Tirzah

Tirzah is a female name from the Hebrew Tirtsa (תִּרְצָה), meaning "favourable" or "delight." In the Old Testament, Tirzah is first mentioned in Numbers 26:33 as one of the five daughters of Zelophehad. After Zelophehad died in the wilderness without male heirs, his daughters—Tirzah, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, and Milkah—approached Moses to claim their inheritance. God affirmed their right, leading to a landmark ruling in Numbers 27:1-11 that established inheritance rights for daughters when no sons existed. This legal precedent continues in Jewish law, where daughters may inherit in the absence of a son.

Historical and Geographic Significance

Tirzah also appears as a place name. The city of Tirzah, in the hill country of Ephraim, was an early capital of the northern Kingdom of Israel under kings such as Jeroboam I, Baasha, Elah, and Zimri. It later gave way to Samaria as the royal residence (1 Kings 15:33; 16:6, 8, 15). The name may derive from the same root as the personal name, meaning "pleasantness" or "delight."

Cultural and Literary Legacy

Outside scripture, the name gained popularity among Puritans and in various European cultures. The variant "Thirza" (Dutch) appears in 18th-century literary works, such as Salomon Gessner's idyll The Death of Abel, where Thirza is Abel's wife. The name's use declined but saw a brief revival in the 19th century, especially in England and the Netherlands. Related forms include Thersa (Biblical Latin), Tirtza (Modern Hebrew), and Thirza or Thyrza (Dutch).

Notable Bearers

Tirzah's biblical connection as a fearless advocate for justice has inspired several notable figures. Modern bearers include Tirzah from the UK music duo T+T (2010s) and, in the 19th century, English author and reformer Tirzah Wing (1797–1870). The name has also appeared intermittently in immigration records the United States during the 1800s, often among families of Puritan background.

• Meaning: Favourable, delight
• Origin: Hebrew
• First person type: one of five inheriltesses in Numbers: Fifth-century Beth-Lower-ASCII
• Usage Regions: Israel, Jewish Diaspora, English Bible readers, Netherlands (as Thirza/Thilti) Thirza)