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יָרָה

𐤉𐤓𐤄

yârâh

H3384 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To throw, cast, or shoot—primarily an arrow or projectile; by extension, to point or direct, and in a metaphorical sense, to teach, instruct, or give guidance. Used both of concrete physical action (shooting arrows, casting lots, throwing stones) and of indicating, explaining, or instructing in law, ritual, or custom. The teaching sense arises from the idea of clearly pointing out a direction or instruction.

Semantic Range

to shoot (arrows, stones), to cast (lots), to direct or point out, to teach, to instruct, to give guidance, to inform

Root / Etymology

From the root יָרָה (ירה), meaning 'to throw, cast, or shoot.' The verbal form develops two main semantic branches: (1) to shoot, throw, or cast (esp. arrows, stones, or lots); (2) to instruct, teach, or inform, likely by analogy to pointing or indicating a direction. The metaphorical extension from physical direction to verbal instruction is well-attested in Hebrew and related Semitic languages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the oldest layers of biblical Hebrew (e.g., narratives in Samuel and Kings), יָרָה is primarily used for the act of shooting arrows (1 Samuel 20:20, 2 Kings 13:17), or throwing stones (as in 1 Chronicles 10:3). In the context of war or hunting, the word retains this physical, concrete sense. By the monarchic period and especially in priestly or Deuteronomic texts, יָרָה develops a prominent metaphorical meaning: to teach or instruct, particularly in matters of law or ritual (e.g., Leviticus 10:11). The closely related noun תּוֹרָה (torah) reflects this root idea, originally signifying 'instruction' rather than 'law' in the narrow sense. Later, post-exilic texts and Second Temple literature typically use יָרָה almost exclusively in the sense of instruction, particularly in liturgical or didactic settings. English translations often obscure the connection between the physical and metaphorical senses, and the translation 'teach' can miss the figurative sense of 'pointing out' or 'making clear.' The alternate root spelling יָרָא in 2 Chronicles 26:15 is a variant, not to be confused with יָרֵא (H3372, 'to fear'). While the act of shooting or casting is central in earlier periods, the teaching/instruction sense dominates in priestly, wisdom, and later writings. The term is distinct from other Hebrew words for teaching (e.g., למד), which emphasize repeated instruction or learning rather than the moment of clear direction or guidance.

Translation Consistency

primary "teach" 26 occurrences

The verb’s central, typical use is the metaphorical sense of pointing out or giving guidance—i.e., teaching/instructing—and that sense is the most frequent across occurrences. "Teach" is more natural English than the more formal "instruct," while still covering the primary semantic range (pointing out, guiding, informing). The concrete sense "shoot/cast" is secondary and will be handled by context, but consistency and natural rendering favor "teach."

Alternatives (60 occurrences):
"instruct" (10x) "shoot" (9x) "shot" (8x) "archers" (5x) "teacher" (4x) "taught" (3x) "cast" (2x) "shooters" (2x) "instructors" (2x) "set up" (1x) "showed" (1x) "shooting" (1x) "instructed" (1x) "early rain" (1x) "direct" (1x) "instructor" (1x) "shoot at" (1x) "shoots" (1x) "teachers" (1x) "pointing one" (1x) "watered" (1x) "shooter" (1x) "casts" (1x) "laid" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (2 Chronicles 26:15) יָרָא; a primitive root; properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to lay or throw (especially an arrow, i.e. to shoot); figuratively, to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to teach; ([phrase]) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew, shoot, teach(-er,-ing), through.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ירה (y-r-h) — to throw, to shoot, to point, to instruct

Root ירה to throw, to shoot, to point, to instruct
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3138 יוֹרֶה his early rain
H3139 יוֹרָה Autumn-Rain
H3140 יוֹרַי Rain-Causer
H3385 יְרוּאֵל El-Founded Place
H3400 יְרִיאֵל and El-teaches

Word Forms

48 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3384-44 יוֹרֶ֥ה yoreh HVhi3ms he teaches early rain early rain 6
H3384-17 מוֹרֶ֑ה moreh HVhrmsa teacher Instructor Teacher 6
H3384-46 יוֹר֨וּ yoru HVhi3mp shall teach they will instruct they will teach 5
H3384-38 יָרָ֣ה yarah HVqp3ms had shot he shot he shot 4
H3384-07 ה֤וֹרֵ֥/נִי horeni HVhv2ms/Sp1cs Teach me cause to instruct me teach me 4
H3384-01 הַ/מּוֹרִ֖ים hamorim HTd/Vhrmpa the archers the shooters the archers 3
H3384-32 וְ/תוֹרְ/ךָ֖ vetorekha HC/Vhi3fs/Sp2ms and it will teach you and she will direct you and it will teach you 3
H3384-36 וְ/יוֹרֵ֕/נוּ veyorenu HC/Vhi3ms/Sp1cp and-he-will-teach-us and he will direct us and he will teach us 3
H3384-48 יוֹרֽוּ/ךָ yorukha HVhi3mp/Sp2ms instruct you they will instruct you they will teach you 3
H3384-21 וּ/לְ/הוֹרֹ֖ת ulehorot HC/R/Vhc and to teach and to instruct and to instruct 2

Occurrences in Scripture

86 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3384-39 Genesis 31:51 יָרִ֖יתִי yariti HVqp1cs I have set up I shot I have set up
H3384-11 Genesis 46:28 לְ/הוֹרֹ֥ת lehorot HR/Vhc to point out / to direct to instruct to instruct
H3384-30 Exodus 4:12 וְ/הוֹרֵיתִ֖י/ךָ vehoreytikha HC/Vhp1cs/Sp2ms and will teach you and I have directed you and I will teach you
H3384-29 Exodus 4:15 וְ/הוֹרֵיתִ֣י vehoreyti HC/Vhq1cs and will teach and I instructed and I will instruct
H3384-38 Exodus 15:4 יָרָ֣ה yarah HVqp3ms he has cast he shot he cast
H3384-25 Exodus 15:25 וַ/יּוֹרֵ֤/הוּ vayorehu HC/Vhw3ms/Sp3ms and showed him and he directed him and he showed him
H3384-40 Exodus 19:13 יָרֹ֣ה yaroh HVqa shooting shooting shooting
H3384-42 Exodus 19:13 יִיָּרֶ֔ה yiyareh HVNi3ms he shall be shot he will be shot he shall be shot
H3384-12 Exodus 24:12 לְ/הוֹרֹתָֽ/ם lehorotam HR/Vhc/Sp3mp to teach them to instruct them to instruct them
H3384-21 Exodus 35:34 וּ/לְ/הוֹרֹ֖ת ulehorot HC/R/Vhc and-to-teach and to instruct and to instruct
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