מוֹרֶה (mo.reh)
mo.reh
Moreh
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun moreh primarily means "teacher," yet it appears in Scripture as a place name rather than a title for a person. In Genesis 12:6, it identifies the "oak of Moreh" at Shechem, marking the site where Abram first stopped upon entering Canaan. This location sits near the mountains of Ebal and Gerizim, anchoring the patriarch’s journey in a specific geographical reality.
The word reappears in Judges 7:1 as the "hill of Moreh" in the valley of Jezreel. Here, it designates the camp where Midianite forces were stationed before Gideon’s surprise attack. In both instances, the term functions as a proper noun for a landmark, likely named after a local figure known for instruction or guidance, though the text itself focuses on the event that occurred there rather than the person.
With only three occurrences, the word is rare and strictly topographical in its biblical usage. It serves as a marker of significant moments—Abram’s arrival and Gideon’s victory—rather than discussing pedagogy or instruction directly. Translators typically render it as "Moreh" to preserve the specific identity of these sites.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word Moreh appears rarely in Scripture, not as a title for a person, but as a name for specific places where God met His people. In Genesis 12:6, Abram stops at the oak of Moreh near Shechem. This location marks his first significant moment in the Promised Land, grounding his journey in real geography. It reminds us that faith is lived out in concrete moments and tangible spaces.
Centuries later, this name reappears in Judges 7:1 at the hill of Moreh. Here, Gideon’s small army camps near Midian’s forces, setting the stage for a decisive victory. The place becomes a backdrop for divine intervention, showing how God uses ordinary locations to accomplish extraordinary things.
These references invite us to see our own lives as places where God is active. Just as Abram and Gideon encountered God in specific spots, we find Him present in our daily routines. This word encourages trust that God is with us, even in the simplest or most challenging moments of our journey.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Moreh2×
- <the>/ Moreh1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מוֹרֶ֑ה1×
- מֹרֶֽה\׃1×
- הַ/מּוֹרֶ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 12:6
Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time, Canaanites were in the land.
This occurrence marks Abram’s arrival at Shechem, establishing Moreh as a landmark of initial covenant promise and divine presence in Canaan.
-
Judges 7:1
Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people who were with him, rose up early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. Midian’s camp was on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
Here the hill of Moreh serves as the strategic vantage point for Gideon’s camp, highlighting God’s use of specific geography in delivering Israel from Midian.
-
Deuteronomy 11:30
Aren’t they beyond the Jordan, behind the way of the going down of the sun, in the land of the Canaanites who dwell in the Arabah near Gilgal, beside the oaks of Moreh?
Moses references the oaks of Moreh to remind Israel of the promised land’s boundaries, linking the site to their future inheritance and obedience.