Kirjath-Sepher
LocationsGeographical Setting
An ancient Canaanite city in the southern Levant, later assigned to the tribe of Judah and identified with the biblical city of Debir.
What is the meaning of Kirjath-Sepher in the Bible?
Kirjath-sepher, meaning 'City of Books,' is an ancient settlement mentioned in the Book of Joshua, identified as the same location as Kirjath-sannah and later known as Debir.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding this site helps clarify the territorial distribution of the tribe of Judah and the sequence of military campaigns described in the conquest narratives.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Geopolitical & Terrain Context: Kirjath-Sepher (located near modern Khirbet el-Rafeh (Debir)) held strategic importance. Understanding its position and trade routes explains why key biblical events unfolded here.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Kirjath-Sepher in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Kirjath-Sepher clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Kirjath-Sepher." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/kirjathsepher/