Lexical Summary
Tsoar: Zoar
Original Word:צֹעַר
Part of Speech:Proper Name Location
Transliteration:Tso`ar
Pronunciation:Tso-ar
Phonetic Spelling:(tso'ar)
KJV: Zoar
NASB:Zoar
Word Origin:[fromH6819 (צָּעַר - become insignificant)]
1. little
2. Tsoar, a place East of the Jordan
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Zoar
Fromtsa'ar; little; Tsoar, a place East of the Jordan -- Zoar.
see HEBREWtsa'ar
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
tsaarDefinition"insignificance," a city at the S.E. end of the Dead Sea
NASB TranslationZoar (10).
Topical Lexicon
Geographical SettingZoar lay at the southeastern edge of the Dead Sea, on the southern tip of the fertile Kikkar (“circle”) of the Jordan. Its proximity to Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim placed it within a region renowned for abundance before divine judgment (Genesis 13:10) and afterward for desolation. Ancient writers—including Josephus, Eusebius, and the Madaba Map—locate it near present-day Safi, Jordan, where fresh springs still break through the arid landscape.
Scriptural Occurrences and Narrative Role
•Genesis 13:10 introduces Zoar as a landmark delineating the luxuriant plain that attracted Lot.
•Genesis 14:2, 8 lists Zoar’s king in the coalition of the five “cities of the valley,” emphasizing its political identity before the destruction of Sodom.
•Genesis 19:22-30 records Zoar as Lot’s refuge: “Hurry, flee there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you reach it.” By sparing the “little” town, God showcases both judgment and mercy in the same event.
•Deuteronomy 34:3 presents Zoar as the southern boundary of Moses’ panoramic view from Mount Nebo, marking the eastern flank of the Promised Land.
•Isaiah 15:5 andJeremiah 48:34 portray Zoar as a haven for Moabite refugees, indicating its continued habitation centuries after Lot and its integration into or near Moabite territory.
Historical Overview
Archaeological soundings south of the Dead Sea uncover Early Bronze fortifications, Middle Bronze domestic structures, and Iron Age occupation layers—corresponding to the biblical timeline. Pottery, charred layers, and ashen deposits align with a sudden destruction event, though the biblical text reserves the cataclysm for the neighboring cities while Zoar was spared. Later Nebatean, Roman, and Byzantine remains confirm the site’s longevity, validating Moses’ and the prophets’ references.
Theological and Redemptive Themes
1. Mercy Within Judgment – The angelic concession to Lot (“Is it not a little town?”) underscores God’s willingness to preserve a remnant when petitioned in faith.
2. The Perils of Compromise – Lot’s fixation on the fertile plain culminated in his fearful retreat to Zoar; believers are cautioned against choices driven solely by sight.
3. Covenant Boundaries – Zoar frames the southeastern limit of Abraham’s inheritance, signaling that the patriarch’s promise stretched beyond Judea to the very edge of the Arabah.
4. Eschatological Foreshadowing – Prophetic laments over Moab employ Zoar as a measuring rod for the extent of divine judgment, prefiguring the totality of the final day of the Lord.
Prophetic and Eschatological Echoes
Isaiah’s wail and Jeremiah’s dirge trace a line from Lot’s desperate flight to Moab’s equally desperate flight. The motif of refugees fleeing toward Zoar links past, present, and future visitations of judgment: a theological reminder that escape is granted only through God’s appointed refuge.
Lessons for Faith and Ministry
• Appeal to God’s Mercy – Lot’s dialogue encourages intercession; leaders should teach congregations to seek divine leniency without presuming upon it.
• Small Places, Great Purposes – Zoar’s diminutive status did not hinder its strategic role; local churches in out-of-way places can become critical shelters of grace.
• Watchfulness – Lot lingered; the sun rose; judgment fell. Urgency in obedience remains imperative for the church in every generation.
• Holistic Geography – By noting Zoar in the panorama from Nebo, Scripture validates the broadness of God’s promise; missions should likewise envision unreached edges.
Key Cross-References
Genesis 13:10;Genesis 19:22-30;Deuteronomy 34:3;Isaiah 15:5;Jeremiah 48:34
Forms and Transliterations
בְּצ֑וֹעַר בצוער מִצֹּ֙עַר֙ מִצּ֜וֹעַר מצוער מצער צֹ֑עַר צֹ֖עַר צֹֽעֲרָה׃ צֹֽעַר׃ צֽוֹעַר׃ צוער׃ צער צער׃ צערה׃ bə·ṣō·w·‘ar bəṣōw‘ar beTzoar miṣ·ṣō·‘ar miṣ·ṣō·w·‘ar miṣṣō‘ar miṣṣōw‘ar mitzTzoar ṣō‘ar ṣō‘ărāh ṣō·‘ă·rāh ṣō·‘ar ṣō·w·‘ar ṣōw‘ar Tzoar Tzoarah
Links
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Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
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