "Jericho, the city of palm trees" 2 Chronicles 28:15. The term also appears independently, marking the location that Israel's enemies possessed Judges 3:13 and the city from which the Kenites departed to dwell with the children of Judah Judges 1:16.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the meaning of this place name:

  • H5892 ʻîyr (a city): This is the foundational term in the phrase, denoting an established settlement. The Bible refers to a "defenced city" Jeremiah 1:18 and the importance of the LORD keeping the city Psalms 127:1.
  • H8558 tâmâr (a palm tree): This word supplies the descriptive element. The palm tree is a symbol of flourishing and is used to describe the righteous Psalms 92:12. Palm branches were also used in celebration during the feasts of the LORD Leviticus 23:40.
  • H3405 Yᵉrîychôw (Jericho): This is the proper name for the location identified as the "city of palm trees." It was a significant city in Israel's history, whose fall was a pivotal event Joshua 6:2 and whose rebuilding was accompanied by a curse Joshua 6:26.

Theological Significance

The significance of H5899 is primarily geographical and symbolic within the narrative.

  • A Fertile Landmark: Describing a location as the "city of palm trees" distinguishes it as a fertile, life-sustaining place, likely in contrast to the surrounding wilderness areas mentioned in contexts like Judges 1:16.
  • A Site of Conquest and Possession: The city was strategically important and a target for conquest. Its possession by the children of Ammon and Amalek marked a period of judgment against Israel Judges 3:13.
  • A Place of Mercy: The city serves as the backdrop for an act of kindness, where captives were fed, clothed, and returned to their brethren, highlighting it as a place of refuge and restoration 2 Chronicles 28:15.

Summary

In summary, ʻÎyr hat-Tᵉmârîym H5899 is a descriptive title for Jericho, one of the most significant cities in the Old Testament. More than a simple name, it paints a picture of a verdant and strategic location. Its usage in Scripture marks it as a key landmark in the promise of the land, a site of historical conflict, and a place of compassionate refuge.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 8 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • תְּמָרִים
  • עִיר

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H5892 עִיר or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest H8558 תָּמָר from an unused root meaning to be erect; a palm tree; palm (tree). H3405 יְרִיחוֹ or יְרֵחוֹ; or variation (1 Kings 16:34) יְרִיחֹה; perhaps from יָרֵחַ; its month; or else from רוּחַ; fragrant; Jericho

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Judges (2 verses); never once in the other 36.

1
Deuteronomy
2
Judges
1
2 Chronicles

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.