What does יָרָה (yārāh) mean in the Bible?
H3384 is a Hebrew verb used for directing, teaching, shooting or casting, and sending rain. 36, Solomon asks God to teach His people the good way and send rain after forgiveness.
Hebrew · H3384
יָרָה
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
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יָרָהH3384
Pronunciationyārāh
What does יָרָה (yārāh) mean in the Bible?
H3384 is a Hebrew verb used for directing, teaching, shooting or casting, and sending rain. 36, Solomon asks God to teach His people the good way and send rain after forgiveness.
Reader summary
Full entry for יָרָה (H3384) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3384?
The BSB source-word alignment has 80 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include Teach me (5), shot (4), and teach (2), He will teach us (2), or shoot (2).
Where does יָרָה (yārāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 31:51. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (12), Exodus (8), Job (8), 1 Samuel (7).
What This Word Actually Means
H3384 is a Hebrew verb used for directing, teaching, shooting or casting, and sending rain. In 1Kgs. 8. 36, Solomon asks God to teach His people the good way and send rain after forgiveness. In Exod. 4. 12, God promises to teach Moses what to say. In Mic. 3. 11, priests teach for a price while leaders and prophets exploit their offices. H3384 opens teaching on instruction that points toward faithful action, prayerful dependence, teachability, accountable teachers, discernment, and the concrete images of arrows and rain.
It does not make every teacher infallible, excuse coercive instruction, or turn rainfall into a guaranteed reward for individual virtue.
How the Bible Uses It
H3384 ranges across shooting or casting, directing or pointing out, teaching, and rain falling or being sent. Its contexts determine whether the action concerns a projectile, guidance, formal instruction, or provision from the sky.
- 1Kgs.8.36
Then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, so that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk. May You send rain on the land that You gave Your people as an inheritance.
Solomon asks God both to teach the people the good way and to send rain on the land after forgiveness.
- Exod.4.12
Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”
God answers Moses' fear about speaking by promising help and instruction for what he is to say.
- Mic.3.11
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the Lord, saying, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster can come upon us.”
Micah condemns priests who teach for payment while the city's leaders and prophets corrupt justice and presume on God's presence.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItTeach me5×Job 6:24, Job 34:32, Psalms 27:11, Psalms 86:11
shot4×Exodus 19:13, 1 Samuel 20:36, 2 Samuel 11:24, 2 Chronicles 35:23
and teach2×2 Kings 17:27, Psalms 32:8
He will teach us2×Isaiah 2:3, Micah 4:2
or shoot2×2 Kings 19:32, Isaiah 37:33
shoot2×1 Samuel 20:36, 2 Kings 13:17
shooting2×Psalms 64:4, Proverbs 26:18
the archers2×1 Samuel 31:3, 1 Chronicles 10:3
to shoot2×2 Chronicles 26:15, Psalms 11:2
You may teach them2×1 Kings 8:36, 2 Chronicles 6:27
-1×1 Samuel 31:3
. . .1×1 Chronicles 10:3
a teacher1×Habakkuk 2:18
ambushing1×Psalms 64:4
and he began to teach1×2 Kings 17:28
And I will continue to teach1×1 Samuel 12:23
and I will teach1×Exodus 4:15
and I will teach you1×Exodus 4:12
and it will teach you1×Job 12:8
and pointing1×Proverbs 6:13
and teaches him1×Isaiah 28:26
and they will instruct you1×Job 12:7
be refreshed1×Proverbs 11:25
But we have overthrown them1×Numbers 21:30
for their instruction1×Exodus 24:12
give guidance1×Habakkuk 2:19
had fallen1×1 Samuel 20:37
have taught me1×Psalms 119:102
He has cast1×Exodus 15:4
He shows1×Psalms 25:8
he taught1×Proverbs 4:4
He throws me1×Job 30:19
he was instructed1×2 Kings 12:2
He will instruct him1×Psalms 25:12
He will teach1×Deuteronomy 33:10
I have set up1×Genesis 31:51
I will cast1×Joshua 18:6
I will guide you1×Proverbs 4:11
I will instruct1×Job 27:11
instruct1×Deuteronomy 24:8
is He trying to teach1×Isaiah 28:9
laid1×Job 38:6
like rain1×Hosea 10:12
show1×Psalms 45:4
showed him1×Exodus 15:25
So he shot1×2 Kings 13:17
so that you may teach1×Leviticus 10:11
teach1×Micah 3:11
teach you1×Job 8:10
that water1×Hosea 6:3
the ability to teach others1×Exodus 35:34
Then the archers1×2 Samuel 11:24
There the archers1×2 Chronicles 35:23
They are to teach1×Ezekiel 44:23
they give1×Deuteronomy 17:11
they instruct you1×Deuteronomy 17:10
they would shoot1×2 Samuel 11:20
to determine1×Leviticus 14:57
to get directions1×Genesis 46:28
to instruct them1×2 Chronicles 15:3
to teach us1×Judges 13:8
who teaches1×Isaiah 9:15
will shoot1×1 Samuel 20:20
will shoot them1×Psalms 64:7
with arrows1×Exodus 19:13
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 31:51יָרִ֖יתִיtoI have set upVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularGenesis 46:28לְהוֹרֹ֥תtoto get directionsPreposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructExodus 4:12וְהוֹרֵיתִ֖יךָtoand I will teach youConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singularExodus 4:15וְהוֹרֵיתִ֣יtoand I will teachConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularExodus 15:4יָרָ֣הtoHe has castVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularExodus 15:25וַיּוֹרֵ֤הוּtoshowed himConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularExodus 19:13יָרֹ֣הtoshotVerb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteExodus 19:13יִיָּרֶ֔הtowith arrowsVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularExodus 24:12לְהוֹרֹתָֽם׃tofor their instructionPreposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine pluralExodus 35:34וּלְהוֹרֹ֖תtothe ability to teach othersConjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 31:51
Aligned rows80
Books represented21
Genesis2Exodus8Leviticus2Numbers1Deuteronomy4Joshua1Judges11 Samuel72 Samuel31 Kings12 Kings61 Chronicles22 Chronicles5Job8Psalms12Proverbs5Isaiah5Ezekiel1Hosea2Micah2Habakkuk2
Source forms
וְהוֹרֵיתִ֣י2xwə·hō·w·rê·ṯîExodus 4:15, 1 Samuel 12:23
וּלְהוֹרֹ֖ת2xū·lə·hō·w·rōṯExodus 35:34, Leviticus 10:11
וְתֹרֶ֑ךָּ2xwə·ṯō·re·kāJob 12:7, Job 12:8
יוֹרֶ֥ה2xyō·w·reh2 Kings 19:32, Isaiah 37:33
יוֹר֔וּ2xyō·w·rūEzekiel 44:23, Micah 3:11
תוֹרֵ֛ם2xṯō·w·rêm1 Kings 8:36, 2 Chronicles 6:27
אוֹרֶ֑ה1x’ō·w·reh1 Samuel 20:20
אוֹרֶ֣ה1x’ō·w·rehJob 27:11
Parsing patterns
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular6x2 Kings 19:32, Psalms 25:8, Isaiah 28:9, Isaiah 37:33
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural5xDeuteronomy 24:8, Deuteronomy 33:10, 2 Samuel 11:20, Ezekiel 44:23
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular5x1 Samuel 20:36, 2 Kings 17:28, 2 Chronicles 15:3, Proverbs 6:13
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular4xJob 34:32, Psalms 27:11, Psalms 86:11, Psalms 119:33
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular4xExodus 15:4, 1 Samuel 20:36, 1 Samuel 20:37, Job 38:6
Article | Noun - masculine plural3x2 Samuel 11:24, 1 Chronicles 10:3, 2 Chronicles 35:23
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person feminine singular | second person masculine singular3xJob 12:7, Job 12:8, Psalms 45:4
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common plural3xJudges 13:8, Isaiah 2:3, Micah 4:2
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not use a claim of divine instruction to silence questions, bypass testing, or demand obedience to a teacher's private judgment.
- Do not tell people that drought, illness, or financial loss proves their personal sin or that payment guarantees God's favor.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that H3384 teaches a secret arrow-like method for transferring revelation or authority.
- Do not claim that every compensated teacher resembles Micah's corrupt priests or that unpaid ministry is automatically pure.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Teaching as directed aim: instruction shoots truth toward the learner with purposeful precision.
Strong'sH3384
Lexical occurrences86 versesWord forms4 forms28 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 28:23-29Source Gloss
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
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Teaching as directed aim: instruction shoots truth toward the learner with purposeful precision.
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 BDB: shoot Usage: ( ) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew, shoot, teach(-er,-ing), through.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups4Aligned forms28
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action18×
Imperfect2Kgs 19:32 · Hab 2:19 · Hos 6:3 · Isa 28:9 · Isa 37:33 · Ps 25:8 · 2Sam 11:20 · Deut 24:8 · Deut 33:10 · Ezek 44:23 · Mic 3:11 · 1Sam 20:20 · Job 27:1113×
Participle active1Sam 20:36 · 2Chr 15:3 · 2Kgs 17:28 · Isa 9:14 · Prov 6:135×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense7×
Perfect1Sam 20:36 · 1Sam 20:37 · Exod 15:4 · Job 38:6 · Gen 31:515×
Sequential imperfect2Kgs 13:171×
Infinitive absoluteExod 19:131×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action1×
ImperfectExod 19:131×
Hophalcausative passive — the subject is caused to perform the action1×
ImperfectProv 11:251×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
God instructs and teaches the farmer wisdom about agricultural practices
The Lord will teach his people the way they should walk, providing guidance
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 86 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
יָרָה is a primitive root - no further derivation.
For the Preacher and Teacher
H3384 presents teaching as direction toward a way that people can walk, not merely information transferred from an expert. Solomon's prayer joins forgiveness, instruction, obedience, land, and rain without reducing drought or abundance to a simple formula about one person's merit. God meets Moses' fear with presence and promised instruction, showing that calling does not require self-sufficiency.
Job asks to be taught where he has erred, modeling honest correction rather than passive submission. Yet Micah exposes teachers who receive payment inside a wider system of bribery and false assurance. Payment itself is not the whole charge; corrupt leaders use sacred office for gain while refusing truth and justice. Faithful teaching remains open to examination, names its limits, equips learners to discern, and directs attention to God rather than securing the teacher's control.
The shooting and rain senses belong to the same lexical range but should illuminate only the passages where those actions are actually present.
Anchor passage
1Kgs.8.36
Doctrinal connections
- H3384: God teaches a good way so forgiven people may walk in it rather than merely possess information.
- H3384: divine help meets human limitation without making the speaker immune from correction.
- H3384: instruction serves discernment between holy and common and therefore carries public responsibility.
- H3384: religious teaching becomes corrupt when office, money, false assurance, and injustice reinforce one another.
- H3384: rain is received as God's provision but not as a tool for blaming every sufferer or promising prosperity.
- H3384: concrete shooting and casting senses must not be converted into hidden techniques for spiritual authority.
H3384 is a Hebrew verb whose contextual senses include shooting or casting, directing or instructing, and raining. Shared spelling does not mean every occurrence carries all of these images at once.
From Old to New Testament
The New Testament likewise treats teaching as a gift and responsibility that must agree with sound doctrine, produce mature practice, and remain accountable, while condemning teachers who exploit hearers for gain.