מוֹרָה (mo.rah)
mo.rah
razor
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun morah refers specifically to a razor, an instrument used for shaving or cutting hair close to the skin. In the biblical text, this word appears in only three verses, all located within the narratives of Judges and First Samuel. Its limited usage suggests it was not a common household item but rather a specialized tool associated with specific rituals or social markers.
The most significant appearance occurs in the story of Samson in Judges 16:17, where his strength is tied to his uncut hair, implying that the razor represents the removal of his Nazirite consecration. Similarly, in First Samuel 15:3, God commands Saul to destroy the Amalekites and their livestock, including a reference to sparing no one, which some translations link to the use of the razor against those who might otherwise be spared. These contexts highlight the razor as an instrument of finality and judgment.
While the word itself is simple, its occurrence in these critical moments underscores the seriousness of the actions described. The razor is not merely a grooming tool but a symbol of decisive action and the fulfillment of divine commands. Its presence in the text serves to emphasize the gravity of the situations in which it is mentioned.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word morah, meaning a razor, appears in Scripture not as a common grooming tool but as a marker of sacred separation. In the lives of Samson and Samuel, the absence of this instrument signified a life set apart for God’s specific purpose from before birth. This physical detail highlights how God often uses tangible signs to anchor spiritual commitments.
When we consider these ancient vows, we see that consecration involves letting go of personal autonomy. The razor represented the power to change one's appearance and status; by refusing it, the Nazirites surrendered their right to self-determination. For believers today, this invites a reflection on what areas of our lives we hold loosely for God, rather than gripping tightly as our own.
Ultimately, the razor serves as a reminder that true strength comes from obedience to divine calling, not from physical prowess or social status. It points us toward a faith that values inner dedication over outward conformity, trusting that God honors those who set themselves apart for His work.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ a razor2×
- a razor1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מוֹרָה֙1×
- וּ/מוֹרָה֙1×
- וּ/מוֹרָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 13:5
for, behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son. No razor shall come on his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb. He shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”
This verse establishes the razor as the defining boundary of a Nazirite vow before birth, marking Samson’s life as entirely dedicated to God from the womb.
-
Judges 16:17
He told her all his heart and said to her, “No razor has ever come on my head; for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will go from me and I will become weak, and be like any other man.”
Here, Samson explicitly links the absence of the razor to his divine strength, showing that the physical restriction was the visible seal of his spiritual power.
-
I Samuel 1:11
She vowed a vow, and said, “Yahweh of Armies, if you will indeed look at the affliction of your servant and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a boy, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and no razor shall come on his head.”
Hannah’s vow uses the razor to signify a permanent gift back to God, illustrating how this tool represented the total surrender of a child’s future to divine service.