{
  "id": "dict_006195",
  "term": "Zur",
  "slug": "zur",
  "letter": "Z",
  "entry_type": "biblical_proper_name",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "Zur is a biblical personal name, best known for a Midianite chief named in Numbers 25 and 31.",
  "simple_one_line": "Zur is an Old Testament proper name, not a theological term.",
  "tooltip_text": "Biblical proper name associated with a Midianite leader in Numbers.",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Cozbi",
    "Midianites",
    "Numbers",
    "proper names"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "Balaam",
    "Phinehas",
    "Midian"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "Zur is a biblical proper name rather than a theological concept. The best-known bearer is a Midianite chief named in connection with Israel’s wilderness events in Numbers.",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "A biblical personal name, most prominently used for a Midianite leader in the book of Numbers.",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "Best-known in Numbers 25:15 and 31:8",
    "not a doctrine term",
    "may refer to more than one individual in biblical usage",
    "should be distinguished from other names and entries."
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "Zur is a biblical proper name rather than a theological term. The best-known bearer is the Midianite chief named in Numbers 25 and 31, father of Cozbi. Because the workbook originally miscategorized the entry, it has been reclassified for publication as a proper-name entry.",
  "description_academic_full": "Zur is an Old Testament personal name, not a theological concept. The most prominent biblical bearer is a Midianite chief associated with the events at Shittim and the later judgment on Midian, where he is identified as the father of Cozbi. The name may also be used for other individuals in biblical genealogical material, so a published entry should distinguish the bearers rather than merge them. Reclassifying the row as a proper-name entry preserves its usefulness while correcting the original category mismatch.",
  "background_biblical_context": "In Numbers, Zur appears in the wilderness narrative connected with Israel’s sin at Peor and the subsequent conflict with Midian. The name is therefore remembered primarily as part of a historical narrative rather than as a theological concept.",
  "background_historical_context": "Zur belongs to the broader world of tribal and clan leadership in the Late Bronze / early Iron Age setting reflected in the Pentateuch. The name functions as a personal identifier within Israel’s wilderness-era conflicts.",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "In ancient Semitic naming, short personal names often carried concrete meanings and could be reused by more than one individual. Zur is best handled as an onomastic entry, with separate attention given to each verified bearer.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "Numbers 25:15",
    "Numbers 31:8"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "If other biblical bearers of the name are verified in genealogical passages, they should be listed separately under the proper-name entry."
  ],
  "original_language_note": "Hebrew proper name transliterated as Zur.",
  "theological_significance": "Zur has no direct doctrinal significance of its own. Its importance is narrative and historical, helping identify persons in the biblical record.",
  "philosophical_explanation": "As a proper name, Zur illustrates the ordinary historical particularity of Scripture: real people, real places, and specific events matter in the biblical storyline.",
  "interpretive_cautions": "Do not treat Zur as a theological term. Do not merge distinct biblical bearers of the name unless the textual evidence clearly identifies them as the same person.",
  "major_views_note": "Readers and study tools usually encounter Zur in Numbers 25 and 31. Because the name may designate more than one person, responsible editing keeps the figures distinct when possible.",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "This entry is an onomastic reference only. It should not be used to build doctrine or to imply any teaching beyond the historical text.",
  "practical_significance": "The entry helps readers follow biblical narratives accurately and avoid confusing one individual named Zur with another.",
  "meta_description": "Zur is a biblical proper name, best known as a Midianite chief named in Numbers 25 and 31.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/zur/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/zur.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}