מוֹרֶה

מוֹרֶה

Moreh, a Canaanite; also a hill (perhaps named from him)

Definition

Moreh is a proper noun referring to both a person and a place in the Old Testament. Primarily, it identifies a Canaanite individual, likely a local inhabitant or landowner, from whom a significant location took its name (Genesis 12:6). More importantly, 'Moreh' is the name of a notable hill or oak tree (often translated as 'terebinth') near Shechem, which became a landmark for the Israelites. In Deuteronomy 11:30, this location is used as a geographical reference point for God's covenant blessings and curses. The name also appears in connection with the Midianite camp near the hill of Moreh in Judges 7:1.

Biblical Usage

The word 'Moreh' is used three times in the Old Testament, always as a proper noun for a location. Its first mention is in Genesis 12:6, where Abram arrives at 'the site of the great tree of Moreh' at Shechem, a place where God appears to him. It is used again in Deuteronomy 11:30 as a definitive landmark west of the Jordan, helping to locate Mounts Gerizim and Ebal. Finally, in Judges 7:1, Gideon's camp is positioned near the spring of Harod, with the Midianite camp to the north by the hill of Moreh. All usages are geographical.

Etymology

The name מוֹרֶה (Môwreh) is identical to the active participle of the verb יָרָה (H3384), meaning 'to teach, instruct, or point out.' It can also be spelled מֹרֶה. This suggests the name could mean 'instructor' or 'archer' (one who shoots or points). As a place name, it likely originated from a person named Moreh or from the concept of a 'teaching' or 'oracular' tree, a known feature in ancient Canaanite culture where divine guidance was sought.

Semantic Range

The location 'Moreh' is theologically significant as a site of divine encounter and covenant. At the tree of Moreh in Shechem, God first appears to Abram in Canaan and promises the land to his offspring (Genesis 12:6-7), establishing a key covenant location. Later, it serves as a reference point for the covenant ceremony of blessings and curses on Mounts Gerizim and Ebal (Deuteronomy 11:29-30). Thus, Moreh is a landmark of God's promise, guidance ('teaching'), and the serious consequences of the covenant relationship. In the ancient Near East, prominent trees like the 'great tree of Moreh' were often sacred sites or 'oracle trees,' where people sought divine communication or judgments. The Canaanites likely used such locations for pagan religious practices. For Israel, God repurposed this known landmark, associating it with His own true revelation and covenant promise to Abram, transforming a potentially pagan cultural site into a place memorializing Yahweh's faithfulness. אֵלוֹן (ʼêlôn, H436) — A general term for a large tree or terebinth, which is the type of tree at Moreh. גִּבְעָה (gibʻâh, H1389) — A general term for hill or height, describing the physical feature of the 'hill of Moreh'.

Word Details