Ἱεριχώ
Hierichṓ
G2410 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Name of an ancient city located near the Jordan River in the southern Levant, known historically as Jericho. In Greek sources, Ἱεριχώ refers specifically to this city, whether as a site of residence, an event, or as a geographic reference. The term is a proper noun and does not carry a broader generic meaning beyond its identification of the place.
Semantic Range
Jericho (the specific city in the southern Levant), the locality or its inhabitants, reference to events associated with the city
Root / Etymology
Greek Ἱεριχώ is a transliteration of the Hebrew יְרִיחוֹ (Yəriḥō). The etymology of the Hebrew name is uncertain, though some suggest a relation to the Hebrew root רֵיחַ (rēaḥ, 'fragrance') or possibly to an older Canaanite term associated with the moon god. The Greek form simply reproduces the sound of the Hebrew original without modification of meaning.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ἱεριχώ is attested in the Septuagint as the Greek equivalent for the city Jericho, well known from earlier Israelite and Near Eastern sources. In the Second Temple period and New Testament Usage, Ἱεριχώ referred to the historic city near the Jordan valley, prominent for its strategic and economic importance and as a setting for narrative events (e.g., Joshua, Gospel traditions). The city was one of the oldest inhabited urban centers in the world, and its mention in Greek sources always reflects this geographic and historical specificity. English versions typically translate Ἱεριχώ directly as 'Jericho,' which accurately reflects the referent but does not capture any connotative layers from the original Hebrew. The Greek form does not add new semantic nuance; it serves as a direct phonetic rendering. There are no known uses of Ἱεριχώ in wider Hellenistic literature outside Jewish and Christian texts, as the regionally specific name held local significance. In all attested uses, the term's sense is tied to the physical locale and its historical legacy, not to a broader concept or symbolic meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (יְרִיחוֹ); Jericho, a place in Palestine:--Jericho.
Root Family
Ἱεριχώ (Hierichō) — Jericho (the city), place name
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2410-01 |
Ἰερειχὼ | iereicho | N GEN F SG |
Jericho | of Jericho | 7 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2410-01 |
Matthew 20:29 | Ἰερειχὼ | iereicho | N GEN F SG |
of Jericho | |
G2410-01 |
Mark 10:46 | Ἰερειχώ | iereicho | N ACC F SG |
Jericho | of Jericho |
G2410-01 |
Mark 10:46 | Ἰερειχὼ | iereicho-2 | N GEN F SG |
Jericho | of Jericho |
G2410-01 |
Luke 10:30 | Ἰερειχὼ | iereicho | N ACC F SG |
Jericho | of Jericho |
G2410-01 |
Luke 18:35 | Ἰερειχὼ | iereicho | N ACC F SG |
Jericho | of Jericho |
G2410-01 |
Luke 19:1 | Ἰερειχώ | iereicho | N ACC F SG |
Jericho | of Jericho |
G2410-01 |
Hebrews 11:30 | Ἰερειχὼ | iereicho | N GEN F SG |
of Jericho |