(Aramaic) or קִרְיָה; (Aramaic), corresponding to קִרְיָה; {building; a city}; city.
Transliteration:qiryâʼ
Pronunciation:keer-yaw'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic lemma קִרְיָא (qiryâʼ), Strong's `{{H7149}}`, fundamentally denotes a "city" or "building." It serves as the Aramaic equivalent to the Hebrew קִרְיָה (qiryah, `{{H7151}}`), signifying a constructed, often inhabited and fortified, urban center. Its semantic range primarily encompasses a settlement of significant size and structure, distinguishing it from smaller villages or encampments. The term emphasizes the aspect of being "built" or "founded," suggesting a deliberate act of construction and establishment. Depending on the context, it can refer to a specific, well-known metropolis or a general urban entity, often implying a center of population, administration, or strategic importance.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term קִרְיָא (qiryâʼ) appears exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, specifically in the books of Ezra and Daniel. Its usage consistently refers to a "city" in various significant contexts.
In Ezra, קִרְיָא is central to the narrative concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The adversaries of the returning exiles, in their letter to King Artaxerxes, express concern over the reconstruction of "this city" (e.g., [[Ezra 4:10]], [[Ezra 4:12]], [[Ezra 4:13]], [[Ezra 4:15]], [[Ezra 4:16]], [[Ezra 4:19]], [[Ezra 4:21]]). Their fear is that a rebuilt and fortified Jerusalem would become a rebellious center, threatening the king's dominion and revenue. Here, "city" implies a place of political and military significance, capable of asserting independence and challenging imperial authority. The repeated use underscores the strategic importance of Jerusalem as a capital and a symbol of Jewish identity and sovereignty.
In Daniel, the term appears in [[Daniel 4:28]] (Aramaic קִרְיָא), where it refers to "Babylon the great, which I myself have built" in the context of King Nebuchadnezzar's boast. Here, קִרְיָא highlights the immense scale and grandeur of Babylon, emphasizing Nebuchadnezzar's pride in his architectural achievements and the vastness of his empire. The "city" in this instance represents human power, ambition, and a monument to earthly glory, contrasting sharply with the divine sovereignty that ultimately humbles the king.
### Related Words & Concepts
קִרְיָא (qiryâʼ, `{{H7149}}`) is directly cognate with the Hebrew קִרְיָה (qiryah, `{{H7151}}`), which also means "city" or "town." Both terms share the root meaning of a built or founded place. While קִרְיָה is more common in Hebrew texts, קִרְיָא serves its precise Aramaic counterpart.
Other significant Hebrew terms for "city" include עִיר (îr, `{{H5892}}`), which is the most general and frequently used word for a city or town, and קֶרֶת (qeret, `{{H7137}}`), often associated with royal or capital cities, particularly in Phoenician contexts. While עִיר is broadly applicable, קִרְיָא and קִרְיָה often carry a nuance of a fortified or established settlement, sometimes with a particular focus on its walls or foundations, as seen in the Ezra narrative.
The concept of "city" in the biblical world is intrinsically linked to ideas of civilization, governance, refuge, trade, and sometimes, rebellion or idolatry. Cities were centers of power, culture, and often, the focal point of divine judgment or blessing.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of קִרְיָא (qiryâʼ) is deeply intertwined with the broader biblical understanding of "the city" as a locus of human endeavor and divine interaction.
1. **Human Pride and Achievement:** As seen in Daniel 4, the "city" can represent the pinnacle of human achievement and pride, built by human hands and often attributed to human strength. Nebuchadnezzar's boast over Babylon illustrates the human tendency to glorify oneself and one's works, forgetting the ultimate source of all power and authority. This echoes the narrative of Babel, where humanity sought to build a city and a tower to make a name for themselves, reaching toward heaven (cf. [[Genesis 11:4]]).
2. **Divine Purpose and Opposition:** In Ezra, Jerusalem as "the city" becomes a battleground between God's covenant purposes and human opposition. The rebuilding of Jerusalem, though a human endeavor, is divinely mandated and crucial for the restoration of God's people and worship. The adversaries' fear of a strong Jerusalem highlights the spiritual conflict against God's plan for His people and His chosen dwelling place. The city thus embodies a place of divine promise and a target for spiritual antagonism.
3. **Symbol of Kingdom and Authority:** Both Babylon and Jerusalem, as "cities," symbolize kingdoms and centers of authority. Babylon represents the earthly, often oppressive, human kingdom, while Jerusalem represents the center of God's people and the future seat of His reign. The fate of these cities often reflects the rise and fall of earthly powers in relation to God's ultimate sovereignty.
4. **Contrast with the Heavenly City:** While קִרְיָא itself refers to earthly cities, its usage implicitly sets up a theological contrast with the "city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (cf. [[Hebrews 11:10]]) and the "New Jerusalem" (cf. [[Revelation 21:2]]), which is not built by human hands but descends from God. The earthly קִרְיָא, with its inherent limitations and susceptibility to human sin and divine judgment, points beyond itself to the eternal, divinely established city.
### Summary
קִרְיָא (qiryâʼ, `{{H7149}}`) is an Aramaic term signifying a "city" or "building," directly corresponding to the Hebrew קִרְיָה (qiryah, `{{H7151}}`). Its limited but significant occurrences in Ezra and Daniel reveal its importance in contexts of both human ambition and divine purpose. In Ezra, it denotes Jerusalem as a strategically vital city whose rebuilding is both divinely willed and humanly opposed, highlighting the spiritual conflict over God's people and their land. In Daniel, it describes Babylon, a monument to human pride and power, ultimately subject to divine sovereignty. The term thus encapsulates the tension between human endeavor and God's ultimate control over earthly kingdoms and their urban centers, subtly pointing towards the contrast between the temporal, human-built city and the eternal, divinely established one.
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