Lexical Summary
Yericho or Yerecho or Yerichoh: Jericho
Original Word:יְרִיחוֹ
Part of Speech:Proper Name Location
Transliteration:Yriychow
Pronunciation:yeh-ree-KHO
Phonetic Spelling:(yer-ee-kho')
KJV: Jericho
NASB:Jericho
Word Origin:[perhaps fromH3394 (יָרֵַח - moon); its month; or else fromH7306 (רוַּח - Spirit)]
1. fragrant
2. Jericho or Jerecho, a place in Israel
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Jericho
Or Yrechow {yer-ay-kho'}; or variation (1 Kings 16:34) Yriychoh {yer-ee-kho'}; perhaps fromyareach; its month; or else fromruwach; fragrant; Jericho or Jerecho, a place in Palestine -- Jericho.
see HEBREWyareach
see HEBREWruwach
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originof uncertain derivation
Definitiona city in the Jordan Valley captured by Joshua
NASB TranslationJericho (57).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
, ,
57 (on form see Baer onJoshua 2:1;Jeremiah 39:5 KöEinl. 49; √ and meaning dubious; according to Thes and others from , =regio fragrans, the district abounding in palms, rose-gardens, balsam, etc.); —Joshua 2:1 27t. Joshua. (19 t. J E, 3 t. D, 6 t. P), + 5 t.2 Kings 2;Joshua 18:21;2 Samuel 10:5;Jeremiah 39:5;Jeremiah 52:8;1 Kings 16:34;Deuteronomy 34:1 (P),Deuteronomy 34:3 (D),Numbers 22:1 (P) + 9 t. P,2 Kings 25:5;Ezra 2:34;Nehemiah 3:2;Nehemiah 7:36 3t. Chronicles; — Canaanite city taken by JoshuaJoshua 6:1 (JE) +; having a kingJoshua 2:2,3;Joshua 8:2;Joshua 10:1 (all J E),Joshua 10:28,30;Joshua 12:9 (all D); near Jordan, whence () , see above; Mt. Nebo is described asDeuteronomy 32:49;Deuteronomy 34:1 (P); (calledJudges 1:16;Judges 3:13; so in appositionDeuteronomy 34:3; 2Chronicles 28:15); the adjacent plain is calledDeuteronomy 34:3 (JE);2 Kings 25:5 =Jeremiah 39:5 =Jeremiah 52:8;Joshua 4:13;Joshua 5:10 (both P); among returning exiles appearEzra 2:34 =Nehemiah 7:36, and among builders of wallNehemiah 3:2 (Be Ry Ryleon the passage andEzra 2:34); — modern(E)rî µâ; see also GASmGeogr. 266 ff.
(√ of following; meaning dubious).
(city of palms) = q. v.
Topical Lexicon
Geographical SettingJericho lies about five miles west of the Jordan River and some fifteen miles northeast of Jerusalem. Occupying the floor of the Jordan Valley roughly 825 feet below sea level, it enjoys a warm climate and abundant springs fed from the Judean highlands, which explains its alternate biblical designation “the City of Palms” (Deuteronomy 34:3;Judges 1:16). Strategically positioned by the fords of the Jordan and along north–south trade routes, it served as the eastern gateway to Canaan.
Jericho in the Exodus–Conquest Narrative
• First mentioned as the Canaanite stronghold confronting Israel after forty years in the wilderness (Numbers 22:1;Numbers 26:3, 63).
• Joshua sent two spies who lodged with Rahab, and her faith secured her deliverance (Joshua 2).
• The city fell miraculously: “On the seventh day they rose at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner... Then the wall collapsed, and the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they captured the city” (Joshua 6:15-20).
• Jericho’s destruction was accompanied by a solemn oath: “Cursed be the man before the LORD who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho” (Joshua 6:26).
Covenantal Curse and Its Fulfillment
• The curse remained dormant for almost five centuries until the days of King Ahab when “Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn he laid its foundation; and at the cost of Segub his youngest he set up its gates, according to the word of the LORD” (1 Kings 16:34).
• The episode underscores the certainty of divine judgment upon disregard for the prophetic word.
Jericho in the Period of the Judges and United Monarchy
• The tribe of Benjamin shared its territory (Joshua 18:21).
• Eglon, king of Moab, oppressed Israel from a palace near Jericho until Ehud slew him (Judges 3:12-30).
• David’s men, shamed by Hanun, waited at Jericho until their beards grew back (2 Samuel 10:5), highlighting the city’s ongoing use as a staging or recuperation point.
Prophetic Ministry in Jericho
• Elijah and Elisha visited a prophetic community there shortly before Elijah’s rapture (2 Kings 2:4-5).
• Elisha healed Jericho’s bitter spring with salt: “This is what the LORD says: ‘I have healed this water. No longer will death or unfruitfulness result from it’ ” (2 Kings 2:21). The miracle reversed lingering effects of the ancient curse for the benefit of a new generation.
Jericho in Exile and Restoration
• Jericho furnished fighting men to David’s mighty host (1 Chronicles 12:5).
• After the exile a contingent of 345 returnees came from Jericho (Ezra 2:34;Nehemiah 7:36).
• Men of Jericho helped rebuild a section of Jerusalem’s wall under Nehemiah (Nehemiah 3:2), illustrating renewed covenant faithfulness.
Theological and Typological Significance
1. Firstfruits of Conquest: As the initial city subdued in Canaan, Jericho was wholly devoted to the LORD (Joshua 6:17-19). The ban portrays the principle of giving God the firstfruits and signals the total eradication of idolatry.
2. Faith and Obedience: Rahab’s deliverance (Hebrews 11:30-31;James 2:25) and Israel’s silent procession around the walls exemplify salvation by faith expressed through obedient action.
3. Warning Against Presumption: Hiel’s tragic fulfillment of Joshua’s curse warns of the peril of defying God’s word, a theme echoed by later prophets (Isaiah 40:8).
4. Grace Overcoming Judgment: Elisha’s healing of the waters pictures restoration after judgment and anticipates the Messianic era when “the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the lily” (Isaiah 35:1).
Key Old Testament References
Numbers 22:1; 26:3, 63; 31:12; 33:48-52
Deuteronomy 32:49; 34:1, 3
Joshua 2; 4:13, 19; 5:10-13; 6; 7:2; 10:1-5, 28; 18:12, 21
Judges 1:16; 2:1-5; 3:13; 12:13
2 Samuel 10:5;1 Kings 16:34
2 Kings 2:4-15; 25:5
1 Chronicles 6:78; 12:5; 19:5
2 Chronicles 28:15
Ezra 2:34
Nehemiah 3:2; 7:36; 12:25
Jeremiah 39:5; 52:8
Summary
Jericho stands in Scripture as a vivid testimony to God’s power to save and to judge. Its walls fell by divine might, its curse proved irrevocably sure, yet its waters were healed by prophetic grace. From the conquest under Joshua to the reforms of Nehemiah, Jericho’s 57 Old Testament appearances trace a line of redemptive history that consistently magnifies the faithfulness of the LORD to His covenant and His people.
Forms and Transliterations
בִּֽירִיח֔וֹ בִּֽירִיחוֹ֙ בִּֽירִיחוֹ֮ בִּירִיח֑וֹ בִּירִיחוֹ֒ בִֽירֵח֔וֹ בירחו ביריחו וִֽירִיחוֹ֙ ויריחו יְ֠רִיחוֹ יְרִיח֑וֹ יְרִיח֔וֹ יְרִיח֖וֹ יְרִיח֜וֹ יְרִיח֥וֹ יְרִיחֹ֑ה יְרִיחֽוֹ׃ יְרִיחוֹ֒ יְרִיחוֹ֙ יְרֵח֑וֹ יְרֵח֔וֹ יְרֵח֖וֹ יְרֵח֛וֹ יְרֵח֥וֹ יְרֵחֽוֹ׃ יְרֵחוֹ֒ יְרֵחוֹ֮ ירחו ירחו׃ יריחה יריחו יריחו׃ לִֽירִיח֖וֹ לִֽירִיחוֹ֙ ליריחו מִֽירִיח֗וֹ מִירִיח֛וֹ מיריחו ḇî·rê·ḥōw bî·rî·ḥōw ḇîrêḥōw biriCho bîrîḥōw lî·rî·ḥōw liriCho lîrîḥōw mî·rî·ḥōw miriCho mîrîḥōw vireCho viriCho wî·rî·ḥōw wîrîḥōw yə·rê·ḥōw yə·rî·ḥōh yə·rî·ḥōw yereCho yərêḥōw yeriCho yeriChoh yərîḥōh yərîḥōw
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