יוֹרֶה (yo.reh)
yo.reh
autumn rain
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun yoreh refers to the early rain that arrives in the autumn, typically falling between late October and early December. In the agricultural landscape of ancient Palestine, this seasonal shower was essential for softening the hardened ground so farmers could plow and sow their fields. Without it, the planting season would be impossible, making the yoreh a vital precursor to the spring harvest rains.
Scripture frequently uses this natural phenomenon as a metaphor for divine blessing and spiritual renewal. In Jeremiah 5:24, the text contrasts human failure with God’s faithfulness, noting that He gives the rain in its season—specifically the yoreh and the latter rain—as a guarantee of His covenant care. Similarly, Deuteronomy 11:14 links this autumn shower to God’s provision for grain, wine, and oil, framing it as a tangible sign of His ongoing sustenance for the land.
Translators usually render yoreh as "early rain" or "autumn rain," capturing its specific timing rather than just generic precipitation. The word highlights a period of preparation and potential, where the earth is made ready for new life. This imagery underscores a theological theme found throughout the Hebrew Bible: God’s reliability in providing what is necessary for growth, both physically in the fields and spiritually in the hearts of His people.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word yoreh refers to the autumn rains that fall in late October or November. In ancient Israel, this early rain softened the dry earth so farmers could plow and sow their fields. It was not just weather; it was the necessary start of the growing season. Without it, the harvest would never begin.
Scripture uses this natural event to show God’s faithful care. He provides what is needed for growth at the right time. This reminds us that spiritual life also begins with preparation. Just as the earth needs the yoreh to become ready for seed, our hearts often need seasons of quiet waiting before new understanding takes root.
When you feel like you are in a season of preparation, remember that God is at work. He gives rain in its season. This promise assures us that He sustains us through every stage of life, from the first drop to the final harvest.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- autumn rain2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יוֹרֶ֥ה1×
- יוֹרֶ֣ה1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 11:14
that I will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.
This verse links the yoreh directly to God’s provision of grain, wine, and oil, showing it as a tangible sign of His sustenance for daily needs.
-
Jeremiah 5:24
They don’t say in their heart, ‘Let’s now fear Yahweh our God, who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season, who preserves to us the appointed weeks of the harvest.’
Here the yoreh is paired with the latter rain as a guarantee of God’s covenant faithfulness, contrasting human forgetfulness with divine reliability.