מוֹרָד
𐤌𐤅𐤓𐤃
môwrâd
H4174 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A place of descent or a slope, typically denoting a steep or downward-facing area, path, or feature. The term may refer to a physical location characterized by a decline in elevation, such as a gradient, escarpment, or a descent along a route. In extended usage within specific architectural contexts, it may denote an ornamental appendage or hanging decoration resembling a festoon, but this sense is rare or uncertain in the Hebrew Bible.
Semantic Range
place of descent, slope, declivity, steep place, path going downward, (rare/uncertain) architectural festoon or hanging decoration
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root ירד (yarad), meaning 'to go down, descend.' מוֹרָד (môwrâd) is a nominal formation indicating 'place of descent' or 'downward feature.' Its lexical development closely follows the concrete sense of movement downward or being in a declining position.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Most occurrences of מוֹרָד in the Hebrew Bible pertain to literal topography, particularly locations or routes characterized by a steep or declining slope, such as mountain descents or valleys. The term is especially prominent in descriptions of terrain relevant to military movement, travel, or geographic boundaries. The architectural or ornamental sense is uncertain and may reflect later or non-biblical usage; some lexicons suggest influence from post-biblical Hebrew or misinterpretation of the term's shape. English translations commonly render the word as 'descent,' 'slope,' or 'steep place,' though 'going down' better reflects the sense of movement or position. מוֹרָד is distinct from other terms like גַּיְא (gai, 'valley'), which denotes the low place itself, whereas מוֹרָד emphasizes the slope or path of descent. The term's usage remains consistent throughout Israelite and post-exilic texts, retaining its concrete topographic meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from יָרַד; a descent; as architecture, an ornamental appendage, perhaps a festoon; going down, steep place, thin work.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ירד (y-r-d) — to go down, descend
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3381 | יָרַד | in my bringing down |
| H3382 | יֶרֶד | Descent |
| H3383 | יַרְדֵּן | in the Descender |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4174-02 |
בְּ/מוֹרַ֤ד | bemorad | HR/Ncmsc |
at the descent | in a descent-of | 3 |
H4174-01 |
בַּ/מּוֹרָ֑ד | bamorad | HRd/Ncmsa |
on the descent | on the descent-slope | 1 |
H4174-03 |
מוֹרָֽד | morad | HNcmsa |
of hanging | downward slope | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4174-01 |
Joshua 7:5 | בַּ/מּוֹרָ֑ד | bamorad | HRd/Ncmsa |
on the descent | on the descent-slope |
H4174-02 |
Joshua 10:11 | בְּ/מוֹרַ֤ד | bemorad | HR/Ncmsc |
at the descent | in a descent-of |
H4174-03 |
1 Kings 7:29 | מוֹרָֽד | morad | HNcmsa |
of hanging | downward slope |
H4174-02 |
Jeremiah 48:5 | בְּ/מוֹרַ֣ד | bemorad | HR/Ncmsc |
descent | in a descent-of |
H4174-02 |
Micah 1:4 | בְּ/מוֹרָֽד | bemorad | HR/Ncmsa |
on a slope | in a descent-of |