יֶ֫רַח (ye.rach)
ye.rach
month
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 12 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun yerech denotes a month, specifically tracking the lunar cycle as a unit of time. In the Old Testament, it serves as a standard measure for calendars and historical records rather than merely marking the passage of days. This word appears in twelve verses, with notable usage in Deuteronomy, 1 Kings, and the book of Job.
Its primary meaning is straightforward: a calendar month based on the moon’s phases. The term also carries a secondary sense referring to the moon itself, reflecting the ancient Near Eastern practice of tying timekeeping to celestial bodies. Translators typically render it simply as "month," preserving its function in dating events and festivals.
Understanding yerech highlights how biblical authors viewed time through natural rhythms. Rather than abstract numbers, months were visible cycles tied to the heavens. This perspective grounds historical narratives in observable reality, connecting human experience with the created order.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word yerech simply means "month," but it carries a quiet weight in Scripture. It reminds us that time is not just an abstract concept or a series of deadlines to meet. Instead, it is tied to the visible rhythms of creation—the phases of the moon and the turning of seasons. This perspective grounds our daily lives in the natural order God established.
When biblical authors use this word, they are often marking significant moments: the building of the Temple, the reign of a king, or periods of deep personal suffering. It shows that God is present in both the long stretches of waiting and the brief seasons of change. Your life unfolds within these same cycles, and each one holds purpose.
Whether you are experiencing a time of joy or a season of hardship, this word invites you to see your timeline as part of a larger, created order. You do not have to rush through the months or fear their passing. They are simply the vessel for your journey with God, offering space for growth, rest, and reflection.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 12 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ [the] month of3×
- [the] months3×
- a month of2×
- months of1×
- months1×
- like/ months of1×
- in/ a month1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יְרָחִֽים\׃2×
- בְּ/יֶ֣רַח2×
- כְ/יַרְחֵי\־1×
- יַרְחֵי\־1×
- יֶֽרַח\־1×
- יֶ֣רַח1×
- יְרָחִ֣ים1×
- יְ֝רָחִ֗ים1×
- בְּ/יֶ֥רַח1×
- בְּ/יֶ֖רַח1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 6:37
The foundation of Yahweh’s house was laid in the fourth year, in the month Ziv.
This verse uses yerech to anchor the construction of Solomon's Temple in a specific historical timeline, showing how God's work unfolds over measured periods.
-
Job 7:3
so I am made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me.
Here the word describes a season of intense suffering, illustrating that even painful times are contained within the structure of months given by God.
-
Exodus 2:2
The woman conceived and bore a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.
The phrase "three months" marks a brief but critical period of hiding Moses, highlighting how short seasons can hold eternal significance.
-
Job 39:2
Can you count the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they give birth?
God asks if humans can count the months animals fulfill, emphasizing that time belongs to Him and operates beyond our full control.