Topical Encyclopedia
Etymology and Meaning:The name "Moriah" is traditionally understood to mean "chosen by Yahweh" or "seen by Yahweh." The etymology of the name is rooted in Hebrew, with possible connections to the word "ra'ah," meaning "to see" or "to provide."
Biblical References:Moriah is mentioned explicitly in two key passages in the Bible, both of which hold significant theological and historical importance.
1.
Genesis 22:2 · "Then God said, 'Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.'"
In this passage, Moriah is the region where God commands Abraham to take his son Isaac for a sacrifice. This event is pivotal in the Abrahamic narrative, demonstrating Abraham's faith and obedience to God. The location is often associated with the theme of divine provision, as God ultimately provides a ram as a substitute for Isaac.
2.
2 Chronicles 3:1 · "Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite."
Here, Moriah is identified as the site where Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem. This connection establishes Moriah as a central place of worship and sacrifice in Israelite history, linking it to the divine presence and the Davidic covenant.
Theological Significance:Moriah holds profound theological significance in the Judeo-Christian tradition. The binding of Isaac, or the "Akedah," is a foundational account that illustrates themes of faith, obedience, and substitutionary sacrifice. It prefigures the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, seen as the fulfillment of God's promise and provision.
The construction of the Temple on Mount Moriah further underscores its importance as a sacred space where God's presence dwells among His people. The Temple becomes the focal point of Israelite worship, sacrifice, and the covenant relationship between God and Israel.
Historical and Geographical Context:Moriah is traditionally associated with a mountainous region in the vicinity of Jerusalem. The identification of Moriah with the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is widely accepted, though some debate exists regarding the precise location of Abraham's intended sacrifice of Isaac.
Symbolism and Typology:In Christian typology, Moriah is often seen as a foreshadowing of Calvary, where Jesus, the "Lamb of God," was sacrificed for the sins of humanity. The parallels between Isaac carrying the wood for the burnt offering and Jesus carrying the cross are frequently noted in theological discussions.
Cultural and Religious Impact:Moriah's significance extends beyond its biblical narrative, influencing Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. For Jews, it is the site of the First and Second Temples, central to their religious identity. For Christians, it symbolizes God's provision and the foreshadowing of Christ's sacrifice. In Islam, it is associated with the account of Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son, though the son is traditionally identified as Ishmael.
Moriah remains a symbol of faith, obedience, and divine provision, resonating deeply within the religious consciousness of millions around the world.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Moriahbitterness of the Lord
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Moriah(chosen by Jehovah).
- The land of Moriah --On "one of the mountains" in this district took place the sacrifice of Isaac. (Genesis 22:2) Its position is doubtful, some thinking it to be Mount MOriah, others thatMoreh , near Shechem, is meant. [SeeMOUNT,MOUNT, MOUNTAIN MORIAH]
- Mount Moriah . --The elevation on which Solomon built the temple, where God appeared to David "in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." it is the Eastern eminence of Jerusalem, separated from Mount Zion by the Tyropoeon valley. The tope was levelled by Solomon, and immense walls were built around it from the base to enlarge the level surface for the temple area. A tradition which first appears in a definite shape in Josephus, and is now almost universally accepted, asserts that the "Mount Moriah" of the Chronicles is identical with the "mountain" in "the land of Moriah" of Genesis, and that the spot on which Jehovah appeared to David, and on which the temple was built, was the very spot of the sacrifice of Isaac. (Smith, Stanley and Grove are, however, inclined to doubt this tradition.)
ATS Bible Dictionary
MoriahThe hill on which the temple of Jerusalem was built,2 Chronicles 3:1. SeeJERUSALEM. It seems to have been the same place where Abraham was about to offer up Isaac,Genesis 22:1-2; and where David interceded for his people at the threshing-floor of Araunah,2 Samuel 24:16-25.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The chosen of Jehovah. Some contend that Mount Gerizim is meant, but most probably we are to regard this as one of the hills of Jerusalem. Here Solomon's temple was built, on the spot that had been the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite (
2 Samuel 24:24, 25;
2 Chronicles 3:1). It is usually included in Zion, to the north-east of which it lay, and from which it was separated by the Tyropoean valley. This was "the land of Moriah" to which Abraham went to offer up his son Isaac (
Genesis 22:2). It has been supposed that the highest point of the temple hill, which is now covered by the Mohammedan Kubbetes-Sakhrah, or "Dome of the Rock," is the actual site of Araunah's threshing-floor. Here also, one thousand years after Abraham, David built an altar and offered sacrifices to God. (see
JERUSALEM; NUMBERING THE PEOPLE.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MORIAH, LAND OFmo-ri'-a ('erec ha-moriyah; eis ten genitive ten hupselen): Abraham was directed by God to take his son Isaac, to go into the land of Moriah, and there to offer him for a burnt offering (Genesis 22:2) upon a mountain which God would show him. This land is mentioned only here, and there is little to guide us in trying to identify it. A late writer (2 Chronicles 3:1) applies the name of Moriah to the mount on which Solomon's Temple was built, possibly associating it with the sacrifice of Isaac. A similar association with this mountain may have been in the mind of the writer ofGenesis 22 (see 22:14), who, of course, wrote long after the events described (Driver). But in 22:2 no special mountain is indicated.
Abraham journeyed from the land of the Philistines, and on the 3rd day he saw the place afar off (Genesis 22:4). This naturally suggests some prominent mountain farther North than Jerusalem. The description could hardly apply to Jerusalem in any case, as it could not be seen "afar off" by one approaching either from the South or the West. The Samaritans lay the scene of sacrifice on Mt. GERIZIM (which see).
Instead of "Moriah" in this passage Peshitta reads "Amorites." This suggests a possible emendation of the text, which, if it be accepted, furnishes a more definite ides of the land within which that memorable scene was enacted. Both Jerusalem and Gerizim, however, lay within the boundaries of the land of the Amorites. No doubt the enmity existing between the Jews and the Samaritans led them each to glorify their own holy places to the detriment of those of their rivals. Little stress can therefore be laid upon their identifications. With our present knowledge we must be content to leave the question open.
W. Ewing
Strong's Hebrew
4179. Moriyyah -- a mountain where Isaac was to be sacrificed... a mountain where Isaac was to be sacrificed. Transliteration: Moriyyah or Moriyyah
Phonetic Spelling: (mo-ree-yaw') Short Definition:
Moriah.
...Moriah.
...3070. Yhvh Yireh -- Jehovah- jireh
... Jehovah- jireh From Yhovah and ra'ah; Jehovah will see (to it); Jehovah-Jireh, a
symbolical name for MountMoriah -- Jehovah- jireh. see HEBREW Yhovah....
Library
MountMoriah
... Chapters 21-30 Chapter 27 MountMoriah. "Wherefore is it called mountMoriah?
R. Levi Bar Chama and R. Chaninah differ about this matter....
The Best Inheritance in Canaan
... The truth is, I did all possible to gain a home at Bethel, or onMoriah; either
place seemed better than this; at least it did for some time, until I learned...
Chapter xxii
... There is no conflict between this interpretation of ours and the fact of the text
where Abraham is bidden to go to the land ofMoriah for the purpose of this...
Solomon's Reign.
... This was a policy of concentration. He built die temple and, through the splendor
of its worship, tried to concentrate all worship upon MountMoriah....
Vanished Hopes
... of her helplessness and dismay. At the corner ofMoriah and the Old Wall,
the tumult was infernal. Out of the suffocating sallow...
The Temple and Its Dedication
... Thus as the building on MountMoriah was noiselessly upreared with "stone made ready
before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor ax nor...
Some Buildings in Acra. Bezeiha. Millo.
... Millo. Mount Sion did not thrust itself so far eastward as mount Acra: and hence
it is, that mountMoriah is said, by Josephus, to be "situate over-against Acra...
The Story of Solomon and his Temple
... the later years of David's reign, he laid up great treasure of gold and silver,
and brass, and iron, for the building of a house to the Lord on MountMoriah....
In the Dungeon of Giant Discourager
... Where does he live? He lives on MountMoriah, and we shall find him at home, no
doubt.... What is your name!". "My name is Honest.". "Well, here we are onMoriah....
Why Jesus came to this World
... together. One of these hills was called MountMoriah. On the top of Mount
Moriah there was a great Temple where the Jews went to pray....
Thesaurus
Moriah (2 Occurrences)... This was "the land of
Moriah" to which Abraham went to offer up his son Isaac (Genesis
22:2). It has been supposed that the highest point of the temple hill
...Mori'ah (2 Occurrences)
Mori'ah.Moriah, Mori'ah. Morn . Multi-Version Concordance Mori'ah (2 Occurrences)....
(See RSV).Moriah, Mori'ah. Morn . Reference Bible.
Araunah (14 Occurrences)
... vanity in taking a census of the people, was stayed in his work of destruction near
a threshing-floor belonging to Araunah which was situated on MountMoriah....
Land (19790 Occurrences)
... See CHAMELEON; LIZARD. Alfred Ely Day.MORIAH, LAND OF. mo-ri'-a ('erec
ha-moriyah; eis ten genitive ten hupselen): Abraham was directed...
Valley (187 Occurrences)
... on Isaiah), "either (1) because there were several valleys within the city and adjacent
to it, as the vale between Mount Zion andMoriah, the vale between...
Jerusalem (782 Occurrences)
... means "possession of peace," or "foundation of peace." The dual form probably refers
to the two mountains on which it was built, viz., Zion andMoriah; or, as...
Zion (169 Occurrences)
... It was surrounded on all sides, except the north, by deep valleys, that of the
Tyropoeon (qv) separating it fromMoriah (qv), which it surpasses in height by...
Kedron (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary The valley, now quite narrow, between the Mount of Olives
and MountMoriah. The upper part of it is called the Valley of Jehoshaphat....
Ornan (10 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 3:1 Then Solomon began to build the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem on
MountMoriah, where Yahweh appeared to David his father, which he made ready...
Jeb'usite (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 3:1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem
in mountMoriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father; for which...
Resources
What is the significance of Mount Moriah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgHow old was Isaac when Abraham almost sacrificed him? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Dome of the Rock? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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