What does יָרֵחַ (yārēḥa) mean in the Bible?
The moon is a created heavenly object named in praise, warning and prophetic description. Psalm 104 says God made it to mark the seasons, alongside the sun's setting and the activities of the night.
Hebrew · H3394
יָרֵחַ
The moon is a created heavenly object named in praise, warning and prophetic description. Psalm 104 says God made it to mark the seasons, alongside the sun's setting and the activities of the night.
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יָרֵחַH3394
Pronunciationyārēḥa
What does יָרֵחַ (yārēḥa) mean in the Bible?
Reader summary
Full entry for יָרֵחַ (H3394) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3394?
The BSB source-word alignment has 27 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and moon (7), the moon (6), and the moon (4), moon (3), and your moon (1).
Where does יָרֵחַ (yārēḥa) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 37:9. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (8), Isaiah (3), Joel (3), Deuteronomy (2).
What This Word Actually Means
The moon is a created heavenly object named in praise, warning and prophetic description. Psalm 104 says God made it to mark the seasons, alongside the sun's setting and the activities of the night. Deuteronomy warns people not to bow down to the sun, moon and stars. Joel describes the moon turning to blood before the great Day of the Lord and immediately speaks of calling on the Lord's name.
These contexts direct attention to the Creator, the danger of worshiping creation and the prophet's stated expectation. They do not make every unusual appearance of the moon a readable personal message. Readers should keep the actual form of each passage in view, honoring praise and warning without assigning present events a prophetic date from the noun alone.
How the Bible Uses It
The moon marks seasons in praise, is excluded from worship in Deuteronomy and appears in Joel's Day-of-the-Lord description. Each setting supplies a different claim about the same created object.
- Ps.104.19
He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows when to set.
God's making of the moon to mark seasons appears beside sunset and the movement of creatures during the night.
- Deut.4.19
When you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars—all the host of heaven—do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.
The warning explicitly forbids being enticed to bow down and worship the heavenly bodies, including the moon.
- Joel.2.31
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the Lord.
The moon's described change belongs to the prophet's Day-of-the-Lord announcement, followed by the promise concerning calling on the Lord's name.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand moon7×Genesis 37:9, 2 Kings 23:5, Psalms 148:3, Jeremiah 8:2
the moon6×Job 25:5, Psalms 8:3, Psalms 72:7, Psalms 104:19
and the moon4×Joshua 10:13, Isaiah 13:10, Ezekiel 32:7, Joel 2:31
moon3×Deuteronomy 4:19, Deuteronomy 17:3, Ecclesiastes 12:2
and your moon1×Isaiah 60:20
like the moon1×Psalms 89:37
nor the moon1×Psalms 121:6
O moon1×Joshua 10:12
of the moon1×Isaiah 60:19
or the moon1×Job 31:26
the moon [remains]1×Psalms 72:5
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 37:9וְהַיָּרֵ֗חַtoand moonConjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singularDeuteronomy 4:19הַיָּרֵ֜חַtomoonArticle | Noun - masculine singularDeuteronomy 17:3לַיָּרֵ֗חַtomoonPreposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularJoshua 10:12וְיָרֵ֖חַtoO moonConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularJoshua 10:13וְיָרֵ֣חַtoand the moonConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular2 Kings 23:5וְלַיָּרֵ֙חַ֙toand moonConjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularJob 25:5יָ֭רֵחַtothe moonNoun - masculine singularJob 31:26וְ֝יָרֵ֗חַtoor the moonConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularPsalms 8:3יָרֵ֥חַtothe moonNoun - masculine singularPsalms 72:5יָ֝רֵ֗חַtothe moon [remains]Noun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 37:9
Aligned rows27
Books represented12
Genesis1Deuteronomy2Joshua22 Kings1Job2Psalms8Ecclesiastes1Isaiah3Jeremiah2Ezekiel1Joel3Habakkuk1
Source forms
וְיָרֵ֖חַ4xwə·yā·rê·aḥJoshua 10:12, Isaiah 13:10, Ezekiel 32:7, Joel 3:15
וְהַיָּרֵ֖חַ2xwə·hay·yā·rê·aḥEcclesiastes 12:2, Joel 2:31
יָ֭רֵחַ2xyā·rê·aḥJob 25:5, Psalms 104:19
יָרֵ֥חַ2xyā·rê·aḥPsalms 8:3, Jeremiah 31:35
הַיָּרֵ֜חַ1xhay·yā·rê·aḥDeuteronomy 4:19
הַיָּרֵ֣חַ1xhay·yā·rê·aḥPsalms 136:9
הַיָּרֵ֖חַ1xhay·yā·rê·aḥIsaiah 60:19
וְהַיָּרֵ֗חַ1xwə·hay·yā·rê·aḥGenesis 37:9
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular9xJoshua 10:12, Joshua 10:13, Job 31:26, Psalms 121:6
Noun - masculine singular7xJob 25:5, Psalms 8:3, Psalms 72:5, Psalms 72:7
Article | Noun - masculine singular3xDeuteronomy 4:19, Psalms 136:9, Isaiah 60:19
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular3xGenesis 37:9, Ecclesiastes 12:2, Joel 2:31
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular2x2 Kings 23:5, Jeremiah 8:2
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular1xIsaiah 60:20
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular1xPsalms 89:37
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular1xDeuteronomy 17:3
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Encourage wonder at creation without directing devotion toward created heavenly bodies.
- Do not pressure hearers with unsupported end-time predictions based on lunar events.
Avoid claiming...
- The moon noun does not authorize astrology or a system of personal omens.
- Joel's wording alone does not date a present astronomical event as prophetic fulfillment.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Celestial body marking time and seasons; used symbolically for desolation, instability, or cosmic disorder in judgment contexts
Source Gloss
the moon
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Celestial body marking time and seasons; used symbolically for desolation, instability, or cosmic disorder in judgment contexts
the moon BDB: moon Usage: moon. Yrechow. See 3405.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
celestial body worshipped along with sun and stars by unfaithful people
Showing 1 selected witness from 26 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
יָרֵחַ is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Psalm 104 gives the moon a place within the created order and its rhythms, directing praise toward the God who made it. Deuteronomy makes the worship boundary explicit: seeing heavenly bodies must not become bowing down to them. Joel then employs the moon in a prophetic announcement that also directs hearers to call on the Lord. These movements are related through the named object but cannot be reduced to an omen system.
Peter's quotation in Acts must be read as an explicit scriptural appeal within his message, rather than permission to assign a date to every striking sky. Teaching can invite wonder at creation and attention to the Lord's promised action while refusing unsupported schedules or personal guidance derived from the moon's appearance.
Anchor passage
Ps.104.19
Doctrinal connections
- Psalm 104:19-21 places the moon and sunset within God's care for creation's rhythms.
- Deuteronomy 4:19 forbids worshiping the moon along with other heavenly bodies.
- Deuteronomy 4:20 connects the warning with the Lord's bringing His people from Egypt.
- Psalm 8:3-4 names moon and stars while marveling at God's care for humanity.
- Joel 2:30-32 joins heavenly wonders with the Lord's day and calling on His name.
- Acts 2:20-22 explicitly quotes the moon announcement before directing attention to Jesus.
The attributed Hebrew noun names the moon. Praise, worship prohibition and prophetic description come from the surrounding statements; the noun itself does not encode astrology, a timetable or a universal omen.
From Old to New Testament
Acts 2:20-21 explicitly quotes Joel's moon and Day-of-the-Lord announcement within Peter's message. The direct quotation establishes the connection. Its place beside calling on the Lord and Peter's testimony about Jesus should be read before making claims about current astronomical appearances.