Ἱεριχώ (Hierichō)
Hierichō
Jericho
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun Hiericho refers to Jericho, an ancient city located near the north shore of the Dead Sea between Jerusalem and the Jordan River. The lexicon notes that its name likely means "place of fragrance," reflecting the region's historical abundance of balsam, honey, and myrobalanus. This geographical detail grounds the biblical narratives in a tangible, fertile landscape distinct from the surrounding wilderness.
In the New Testament, this indeclinable proper noun appears six times, primarily within the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, with one mention in Hebrews. Its most famous literary function occurs in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30), where the road from Jerusalem to Jericho serves as the setting for a story about unexpected mercy. It also marks significant moments in Jesus’ ministry, such as when he heals blind Bartimaeus near the city (Mark 10:46; Matthew 20:29).
Translators consistently render this Hebrew-derived name as "Jericho" without variation, preserving its identity as a specific historical location rather than a symbolic concept. The word anchors these stories in real geography, reminding readers that the events described took place in a known, living city rather than an abstract setting.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Jericho is not just a dot on an ancient map; it is a place where ordinary life met divine intervention. When Jesus walked through this city, he did not stay in the safety of Jerusalem’s temple courts but moved into the dust and noise of a real town. This reminds us that God is present in our daily routines, not only in our most spiritual moments.
Consider the road from Jerusalem to Jericho described in Luke 10:30. It was a dangerous, steep path where people faced real risk. Yet it was here that Jesus taught that true neighborly love looks like stopping for someone who is broken and bleeding. Faith often meets us in these difficult stretches of life, offering help when we least expect it.
Similarly, the blind beggar Bartimaeus sat by the roadside in Mark 10:46, waiting for a change he could not see. Jesus called him by name, restoring his sight and his place in the community. Your own struggles may feel like sitting by that dusty road, but the same Savior who noticed one man’s cry is attentive to your needs today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Jericho3×
- Jericho.2×
- of Jericho1×
- Jericho —1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Ἰεριχὼ5×
- Ἰεριχώ.2×
Key Verses
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Luke 10:30
Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
This verse uses Jericho as the setting for the Good Samaritan parable, grounding the lesson on mercy in a specific, dangerous geographical reality.
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Mark 10:46
They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.
Here, Jesus’ healing of Bartimaeus occurs specifically as he leaves Jericho, highlighting his personal attention to those marginalized by society.
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Hebrews 11:30
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
The author cites the fall of Jericho’s walls as a prime example of faith acting through obedience over time, rather than immediate force.