Lexical Summary
Yarden: Jordan
Original Word:יַרְדֵּן
Part of Speech:Proper Name
Transliteration:Yarden
Pronunciation:yar-DEN
Phonetic Spelling:(yar-dane')
KJV: Jordan
NASB:Jordan
Word Origin:[fromH3381 (יָרַד - go down)]
1. a descender
2. Jarden, the principal river of Israel
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Jordan
Fromyarad; a descender; Jarden, the principal river of Palestine -- Jordan.
see HEBREWyarad
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
yaradDefinitionthe principal river of Pal.
NASB TranslationJordan (182).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
182 (according to Rel Ol
§ 215 c, from with for original , compare ; = river as flowing
downward, descending, then of particular stream as river . See also Sta
§ 294 e ( for , but name according to Sta non-Hebrew)) — absolute always in prose
Genesis 13:10 162t.; with locative
Judges 8:4 3t.; only
Psalm 42:7;
Job 40:23; construct
Numbers 26:3 11t. Numbers Josh +
1 Chronicles 6:63; — the river of Palestine: in all periods, chiefly Hexateuch (122 t.:
Genesis 5 t. J;
Numbers 20 t. P, 1 t. J E;
Deuteronomy 26 t.; Josh 34 t. J E, 20 t. D, 16 t. P), Judges (12 t.), and Samuel (18 t.); in Kings 13 t.; Chronicles 7 t.; elsewhere 10 t.; —
Genesis 32:11 (J),
Deuteronomy 3:27;
Deuteronomy 31:2;
Joshua 1:2,11;
Joshua 4:22 (all D);
Genesis 50:10,11 (J),
Joshua 7:7;
Joshua 24:8 (both J E), + 20 t. D +
Judges 5:17;
Judges 10:8;
1 Samuel 31:7; P has also
Numbers 32:19, and
Numbers 32:19;
Numbers 32:32;
Numbers 35:14;
Joshua 14:3, also
Joshua 17:5 (JE),
Joshua 18:7 (D),
Judges 7:25;
1 Chronicles 12:37;
1 Chronicles 26:30; in P peculiarly
the Jordan of (at)
Jericho, with
Numbers 26:3,63;
Numbers 31:12;
Numbers 33:48,50;
Numbers 35:1;
Numbers 36:13, with
Numbers 22:1;
Numbers 34:15;
Joshua 13:32;
Joshua 20:8 (=
1 Chronicles 6:63), with
Joshua 16:1 (E?);
Isaiah 8:23;
Deuteronomy 4:49;
Joshua 13:27 (P); see below ;
Joshua 3:13 (twice in verse);
Joshua 4:18,23 (all J E),
Joshua 3:8;
Joshua 5:1 (both D);
Joshua 4:7 (JE);
Jeremiah 12:5;
Jeremiah 49:19;
Jeremiah 50:44;
Zechariah 11:3 (see a, above);
2 Kings 2:13;
Numbers 13:29 (J E; elsewhere in Numbers, P);
the circle of Jordan, i.e. the plain about Jericho
Genesis 13:10,11 (J),
1 Kings 7:46; 2Chronicles 4:17;
Judges 3:28;
Judges 12:5,6
fords of the Jordan;
Joshua 22:11, compare
Joshua 22:10 (both P; see above);
Psalm 42:7 (without article only here and in following);
Job 40:23a Jordan bursteth forth into his mouth.Topical Lexicon
Geographical SettingThe Jordan is the principal river of the land promised to Abraham’s descendants, rising from the foothills of Mount Hermon, plunging through the Huleh Basin and the Sea of Galilee, then winding southward through the Jordan Valley before emptying into the Dead Sea. Its steep descent of more than 2 800 feet gives rise to swift currents and seasonal flooding (Joshua 3:15). Fertile plains fringe its banks, while dense thickets—“the jungles of the Jordan” (Jeremiah 12:5)—shelter wildlife such as lions (Jeremiah 49:19).
Boundary and Inheritance
Repeatedly the river defines the western border of Transjordan and the eastern edge of Canaan (Numbers 34:12;Joshua 1:4). Two and a half tribes received allotments east of the Jordan (Numbers 32:33), yet their unity with the western tribes was sealed by the erection of the memorial altar just west of the river (Joshua 22:10–34). Crossing the Jordan is therefore linked to covenant inheritance and national identity.
Key Moments in Redemptive History
1. Israel’s Crossing under Joshua
“The priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan … and all Israel crossed over on dry ground” (Joshua 3:17). This miracle parallels the Red Sea and signals God’s faithfulness to a new generation (Joshua 4:23).
2. Elijah and Elisha
Elijah struck the waters with his mantle and they parted (2 Kings 2:8); Elisha repeated the sign (2 Kings 2:14), marking the transfer of prophetic authority.
3. Naaman’s Cleansing
“Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored” (2 Kings 5:10). The river becomes a channel of God’s grace to a Gentile, prefiguring the global scope of salvation.
4. Ministry of John the Baptist
John baptized “in the Jordan River, confessing their sins” (Matthew 3:6). Here Jesus submitted to baptism, and the Father’s voice declared, “This is My beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17).
Symbolism and Theology
• Transition and New Beginnings: From wilderness wandering to promised rest (Joshua 3–4).
• Death and Resurrection Motif: Descent into water, emergence to new life (Romans 6:3–4 typology).
• Cleansing: Naaman’s healing foreshadows spiritual purification (1 Peter 3:21 application).
• Divine Sovereignty over Creation: Repeatedly the Jordan obeys God’s command.
Prophetic and Poetic Usage
• A marker of divine judgment and blessing (Isaiah 16:1–2).
• A symbol of overwhelming trials—“When the swelling of the Jordan rises” (Jeremiah 12:5).
• A testimony to God’s might: “The sea saw and fled; the Jordan turned back” (Psalm 114:3).
Miraculous Interventions
• Waters halted at Adam (Joshua 3:16).
• Waters returned upon the priests’ withdrawal (Joshua 4:18).
• Mantle of Elijah (2 Kings 2:8).
• Floating axe head recovered near the Jordan (2 Kings 6:6).
All underscore the Lord’s mastery over natural forces.
Selected Thematic References
Promise and Boundary:Genesis 13:10–11;Numbers 22:1.
Military Campaigns:Judges 7:24;2 Samuel 17:22.
Harvest and Flood Stage:Joshua 3:15;1 Chronicles 12:15.
Prophetic Imagery:Jeremiah 50:44;Zechariah 11:3.
Messianic Ministry:Matthew 3:13;John 1:28.
Archaeological and Cultural Notes
Ancient fords such as Beth-barah (Judges 7:24) and modern sites like Bethany beyond the Jordan preserve the memory of crossings. Tell el-Hammam and other digs illuminate settlement patterns east of the river. Papyrus and historical inscriptions attest to its strategic and economic importance.
Ministry Implications
The Jordan teaches believers to trust God when confronting seemingly impassable obstacles, to seek cleansing through repentance, and to embrace new life in Christ. Its waters invite reflection on baptism’s meaning and the believer’s entrance into the fullness of God’s promises.
Anticipation of Future Restoration
Prophecies envision waters transformed and deserts blooming (Isaiah 35:1–7), foreshadowing a day when creation, including the Jordan Valley, will be fully redeemed under the reign of the Messiah.
Forms and Transliterations
בַּיַּרְדֵּ֔ן בַּיַּרְדֵּ֖ן בַּיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ בַּיַּרְדֵּן֙ בירדן בירדן׃ הַ֝יַּרְדֵּ֗ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֑נָה הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֔נָה הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֜ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֞ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֣ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֥ן הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ הַיַּרְדֵּן֮ הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ הירדן הירדן׃ הירדנה וְהַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן וְהַיַּרְדֵּ֣ן וְהַיַּרְדֵּ֥ן והירדן יַרְדֵּ֑ן יַרְדֵּ֣ן יַרְדֵּ֥ן ירדן לְיַרְדֵּ֣ן לְיַרְדֵּ֤ן לְיַרְדֵּ֥ן לַ֠יַּרְדֵּן לַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן לַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן לַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן לַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ לַיַּרְדֵּן֙ לירדן לירדן׃ מִיַּרְדֵּ֣ן מירדן baiyarDen bay·yar·dên bayyardên haiyarDen haiyarDenah hay·yar·dê·nāh hay·yar·dên hayyardên hayyardênāh laiyarDen lay·yar·dên layyardên lə·yar·dên leyarDen ləyardên mî·yar·dên miyarDen mîyardên vehaiyarDen wə·hay·yar·dên wəhayyardên yar·dên yarDen yardên
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