Lexical Definition
צֹעַר Tsôʻar (tso'ar) Zoar N:N--L
from צָעַר; little
Zoar.
- § Zoar = "insignificance"
- Tsoar, a place East of the Jordan
1) a city at the southeast end of the Dead Sea grouped with Sodom and Gomorrah as being one of the 5 cities slated for destruction by God; spared at Lot's plea as his place of refuge
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| צֽוֹעַר | Zoar | Gen.19.22 |
| צֹֽעַר | Zoar | Gen.13.10 • Gen.14.2 • Deut.34.3 |
| צֹֽעֲרָה | Zoar towards | Gen.19.23 |
| צֹ֖עַר | Zoar | Isa.15.5 |
| צֹ֑עַר | Zoar | Gen.14.8 |
| מִצּ֜וֹעַר | from Zoar | Gen.19.30 |
| מִצֹּ֙עַר֙ | from Zoar | Jer.48.34 |
| בְּצ֑וֹעַר | in Zoar | Gen.19.30 |
| Συγώρ | Zoar | LXX.Gen.19.22 |
| Σηγώρ | Zoar | LXX.Gen.14.2 • LXX.Gen.14.8 • LXX.Gen.19.23 • LXX.Gen.19.30 • LXX.Gen.19.30 • LXX.Deut.34.3 • LXX.Isa.15.5 |
| Ζηγώρ | Zoar | LXX.Jer.48.34 |
Profile
Zoar • A city near Sodom, spared from destruction
Zoar, also known as Bela, was a small city near Sodom where Lot fled when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen.13:10; 19:22-23).
Zoar, also known as Bela, was one of the five cities of the plain, along with Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen.14:2,8). It was originally called Bela but was renamed Zoar, which means "small," when Lot pleaded for it to be spared from destruction due to its small size (Gen.19:20-22). Lot and his daughters fled to Zoar when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen.19:23). Later, Lot left Zoar and settled in the mountains with his daughters (Gen.19:30). Zoar is mentioned as a reference point for the description of the Promised Land (Deut.34:3). The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah used Zoar to illustrate the extent of God's judgment on Moab (Isa.15:5; Jer.48:34). Zoar is most likely located at the southern end of the Dead Sea, although its exact location is uncertain. It is possibly to be identified with Khirbet el-Keryeh or Tell Iktanu. The name Zair is used in reference to a different location, where Joram fought against Edom (2Ki.8:21).
All entries for Zoar or Bela or Zair: צֹעַר ☩ בֶּלַע ☩ צָעִיר