Lexical Summary Shur: Shur Original Word: שׁוּר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Shur The same as shuwr; Shur, a region of the Desert -- Shur. see HEBREW shuwr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as shor Definition a desert region S.W. of Pal. on E. border of Eg. NASB Translation Shur (6). Brown-Driver-Briggs III. שׁוּר proper name, of a location southwest of Palestine, on east border of Egypt; — Genesis 16:7 (J; ׳דֶּרֶךְ שׁ), Genesis 20:1 (E), towards Egypt Genesis 25:18 (J), 1 Samuel 15:7, שׁ֫וּרָה 1 Samuel 27:8; ׳מִדְּבַּרשֿׁ Exodus 15:22 (J). — Often supposed to denote properly the 'wall' or line of fortresses, built by Egyptian kings across isthmus of Suez; but dubious: compare DrHast. DB SHUR. Topical Lexicon Name and Setting Shur designates the arid borderland immediately east of Egypt, stretching northeastward across the northern Sinai toward the Negev and south-central Canaan. Ancient Egyptian records speak of a frontier “wall” of fortifications along this very corridor; the Hebrew name fits the sense of a defensive boundary. The territory forms a natural buffer between Egypt’s fertile delta and the desert tracks that lead to Canaan and Arabia. Occurrences in Scripture • Genesis 16:7 – Hagar, fleeing toward her Egyptian homeland, is met by “the Angel of the LORD … on the road to Shur.” Historical Background In the Middle Bronze Age and later, Egypt guarded her northeastern frontier with forts and watchtowers. Caravans and armies alike passed through a few well-watered tracks; outside these, the wilderness of Shur was harsh and thinly populated by semi-nomadic tribes such as Ishmaelites, Amalekites, and, in David’s day, Geshurites and Girzites. The region’s sparse wells—like the spring where Hagar was found—dictated travel routes and military strategy. Biblical Theology 1. Boundary and Separation. Shur constantly appears as a border: the limit of Ishmael’s territory, the edge of Amalekite influence, the line Saul was commanded to reach, and the threshold Israel crossed after redemption from Egypt. The motif underscores God’s power to set boundaries for nations (Acts 17:26) and to bring His people out of bondage into covenant liberty. Ministry Principles • Expect wilderness after deliverance. Congregations celebrating a fresh work of God should be prepared to walk through Shur-like seasons that expose murmuring and teach dependence. Typological Glimpses of Christ Hagar’s spring foreshadows “the well of living water” found in Jesus Christ (John 4:10-14). Israel’s thirst at Shur prefigures His cry, “I thirst,” answered by the water and blood that flowed to satisfy sinners. The wilderness He endured after His baptism mirrors Shur: victory over the enemy tested in desolation. Summary Shur stands as more than an obscure desert. It is Scripture’s enduring picture of the threshold between slavery and promise, a proving ground where the Lord both confronts unbelief and comforts the outcast. Lessons drawn from its six appearances continue to shape faithful living, preaching, and missionary vision. Forms and Transliterations שֽׁוּר׃ שׁ֑וּר שׁ֔וּר שׁ֖וּרָה שׁ֗וּר שור שור׃ שורה Shur Shurah šū·rāh šūr šūrāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 16:7 HEB: הָעַ֖יִן בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ שֽׁוּר׃ NAS: by the spring on the way to Shur. KJV: by the fountain in the way to Shur. INT: the fountain the way to Shur Genesis 20:1 Genesis 25:18 Exodus 15:22 1 Samuel 15:7 1 Samuel 27:8 6 Occurrences |
    |