← H6366 H6368 →

פִּי הַחִירֹת

𐤐𐤉 𐤄𐤇𐤉𐤓𐤕

Pi Hachirot

H6367 noun

SILEX Entry

Root פ-ה-ה; ח-ו-ר to open, to be a mouth; to bore, pierce, make a hole or opening

Definition

Pi ha-Chiroth — a specific toponym designating a location near the Sea of Reeds (often translated 'Red Sea'), literally meaning 'mouth of the gorges/openings/caverns.' The phrase reflects a geographic feature likely characterized by a pass, gap, or cleft in the terrain. In biblical narratives, Pi ha-Chiroth is a station where the Israelites encamped immediately prior to crossing the sea during the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 14:2, 9; Numbers 33:7-8).

Semantic Range

mouth/opening of (a pass, gorge, cleft); a geographic place name by the edge of the sea in Egypt; a station on the exodus route; descriptive term for a landscape feature resembling an opening or gorge

Root / Etymology

פִּי (Pi) is a construct form of פֶּה, meaning 'mouth,' while הַחִירֹת (ha-Chiroth) is a feminine plural with the definite article הַ, derived from חוֹר ('hole, opening, cavern, cleft'). The entire phrase thus means 'mouth of the cavities/gorges.' The place name likely describes a landmark or geographic passage resembling an opening or gap. The composite form indicates a descriptive place name rather than a native Egyptian toponym. Root: פֶּה from פ-ה-ה; חוֹר from ח-ו-ר.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, Pi ha-Chiroth appears solely in the context of the exodus narrative as a named station between other identifiable locations, marking a critical juncture before the sea crossing. The form with the definite article (הַ) and plural ending suggests a Hebrew descriptive toponym rather than a precise Egyptian loanword, though Egyptological connections have been explored. Modern scholarship debates its exact location, though it is understood as being on or near the edge of the northwestern Sinai close to the water. The full phrase is unique to the exodus tradition. Some English translations and commentaries use 'Pi-hahiroth,' reflecting older transliteration conventions. The absence of 'Pi' in some passages (e.g., Numbers 33:8, where חִירֹת appears alone) may be due to abbreviation in the retelling. The toponym should not be conflated with later place names or read as an ethnic/religious designation. The meaning is strictly topographical and contextualized within the journey narrative.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

lemma פִּי הַחִרֹת yod, corrected to פִּי הַחִירֹת; xlit Pi corrected to Pîy; from פֶּה and the feminine plural of a noun (from the same root as חוֹר), with the article interpolated; mouth of the gorges; Pi-ha-Chiroth, a place in Egypt; Pi-hahiroth. (In Numbers 14:19 without Pi-.)

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

פוה; חור (p-h-h; ḥ-w-r) — mouth, opening; hole, cavern, cleft

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6367-01 הַחִירֹ֔ת hachirot HNp hahiroth the gorges 4
H6367-02 פִּ֣י pi HNp Pi mouth of 3

Occurrences in Scripture

7 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6367-02 Exodus 14:2 פִּ֣י pi HNp Pi mouth of
H6367-01 Exodus 14:2 הַחִירֹ֔ת hachirot HNp hahiroth the gorges
H6367-02 Exodus 14:9 פִּי֙ pi HNp Pi mouth of
H6367-01 Exodus 14:9 הַֽחִירֹ֔ת hachirot HNp hahiroth the gorges
H6367-02 Numbers 33:7 פִּ֣י pi HNp mouth of mouth of
H6367-01 Numbers 33:7 הַחִירֹ֔ת hachirot HNp Hahiroth the gorges
H6367-01 Numbers 33:8 הַֽ/חִירֹ֔ת hachirot HTd/Np Pi-hahiroth the gorges
← H6366 Hebrew Lexicon H6368 →