אֹרַח
𐤀𐤓𐤇
ʼôrach
H735 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A road, path, or way—primarily a route used for travel by people or animals, whether literal (physical roadway, track, or thoroughfare) or, in extended usage, a figurative path or course of action (e.g., manner or conduct of life). The word primarily refers to a traveled way (natural or constructed), with secondary use for a way of behavior or manner of life.
Semantic Range
road, path, way (literally), course of action, manner of life (figuratively), customary practice, conduct
Root / Etymology
From the root ארח, which conveys the idea 'to travel, journey, tread a path.' The noun is a derived form indicating the result or means of traveling, i.e., the path or way itself. In Aramaic, the root and form are parallel in meaning and usage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אֹרַח appears both in Biblical Hebrew (though much more commonly as the noun אֹרַח) and Aramaic portions of the Tanakh, most notably in the Aramaic parts of Daniel (e.g., Daniel 2–7). In these Aramaic sections, it retains the same core meaning as in Hebrew. When used concretely, it points to a physical road or route for travel. When used metaphorically, it describes one's way of life, conduct, or customary behavior—a nuance well-attested in Hebrew wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs). In Aramaic usage in Daniel, the figurative sense is present but less prominent than in Hebrew poetry. English translations often render it as 'way' or 'road,' but may not distinguish between the literal and figurative uses. The term, both in Hebrew and Aramaic, is distinct from דֶּרֶךְ (déreḵ) which can similarly mean 'way' or 'road' but is more common and carries a broader semantic range, especially in figurative contexts. אֹרַח may convey a slightly more marked sense of a trodden path or habitual route as opposed to the more general 'way.' Usage of אֹרַח in later Hebrew became less frequent, with דֶּרֶךְ becoming the dominant term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to אֹרַח; a road; way.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ארח (ʾ-r-ḥ) — to travel, to journey, to tread a path
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H732 | אָרַח | the journeying one |
| H733 | אָרַח | Arach |
| H734 | אֹרַח | your journey-path |
| H736 | אֹרְחָה | journeying caravan of |
| H737 | אֲרֻחָה | prescribed ration |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H735-01 |
אֹרְחָתָ֥/ךְ | orechatakhe | ANcfpc/Sp2ms |
your ways | your paths | 1 |
H735-02 |
וְ/אֹרְחָתֵ֖/הּ | veorechateh | AC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms |
and-ways-his | and his paths | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H735-02 |
Daniel 4:34 | וְ/אֹרְחָתֵ֖/הּ | veorechateh | AC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms |
and-ways-his | and his paths |
H735-01 |
Daniel 5:23 | אֹרְחָתָ֥/ךְ | orechatakhe | ANcfpc/Sp2ms |
your ways | your paths |