קִדְרוֹן
Kidron, a brook near Jerusalem
Definition
קִדְרוֹן (Kidron) refers to a significant valley and seasonal brook (wadi) east of Jerusalem, separating the city from the Mount of Olives. It is most famously known as the location where King David crossed during his flight from Absalom (2 Samuel 15:23) and as a site for religious reforms, where idolatrous objects were destroyed by kings like Asa (1 Kings 15:13) and Josiah (2 Kings 23:4, 6, 12). The name itself, meaning 'dusky' or 'dark,' likely describes its deep, shadowy ravine. In the New Testament era, it remained a known geographical marker near Jerusalem (John 18:1).
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively as a proper noun for the Kidron Valley in the Old Testament, appearing in historical narratives about royal actions and religious purification. It is found in the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, consistently associated with moments of crisis, departure, or reform. For example, it marks David's sorrowful exile (2 Samuel 15:23) and serves as a dumping ground for pagan idols removed from the temple by reforming kings (2 Kings 23:4, 6; 2 Chronicles 29:16).
Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root קָדַר (qādar, H6937), meaning 'to be dark, mourn, or grow dim.' The name קִדְרוֹן likely describes the valley's physical character as a 'dusky place' or 'place of darkness,' possibly referring to its deep, shaded gorge. This connection to darkness or gloom may also carry symbolic overtones related to the mournful or purgative events that occurred there.
Semantic Range
The Kidron Valley holds theological significance as a boundary between the holy city and impurity, often serving as a place for removing idolatry and sin from the community (e.g., 2 Kings 23:4-6). Its association with David's flight (2 Samuel 15:23) foreshadows moments of suffering and exile, and its location near Jerusalem ties it to themes of judgment, purification, and renewal in Israel's covenant relationship with God. Understanding its role enriches readings of both judgment narratives and Gospel accounts set nearby.
In ancient Israel, valleys like Kidron were often dry riverbeds (wadis) that flowed seasonally. Culturally, it was a practical dumping ground for unclean or idolatrous items, physically removing defilement from the sacred space of Jerusalem. Its deep ravine made it a natural boundary and a symbol of separation between the holy and the profane, a concept deeply embedded in Israelite ritual law.
נַחַל (nakhal, H5158) — A general term for a valley, wadi, or brook, whereas קִדְרוֹן is a specific proper name. גַיְא (gay', H1516) — Another word for valley, often used for broader, deeper ravines, but not a proper name for this location.
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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