מֹ֫הַר (mo.har)
mo.har
brideprice
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mohar refers to the brideprice paid by a groom or his family to the bride’s father. In the ancient Near East, this payment was not merely a transaction but a formal recognition of the covenant being established between two families. It signified the serious commitment involved in marriage and compensated the bride’s household for the loss of her labor and presence.
This term appears in only two verses in the Hebrew Bible, both found in Genesis. In Genesis 34:12, Shechem offers to pay any mohar requested by Jacob’s sons as part of his proposal to marry Dinah. Later, in Genesis 45:23, Joseph sends gifts to his father, including donkeys carrying good things from Egypt, though the text does not explicitly label these as mohar; however, the context of providing for the family aligns with the broader cultural practice of securing familial bonds through substantial gifts or payments.
Understanding mohar helps clarify the social dynamics of biblical marriage. It was a customary step that legitimized the union in the eyes of the community and ensured the bride’s dignity and security within her new household.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mohar points to a brideprice, a payment made by a groom to secure a marriage covenant. In Genesis 34:12, Shechem offers to pay any amount Jacob’s sons demand for Dinah. This act was not just about money but about showing serious intent and honoring the family bond being formed.
Understanding this ancient custom helps us see how marriages were treated as sacred alliances between households. The payment protected the bride’s dignity and signaled that the union was legitimate in the eyes of the community. It reminds us that commitment involves tangible sacrifice and respect for those we love.
While we do not practice mohar today, the principle remains: true love values the other person deeply. When we enter into relationships, we are called to honor them with integrity and care, reflecting the seriousness of covenantal love in our own lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ bride-price1×
- a bride price1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מֹ֣הַר1×
- בְּ/מֹ֔הַר1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 34:12
Ask me a great amount for a dowry, and I will give whatever you ask of me, but give me the young lady as a wife.”
Shechem uses the offer of a brideprice to demonstrate his serious commitment to marrying Dinah, showing how the custom signified genuine intent rather than mere transaction.