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יְרִיחוֹ

𐤉𐤓𐤉𐤇𐤅

Yericho

H3405 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ירח (if from ירח) moon, lunar cycle; (if from ריח) smell, fragrance

Definition

Jericho – a prominent fortified city located in the lower Jordan Valley, northwest of the Dead Sea, long inhabited and noted for its palm-trees, springs, and strategic importance. Primarily denotes the urban center that served as a significant entrance point to Canaan for the Israelites following their crossing of the Jordan River. In later contexts, the term also refers to the region or environs surrounding the city.

Semantic Range

The city Jericho; region or environs of Jericho; sometimes used metonymically for its residents; locus of specific historical or narrative events.

Root / Etymology

The etymology of יְרִיחוֹ (Yerikho) is uncertain. Traditional suggestions link it to the Hebrew noun יָרֵחַ (yareach, 'moon'), possibly indicating association with a lunar cult or a place dedicated to a moon deity. Other proposals suggest derivation from רֵיחַ (reach, 'fragrance'), referencing Jericho's famed balsam, date palms, or aromatic plants. However, no definitive connection has been established and both suggestions remain speculative.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Jericho is first introduced in the Hebrew Bible as the first Canaanite city conquered by the Israelites (Joshua 2–6). Its location near vital trade routes and plentiful water made it a significant settlement from the Early Bronze Age through biblical times. In the biblical narrative, Jericho often symbolizes both a strategic military locale and a region of agricultural fertility. In later periods (exilic and post-exilic), the city remains inhabited and continues to be referenced in narrative and prophetic literature. The English rendering 'Jericho' follows Greek and Latin transliteration traditions. The etymological connection to 'moon' (יָרֵחַ) has often been emphasized by ancient commentators but remains linguistically uncertain. No known Israelite practice or identification with a moon-god cult at Jericho is attested in the biblical texts. Multiple forms of the place name appear in the Hebrew Bible (יְרִיחוֹ, יְרֵחוֹ, יְרִיחֹה), reflecting dialectal or orthographic variation, but not a difference in referent or meaning. Later translations at times use 'city of Jericho,' underscoring its fortified character and strategic role. Unlike 'Judean' or 'Israelite,' the term is strictly geographic and does not denote ethnic identity.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or יְרֵחוֹ; or variation (1 Kings 16:34) יְרִיחֹה; perhaps from יָרֵחַ; its month; or else from רוּחַ; fragrant; Jericho or Jerecho, a place in Palestine; Jericho.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ירח (y-r-ḥ) — moon, lunar cycle; possibly fragrance (if linked to ריח)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3386 יָרוֹחַ Moon-born
H3391 יֶרַח in lunar-month-of
H3392 יֶרַח Yerach
H3393 יְרַח lunar month of
H3394 יָרֵחַ the moon

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3405-07 יְרִיח֑וֹ yericho HNp Jericho Jericho 23
H3405-06 יְרֵחֽוֹ yerecho HNp Jericho Moon-City 20
H3405-01 בִּ/ירִיחוֹ֒ biricho HR/Np at Jericho in Jericho 5
H3405-02 לִֽ/ירִיחוֹ֙ liricho HR/Np to Jericho to Jericho 3
H3405-03 מִֽ/ירִיח֗וֹ miricho HR/Np from Jericho from Jericho 2
H3405-04 בִֽ/ירֵח֔וֹ virecho HR/Np at Jericho in Jericho 2
H3405-05 וִֽ/ירִיחוֹ֙ viricho HC/Np Now Jericho and Jericho 1
H3405-08 יְרִיחֹ֑ה yerichoh HNp Jericho Jericho, Moon-City 1

Occurrences in Scripture

57 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3405-06 Numbers 22:1 יְרֵחֽוֹ yerecho HNp Jericho Moon-City
H3405-06 Numbers 26:3 יְרֵח֖וֹ yerecho HNp Jericho Moon-City
H3405-06 Numbers 26:63 יְרֵחֽוֹ yerecho HNp Jericho Moon-City
H3405-06 Numbers 31:12 יְרֵחֽוֹ yerecho HNp Jericho Moon-City
H3405-06 Numbers 33:48 יְרֵחֽוֹ yerecho HNp Jericho Moon-City
H3405-06 Numbers 33:50 יְרֵח֖וֹ yerecho HNp Jericho Moon-City
H3405-06 Numbers 34:15 יְרֵח֖וֹ yerecho HNp at-Jericho Moon-City
H3405-06 Numbers 35:1 יְרֵח֖וֹ yerecho HNp Jericho Moon-City
H3405-06 Numbers 36:13 יְרֵחֽוֹ yerecho HNp Jericho Moon-City
H3405-06 Deuteronomy 32:49 יְרֵח֑וֹ yerecho HNp Jericho Moon-City
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