יְאֹר (ye.or)
ye.or
Nile
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 37 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ye’or refers specifically to a channel or stream, but in the biblical text it almost always denotes the Nile River. Its origin is Egyptian, reflecting its status as the lifeblood of Egypt and the primary water source for the region. While it can technically mean any canal or shaft, the context usually makes the specific river clear.
This word appears frequently in narratives involving Egypt, such as when Moses is placed in a basket among the reeds by the river (Exodus 2:3) or when the waters of the Nile are turned to blood during the plagues (Exodus 7:19-20). It also features in prophetic imagery, like Isaiah’s description of the Assyrian king digging canals and rivers for his armies (Isaiah 37:25), highlighting its role as a symbol of human power and resource management.
Translators often render ye’or as "river," though this can sometimes obscure the specific reference to the Nile. The distinction is important because the Nile was not just a geographical feature but a central element of Egyptian identity and economy. In some contexts, it may also refer to smaller irrigation channels connected to the main river, emphasizing its function in sustaining agriculture and daily life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ye’or points us to the Nile, the lifeblood of ancient Egypt. In Scripture, this river is more than a geographical feature; it stands as a symbol of human power, self-sufficiency, and earthly security. When Pharaoh stood by its banks or when Moses struck its waters, the text reminds us that even the greatest sources of worldly stability are subject to God’s authority.
For your faith, this word offers a gentle correction to trusting in things we can control or see. The Nile sustained an empire, yet it could not save Pharaoh from judgment. Similarly, our careers, finances, and social standing may feel like steady rivers, but they are fragile compared to the eternal provision of God. We find peace when we stop leaning on these shifting streams and rest in His unchanging care.
This perspective invites us to examine where we place our trust. Do we rely on our own resources, or do we look to the Creator who holds all waters in His hands? The story of Moses teaches us that God can turn what seems secure into a testimony of His glory. May you find rest in knowing that your true source of life is not found in the world’s systems, but in the One who sustains it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 37 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ River24×
- [the] River5×
- [the] canals of4×
- like the/ River3×
- [was] in the/ River3×
- like/ [the] River2×
- canals/ their2×
- [is] in the/ River2×
- the/ River/ towards1×
- shafts1×
- like the/ light1×
- in the/ River1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/יְאֹ֔ר7×
- הַ/יְאֹֽר\׃6×
- הַ/יְאֹ֑ר5×
- כַּ/יְאֹ֣ר2×
- יְאֹרֵ֥י2×
- יְאֹרֵ֣י2×
- יְא֖וֹר2×
- הַ/יְאֹ֗ר2×
- בַּ/יְאֹ֖ר2×
- כַּ/יְאֹ֑ר1×
- כִּ/יאֹ֥ר1×
- כִּ/יא֥וֹר1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 7:17
Yahweh says, “In this you shall know that I am Yahweh. Behold: I will strike with the rod that is in my hand on the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
This verse marks the moment Yahweh claims authority over Egypt’s primary source of life, demonstrating that He alone controls the waters that sustain the nation.
-
Genesis 41:2
Behold, seven cattle came up out of the river. They were sleek and fat, and they fed in the marsh grass.
Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream by identifying the river as the Nile, showing how God uses natural symbols to reveal future economic realities.
-
Exodus 2:3
When she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket for him, and coated it with tar and with pitch. She put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank.
The placement of Moses in the reeds by the river highlights God’s providential care, using the very place of danger to preserve the deliverer of Israel.
-
Isaiah 19:7
The meadows by the Nile, by the brink of the Nile, and all the sown fields of the Nile, will become dry, be driven away, and be no more.
This prophecy uses the drying of the Nile’s margins to illustrate how human confidence in Egypt’s agricultural wealth will fail against God’s judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word ye'or specifically refer to?
Why is the distinction between ye'or and other words for river important?
How does ye'or appear in the story of Moses?
Every Occurrence (37 verses across 10 books)
Genesis 5 verses
At the end of two full years, Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he stood by the river.
Genesis 41:2Behold, seven cattle came up out of the river. They were sleek and fat, and they fed in the marsh grass.
Genesis 41:3Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ugly and thin, and stood by the other cattle on the…
Genesis 41:17Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, “In my dream, behold, I stood on the brink of the river;
Genesis 41:18and behold, seven fat and sleek cattle came up out of the river. They fed in the marsh grass;