Location
Overview
Zoar was the smallest of the five cities of the plain. Its name — "little" — comes from the story of its rescue, when it alone was spared the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Lot's refuge
As the angels urged Lot to flee to the mountains, he begged to escape instead to a nearby town: "this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one... is it not a little one?" So it was spared, and "the name of the city was called Zoar" (Genesis 19:20–22).
Spared from the fire
"The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar," and then the LORD rained fire on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:23–24). Zoar became Lot's brief shelter before, in fear, he went up to dwell in a cave in the mountains (Genesis 19:30).
A landmark of the plain
Zoar endured as a known place: from the heights of Nebo, Moses saw the land "unto Zoar" (Deuteronomy 34:3), and the prophets still named it in their oracles (Isaiah 15:5; Jeremiah 48:34).
Events Here
Lot flees to Zoar, which is spared from the fire
Scripture References
9 versesGenesis6 verses
Genesis 13:10
And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
Genesis 14:2
That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.
Genesis 14:8
And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;
Genesis 19:22
Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. Zoar: that is, Little
Genesis 19:23
The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. risen: Heb. gone forth
Genesis 19:30
And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.
Deuteronomy1 verse
Deuteronomy 34:3
And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.
Isaiah1 verse
Isaiah 15:5
My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction. his: or, to the borders thereof, even to Zoar, as an heifer destruction: Heb. breaking
Jeremiah1 verse
Jeremiah 48:34
From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old: for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate. desolate: Heb. desolations
Archaeology & History
Zoar is generally located at the south-eastern end of the Dead Sea, in the well-watered Ghor es-Safi of modern Jordan, where Byzantine maps (notably the Madaba mosaic map) place it with a palm-tree symbol. The lush oasis there fits the Genesis picture of the plain "well watered every where."
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Zoar
Where is Zoar today?
Today, Zoar corresponds to Ghor es-Safi area, Jordan (probable).
What does the name Zoar mean?
The name Zoar means “Little, small”.
What happened at Zoar in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Zoar include lot flees to zoar, which is spared from the fire.
Where is Zoar first mentioned in the Bible?
Zoar is first mentioned in Genesis 13:10.
How often is Zoar mentioned in the Bible?
Zoar is mentioned in 9 verses across 4 books: Genesis, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Jeremiah.
Why was Zoar spared?
Because Lot pleaded to flee to it rather than the mountains, pointing out it was only "a little one." It was spared from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as his refuge.
What does Zoar mean?
It means "little" or "small" — the name comes from Lot’s plea that it was only a little city.