Shur
Shur is a region mentioned in 6 verses. Its most likely location is region around Ar Ruwaysat. The name means “wall; ox; that beholds.”
Where is Shur?
Approx. 30.4933, 32.9567 · OpenStreetMap · Google Maps
Possible modern locations
| Identification | Type | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| region around Ar Ruwaysat | region | Medium |
| about 30 km around Wadi as Sakriyat | region | Low |
| Tel Sharuhen | settlement | Low |
Shur in the Bible dictionary
An enclosure; a wall, a part, probably, of the Arabian desert, on the north-eastern border of Egypt, giving its name to a wilderness extending from Egypt toward Philistia (Gen. 16:7; 20:1; 25:18; Ex. 15:22). The name was probably given to it from the wall (or shur) which the Egyptians built to defend their frontier on the north-east from the desert tribes. This wall or line of fortifications extended from Pelusium to Heliopolis.
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), public domain. Full dictionary entry →
Verses that mention Shur
- Genesis 16:7
And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
- Genesis 20:1
And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
- Genesis 25:18
And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.
- Exodus 15:22
So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
- 1 Samuel 15:7
And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
- 1 Samuel 27:8
And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.