Where is Kir in the Bible?
Kir also referred to as Mizpeh, was a city in Moab, east of the Dead Sea. It is mentioned several times in the prophetic books of Isaiah and Jeremiah in the context of God's judgment against Moab. Kir appears in 10 verses across 4 books of the Bible.
The Bible uses the name Kir for 2 different places. All 2 are below, each with its own passages.
Kir (Mizpeh)
Kir, also referred to as Mizpeh, was a city in Moab, east of the Dead Sea. It is mentioned several times in the prophetic books of Isaiah and Jeremiah in the context of God's judgment against Moab. Isaiah prophesied that Kir would be destroyed in a night (Isaiah 15:1), and Jeremiah foretold that Kir would face judgment and destruction by the Babylonians (Jeremiah 48:1, 23). The city was known for its fortifications, as the name "Kir" means "wall" or "fortress." According to 2Ki.3.25, during the campaign of the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom against Moab, they destroyed the cities and stopped up the springs of water, including those of Kir-hareseth, which may be another name for Kir. The exact location of Kir is uncertain, but it was likely situated in southern Moab, possibly near the modern-day town of Al-Karak.
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Kir in Amos
Kir is mentioned in the Bible as a city or region in Mesopotamia, distinct from the Moabite city of the same name. It is associated with the Arameans, who were a Semitic people that inhabited parts of Syria and Mesopotamia. According to 2Ki.16.9, during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, the king of Assyria captured Damascus and exiled its inhabitants to Kir. The prophet Amos also mentions that the Arameans originally came from Kir before settling in Damascus (Amo.9.7). Some scholars suggest that Kir may be located in the region of Elam, east of Babylonia, based on its association with Elam in Isaiah 22:6. However, the exact location of Kir remains uncertain.
4 verses: 2 Kings 16:9, Amos 1:5, Amos 9:7, Isaiah 22:6
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Where does Kir appear in the Bible?
Kir is referenced in 10 verses across 4 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- 2 Kings 3:25
- Isaiah 15:1
- Isaiah 16:7
- Isaiah 16:11
- Jeremiah 48:31
- Jeremiah 48:36
Showing the first 6 of 10.
Open all 10 references in ProtosWhat else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Kir.
Common questions
How many people in the Bible are called Kir?
Kir refers to 2 different places in the Bible: Kir (Mizpeh); Kir in Amos.
How many times does the Bible mention Kir?
Kir appears in 10 verses across 4 books, most often in Isaiah, which accounts for 4 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Kir?
Isaiah, Jeremiah, 2 Kings, Amos.
Where can I read every verse about Kir?
This page lists 6 of them. Protos carries all 10, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
