יְרִיחוֹ (ye.ri.cho)
ye.ri.cho
Jericho
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 52 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The name Yericho identifies a well-known city in Palestine, situated in a fertile district near the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. It holds a prominent place in Scripture as the first Canaanite city conquered by the Israelites upon entering the Promised Land, an event recorded extensively in the book of Joshua.
Lexical sources suggest its etymology may derive from the word for moon, meaning "its moon," or possibly from a root meaning fragrant. The name appears frequently across historical and prophetic texts, marking locations such as where the Israelites camped before crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3:16) and where Ahab’s rebuilding efforts were later noted (1 Kings 16:34).
Its geographical significance is underscored by its repeated mention in contexts of travel, battle, and prophecy. The city serves as a tangible landmark in the biblical narrative, anchoring stories of conquest, judgment, and later restoration within the landscape of ancient Israel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Jericho stands as a powerful landmark in the biblical narrative, marking the threshold between wilderness wandering and the promise of rest. Its walls fell not by military might but through obedience to God’s specific instructions, reminding us that faith often requires stepping into the unknown with trust rather than strategy.
This city also holds a place of grace for Rahab, whose courage to hide Israel’s spies led to her inclusion in the lineage of Christ. Her story shows that no background is too distant from God’s redemption. Whether facing closed doors or new beginnings, we can look to Jericho as a symbol of divine intervention and faithful response.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 52 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Jericho31×
- of Jericho12×
- to/ Jericho3×
- at/ Jericho3×
- from/ Jericho2×
- [were] at/ Jericho2×
- in/ Jericho1×
- and/ Jericho1×
- <on>/ Jericho1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יְרִיחֽוֹ\׃5×
- יְרִיח֖וֹ5×
- יְרֵח֖וֹ4×
- יְרֵח֑וֹ4×
- יְרִיח֔וֹ4×
- יְרֵחֽוֹ\׃3×
- לִֽ/ירִיחוֹ֙2×
- יְרֵחֽוֹ\׃\ \ס2×
- יְרֵח֔וֹ2×
- יְרִיחֽוֹ\׃\ \ס2×
- בִֽ/ירֵח֔וֹ2×
- מִֽ/ירִיח֗וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 6:2
Yahweh said to Joshua, “Behold, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the mighty men of valor.
This verse highlights the pivotal moment where God promises victory over Jericho, shifting the focus from human strength to divine provision.
-
Joshua 2:1
Joshua the son of Nun secretly sent two men out of Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, including Jericho.” They went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and slept there.
The sending of spies into Jericho introduces Rahab and sets the stage for how faith can cross cultural and ethnic boundaries.
-
Joshua 6:25
But Rahab the prostitute, her father’s household, and all that she had, Joshua saved alive. She lives in the middle of Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
This reference preserves the legacy of Rahab, showing that those who trust God are remembered and integrated into the community of believers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Jericho represent in the Bible?
Why is Jericho mentioned so often in Numbers?
How is Jericho connected to Jesus?
Every Occurrence (52 verses across 11 books)
Numbers 9 verses
The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
Numbers 26:3Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,
Numbers 26:63These are those who were counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who counted the children of Israel in the plains of…
Numbers 31:12They brought the captives with the prey and the plunder, to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation…
Numbers 33:48They traveled from the mountains of Abarim, and encamped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.
Numbers 33:50Yahweh spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,
Numbers 34:15The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the…
Numbers 35:1Yahweh spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,
Numbers 36:13These are the commandments and the ordinances which Yahweh commanded by Moses to the children of Israel in the plains…