פִּי הַחִירֹת
Pi-ha-Chiroth, a place in Egypt
Definition
Pi-ha-Chiroth is a proper noun referring to a specific geographical location in Egypt, mentioned in the context of the Israelites' Exodus. Its name, meaning 'mouth of the gorges' or 'mouth of the openings,' describes a place situated at the entrance to a series of narrow passes or canals. In the biblical narrative, it is the last encampment of the Israelites before they cross the Red Sea (Exodus 14:2, 9). The name appears in both the Exodus account and the later summary of the wilderness journey in Numbers 33:7-8, consistently marking a pivotal location of divine deliverance.
Biblical Usage
This place name is used exclusively in the Pentateuch, specifically in the books of Exodus and Numbers, to denote a precise stage in the Exodus route. It is always used in a geographical and narrative context to locate the Israelites immediately before the miracle at the Red Sea. The four occurrences (Exodus 14:2, 9; Numbers 33:7, 8) show a consistent pattern: it is part of God's detailed itinerary for the people, emphasizing His sovereign guidance and the fulfillment of His command to encamp there.
Etymology
The name is a compound Hebrew phrase. It begins with 'Pîy' (פֶּה, H6310), meaning 'mouth' or 'opening.' This is combined with 'ha-Chîyrôth,' which includes the definite article 'ha-' (the) and a feminine plural noun derived from the root חור (ḥwr), related to the word for 'hole' or 'opening' (as in H2356, חוֹר). Thus, the full etymology points to 'the mouth of the openings' or 'the entrance to the gorges,' likely describing a topographical feature.
Semantic Range
Pi-ha-Chiroth is theologically significant as the divinely appointed location where God demonstrated His supreme power over nature and Egypt for the salvation of His people. By commanding Israel to encamp there (Exodus 14:2), God intentionally placed them in a seemingly trapped position between the Egyptian army and the sea, setting the stage for the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. This underscores themes of God's sovereign guidance, His purposeful leading into situations that require faith, and His deliverance in impossible circumstances. Understanding the meaning 'mouth of the gorges' enriches the imagery of God leading His people through a narrow passage to ultimate freedom.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, place names were often descriptive of local geography. 'Mouth of the gorges' suggests a known landmark, possibly a point where wadis (dry river valleys) or canals from the Nile Delta met a larger body of water or a defensive line. Its precise location remains debated, but it was understood by the original audience as a real place in the eastern Nile Delta region, anchoring the Exodus story in a concrete geographical setting.
There are no direct synonyms for this proper place name. Topographically, it could be associated with terms for narrow places or passes, such as מְצָר (metsar, H4712) — a strait or distress, but this is a conceptual, not nominal, parallel.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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