Original Word: יָרָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: yarah
Pronunciation: yah-RAH
Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-raw')
KJV: (+) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew, shoot, teach(-er,-ing), through
NASB: teach, shoot, instruct, cast, shot, taught, archers
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to flow as water
2. (hence) to rain
3. (transitively) to lay or throw (especially an arrow)
4. (hence) to shoot
5. (figuratively) to point out (as if by aiming the finger)
6. (hence) to teach

archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, show, shoot,

Or (2 Chr. 26:15) yara; {yaw-raw'}; a primitive root; 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 -- (+) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew, shoot, teach(-er,-ing), through.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to throw, shoot
NASB Translation
archers (2), archers shot (1), archers* (2), cast (3), cast them down (1), directed (1), instruct (4), instructed (1), instruction (1), instructs (1), laid (1), point (1), points (1), rain (1), set (1), shoot (10), shot (3), shot through (1), showed (1), taught (3), teach (27), teacher (2), teaches (2), teaching (1), throws (1), watering (1).

[יָרָא] verb shoot, pour (Aramaic orthography of יָרָה q. v.) —

Qal Infinitive construct לִירוֺא בַּחִצִּים2Chronicles 26:15 shoot with arrows.

Hiph`il Imperfect וַיֹּרא֯וּ 2 Samuel 11:24 and they shot at (אֶלֿ); Participle plural הַמּוֺרִא֯ים 2 Samuel 11:24 the shooters, archers; Kt to be read וַיֹּרִאוּ, הַמּוֺרַאִים; but Masora nothing א as superfluous, would read וַיֹּרוּ, הַמּוֺרִים from יָרָה (Bö^{§ 1088} (8), (9)).

Hoph`al Imperfect only in וּמַרְוֶה גַּם הוּא יוֺרֶ֑א Proverbs 11:25 he that watereth shall himself also be watered (Fl De MV and others derive — 'non bene,' Thes — from √ רוה, q. v., יוֺרֶא for יָרְוֶה ֗֗֗ ; but see Thes Ew^{§ 131 f.} Bö^{§ 161} (4) SS Buhl Kö^{i. 585}; compare ירה 4).

יָרָה verb throw, shoot (Late Hebrew shoot, Hiph`il teach; Aramaic Aph`el אוֺרִי teach; Ethiopic jecit; Amharic warê is information, news, see Nö^{ZMG 1886, 724}; Assyrian ârû, lead, guide, Dl^{HWB 241}; têrtu, law, Dl^{HA 49}; Zinjirli ירי set, found, DHM^{Sendsch. 57}, compare

2 below — Buhl distinguishes

3 √ √ ירה: I. = throw, compare modern Arabic warra; II. Hiph`il = moisten, compare רוה; III. Hiph`il = teach, compare ראה, Arabic , ; but evidence for this division hardly sufficient) —

Qal Perfect ׳יר Exodus 15:4 3t.; 1 singular יָרִיתִי Genesis 31:51; Joshua 18:6; Imperfect1plural suffix וַנִּירָם Numbers 21:30 (SS after ᵐ5 וְנִינָם, see Ges^{§ 76} (2) e); Imperative יְרֵה 2 Kings 13:17; Infinitive absolute יָרֹה Exodus 19:13 construct לִיר(וֺ)ת Psalm 11:2; Psalm 64:5; Participle יֹרֶה Proverbs 26:18; plural יוֺרִים 1 Chronicles 10:3; יֹרִים2Chronicles 35:23; —

1 throw, cast, with accusative: cast lots Joshua 18:6 (E); army into (בְּ) the sea Exodus 15:4 (song).

2 cast (= lay, set), corner-stone Job 38:6; pillar Genesis 31:51 (E; see Zinjirli above)

3 shoot arrows, absolute Exodus 19:13 (E) 2 Kings 13:17; accusative of arrows 1 Samuel 20:36,37; Proverbs 26:18; accusative of person Numbers 21:30 (song, E) Psalm 64:5; with לְ person Psalm 11:2; י(וֺ)רִים archers 1 Chronicles 10:3; 2Chronicles 35:23.

4 throw water, rain: Hosea 6:3, but see יוֺרֶה early rain (compare Hiph`il 3).

Niph`al Imperfect יִיָּרֶה shot through (with arrows) Exodus 19:13 (E).

Hiph`il Perfect3masculine singular suffix הֹרַנִי Job 30:19 (הֹרָנִי Baer); הוֺרָהוּ 2 Kings 12:3; הוֺרֵתָ֑נִי Psalm 119:102; 1singular וְהוֺרֵיתִ֫י Exodus 4:15; 1 Samuel 12:23; suffix הֹרֵיתִיךָ Proverbs 4:11; הוֺרֵיתִיךָ Exodus 4:12; Imperfect יוֺרֶה Psalm 25:8 5t.; וַיּוֺר 2 Kings 13:17 (for this and other forms see Ges^{§ 76} (2) e); וַיֹּרֵנִי Proverbs 4:4; יוֺרֵנוּ Judges 13:8 2t.; יוֺרֶנּוּ Psalm 25:12; Isaiah 28:26; וַיּוֺרֵהוּ Exodus 15:25; יֹרֵם 2 Kings 17:27; Psalm 64:8; 2feminine suffix תּוֺרְךָ Psalm 45:5; תֹּרֶ֑ךָּ Job 12:7,8; 2masculine suffix תּוֺרֵם 1 Kings 8:36 2Chronicles 6:27; 1 singular אוֺרֶה 1 Samuel 20:20; Job 27:11; suffix אוֺרְךָ Psalm 32:8; 3masculine plural יוֺרוּ Deuteronomy 24:8 3t.; יֹרוּ 2 Samuel 11:20; 2Chronicles 35:23; יֹרֻהוּ Psalm 64:5; יוֺרוּךָ Deuteronomy 17:10 2t.; Imperative suffix הֹרֵנִי Job 34:32; הוֺרֵנִי Psalm 27:11 2t.; plural suffix הוֺרוּנִי Job 6:24; Infinitive construct הוֺרֹת Genesis 46:28 3t.; הוֺרֹתָם Exodus 24:12; Participle מוֺרֶה 1 Samuel 20:36 5t.; מֹרֶה Proverbs 6:13; plural מוֺרִים 1 Samuel 31:3 2t.; suffix מוֺרָ֑י Proverbs 5:13; מוֺרֶיךָ Isaiah 30:20 (twice in verse); —

1 throw, cast, with ל, into the mire Job 30:19.

2 shoot (arrows) 1 Samuel 20:20,36; 2 Samuel 11:20; 2 Kings 13:17; 2 Kings 19:32 = Isaiah 37:33; with ל, of person 2 Chronicles 35:23; accusative of person Psalm 64:5; Psalm 64:8; מוֺרִים archers 1 Samuel 31:3 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 10:3.

3 throw water, rain: וְיוֺרֶה צֶדֶק לָכֶם Hosea 10:12 and rain righteousness for you (Thes and others under

5); hence מוֺרֶה early rain (compare Qal 4).

4 point out, shew: לְהוֺרֹת לְפָנָיו גּשְׁנָה Genesis 46:28 (J) to point out before him (the way) to Goshen; מֹרֶח בְּאֶצְבְּעֹתָיו Proverbs 6:13 pointing out with his fingers; accusative of person and thing Exodus 15:25 (JE) Psalm 45:5; Job 6:24.

5 direct, teach, instruct:

a. of men, absolute Bezalel in handicraft Exodus 35:34 (P); with accusative of person, a father his son Proverbs 4:4; the ancients Job Job 8:10; the animals and the earth, the friends of Job 12:7,8; with 2accusative Isaiah 28:9; בּדֶרֶךְ in the way 1 Samuel 12:23; Psalm 25:8; Psalm 32:8; Proverbs 4:11; בְּיַדאֵֿל concerning the hand of El Job 27:11. — מוֺרֶה שֶׁקֶר teaching lies is used of prophet Isaiah 9:14.

b. specially of the authoritative direction (see תּוֺרָה) given by priests on matters of ceremonial observance, with accusative of thing and לְ person Deuteronomy 33:10 (song), they teach thy judgments to Jacob, and thy direction (law) to Israel; double accusative Deuteronomy 17:10,11 according to the direction, wherewith they direct thee; Deuteronomy 24:8 (on leprosy), Leviticus 10:11 (P), absolute Leviticus 14:57 (P), 2 Chronicles 15:3 כֹּהֵן מוֺרֶה, Ezekiel 44:23 the Zadokite priests אתעֿמי יֹרוּ בֵּין קֹדֶשׁ לְחֹל; Micah 3:11 the priests give such 'direction' for hire; less, technically, of Moses Exodus 24:12 (E), of Jehoiada 2 Kings 12:3, of the Samaritan priests 2 Kings 17:27,28.

c. of God: with accusative of person Isaiah 28:26; Psalm 119:102; double accusative Exodus 4:12,15 (J), Judges 13:8; Job 34:32; 1 Kings 8:36 (= אֶל הַדֶּרֶךְ2Chronicles 6:27), Psalm 27:11; Psalm 86:11; Psalm 119:33; accusative of person בְּדֶרֶךְ Psalm 25:12; מִדְּרָכָיו of his ways Isaiah 2:3 = Micah 4:2.

d. of idol-image Habakkuk 2:18 (מוֺרֶה שָׁ֑קֶר), Habakkuk 2:19.

Root Imagery and Range of Meaning

The verb יָרָה (yarah) portrays deliberate, accurate projection. Whether the object is an arrow, a drop of oil, a stream of water, or a word of instruction, the action always moves straight from sender to target. From this picture flow its principal ideas: to shoot, to cast, to sprinkle, and to teach.

Physical Actions: Shooting, Throwing, Pointing

Jonathan “shot three arrows” to signal David (1 Samuel 20:20–37). Joab’s men were struck when “the archers shot at your servants” (2 Samuel 11:24). Elisha ordered the king of Israel, “Shoot!” and “he shot” (2 Kings 13:17). In these and similar passages the root describes warfare that demands skill and precision. The same word can speak of throwing a stick into bitter waters to heal them (Exodus 15:25) or casting flour into a poisoned pot (2 Kings 4:41), again emphasizing purposeful direction.

Cultic Use: Sprinkling and Purification

Priestly ritual employs the root in the sense of sprinkling. Oil is “sprinkled” on the altar (Leviticus 8:11), water mixed with the ashes of the red heifer is “sprinkled” for cleansing (Numbers 19:18), and David pleads, “Purify me with hyssop” (Psalm 51:7), relying on the same verb. The precise application of the purifying agent mirrors the precision of God’s holiness.

“Yoreh” – The Early Rain

The noun יֹרֶה describes the autumn or former rain that softens the soil for seedtime. “He will send rain on your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain” (Deuteronomy 11:14). Jeremiah 5:24, Hosea 6:3, and Joel 2:23 build on the certainty of this rain to affirm the faithfulness of the covenant God. Joel’s play on words—“He has given you the Teacher for righteousness; He showers down for you rain” (Joel 2:23)—ties the concepts of rainfall and instruction together, both coming from the same root and both essential for life and fruitfulness.

Instruction and Teaching

Over half of the eighty-one occurrences describe the act of teaching. The Lord promises Moses, “I will teach you what you shall speak” (Exodus 4:12). Samuel tells Israel, “I will teach you the good and right way” (1 Samuel 12:23). The priests must “teach the Israelites all the statutes” (Leviticus 10:11). In the Psalms, Yahweh is the personal instructor: “Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He instructs sinners in the way” (Psalm 25:8; see also Psalm 25:12; Psalm 32:8; Psalm 119:102). Isaiah’s vision of the nations streaming to Zion climaxes with, “He will teach us His ways” (Isaiah 2:3). Accuracy remains the keynote: the teacher must point exactly to God’s path.

Judicial Guidance and Priestly Duty

The causative stem undergirds Israel’s judicial process. Disputants must follow “the verdict they declare to you” (Deuteronomy 17:10–11). Ezra “was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses,” equipped to teach (Ezra 7:10). Ezekiel foresees priests who “shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the common” (Ezekiel 44:23). Sound teaching sustains covenant order; faulty teaching misdirects the nation.

Torah and Yarah

Torah, Israel’s foundational “instruction,” derives from the same root. Law is thus dynamic guidance rather than mere legislation—God pointing out the way. Every commandment is an accurately aimed arrow from God’s bow, revealing His character and directing His people.

Prophetic Remonstrance and Hope

Jeremiah laments leaders who “did not know Me; the keepers of the law did not instruct the people” (Jeremiah 2:8). Micah and Isaiah promise a future in which Zion again becomes the teaching center of the world (Micah 4:2; Isaiah 2:3). The prophets measure true or false ministry by whether it stays on target with God’s revealed path.

Divine Warrior Imagery

The same root depicts God as the Archer of judgment: “He shot His arrows and scattered the foes” (Psalm 18:14). Instruction and retribution proceed from one hand; the Author of the Law is also the Enforcer of it.

Foreshadowing in the New Covenant

The New Testament vocabulary changes, yet the concept endures. Jesus, hailed as Rabbi, teaches with authority (Matthew 7:28–29). The Spirit “will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13), continuing the Yar­ah motif of accurate, divinely initiated guidance. Pentecost itself arrives “when the day of Pentecost had fully come,” the final harvest linked to the former and latter rains promised in Joel.

Ministry Lessons

1. Teaching is not information transfer but divinely directed aim; doctrine must stay true to the target of God’s revelation.
2. Like the early rain, faithful instruction prepares hearts for fruitfulness; without it the seed withers.
3. Spiritual leadership carries judicial weight; misdirected guidance has national consequences.
4. Personal piety echoes the psalmist’s prayer: “Teach me Your statutes” (Psalm 119:124), trusting the God who never misses His mark.

Summary

Yarah weaves together image and instruction, arrow and law, rain and righteousness. In every usage Scripture displays a God who sends His word and His works straight and sure, cleansing His people, guiding their steps, and securing His harvest.

אוֹרֶ֑ה אוֹרֶ֣ה אורה ה֘וֹרֵ֤נִי ה֤וֹרֵ֥נִי ה֭וֹרוּנִי הַיֹּרִ֔ים הַיֹּרֶ֥ה הַיּוֹרִֽים׃ הַמּוֹרִ֖ים הַמּוֹרִ֣ים הֹרֵ֑נִי הֹרֵתִ֑יךָ הֹרָ֥נִי הוֹרֵ֣נִי הוֹרֵתָֽנִי׃ הוֹרָ֔הוּ הורהו הורוני הורני הורתני׃ היורים׃ הירה הירים המורים הרני הרתיך וְֽאוֹרְךָ֗ וְהוֹרֵיתִ֖יךָ וְהוֹרֵיתִ֣י וְיָרִ֨יתִי וְיֹרֵ֕ם וְיֹרֵ֙נוּ֙ וְיֹרֶ֥ה וְיוֹרֵ֕נוּ וְיוֹרֵ֙נוּ֙ וְתֹרֶ֑ךָּ וְתוֹרְךָ֖ וַיֹּרֵ֗ם וַיֹּרֵ֗נִי וַיֹּרוּ֙ וַיּ֔וֹר וַיּוֹרֵ֤הוּ וַנִּירָ֛ם וּלְהוֹרֹ֖ת וּמ֣וֹרֶה ואורך והוריתי והוריתיך ויור ויורהו ויורנו וירה וירו ויריתי וירם וירנו וירני ולהורת ומורה ונירם ותורך ותרך י֝וֹרֶ֗נּוּ י֭וֹרוּךָ יְרֵה֙ יִיָּרֶ֔ה יָ֝רָ֗ה יָרִ֖יתִי יָרָ֖ה יָרָ֣ה יָרָ֥ה יָרֹ֣ה יֹ֝רֻ֗הוּ יֹר֖וּ יוֹר֔וּ יוֹר֗וּךָ יוֹר֤וּ יוֹר֨וּ יוֹרֶ֔ה יוֹרֶ֖ה יוֹרֶ֣ה יוֹרֶ֥ה יוֹרֶֽא׃ יוֹרֶֽנּוּ׃ יוֹרֽוּךָ׃ יורא׃ יורה יורו יורוך יורוך׃ יורנו יורנו׃ יירה ירה ירהו ירו יריתי לְהוֹרֹ֕ת לְהוֹרֹ֥ת לְהוֹרֹתָֽם׃ לִיר֣וֹת לִיר֥וֹת לִירוֹא֙ להורת להורתם׃ לירוא לירות מֵהַמּוֹרִֽים׃ מֹ֝רֶ֗ה מֽוֹרֶה־ מהמורים׃ מוֹרֶ֑ה מוֹרֶ֔יךָ מוֹרֶ֖ה מוֹרֶ֣ה מוֹרֶֽה׃ מוֹרֶֽיךָ׃ מוֹרָ֑י מורה מורה־ מורה׃ מורי מוריך מוריך׃ מרה תוֹרֵ֛ם תורם ’ō·w·reh ’ōwreh haiyoReh haiyoRim ham·mō·w·rîm hammoRim hammōwrîm hay·yō·reh hay·yō·rîm hay·yō·w·rîm hayyōreh hayyōrîm hayyōwrîm hō·rā·nî hō·rê·nî hō·rê·ṯî·ḵā hō·w·rā·hū hō·w·rê·nî hō·w·rê·ṯā·nî hō·w·rū·nî hoRahu hoRani hōrānî hoReni hōrênî horeTani horeTicha hōrêṯîḵā Horuni hōwrāhū hōwrênî hōwrêṯānî hōwrūnî lə·hō·w·rō·ṯām lə·hō·w·rōṯ lehoRot lehoroTam ləhōwrōṯ ləhōwrōṯām lî·rō·w lî·rō·wṯ lirO liRot lîrōw lîrōwṯ mê·ham·mō·w·rîm mehammoRim mêhammōwrîm mō·reh mō·w·rāy mō·w·re·ḵā mō·w·reh mō·w·reh- moRai moReh mōreh moReicha mōwrāy mōwreh mōwreh- mōwreḵā oReh ṯō·w·rêm toRem ṯōwrêm ū·lə·hō·w·rōṯ ū·mō·w·reh ulehoRot ūləhōwrōṯ uMoreh ūmōwreh vaiYor vaiyoRehu vaiyoRem vaiyoReni vaiyoRu vanniRam vehoreiTi vehoreiTicha veorCha vetorCha vetoReka veyaRiti veyoReh veyoRem veyoRenu wan·nî·rām wannîrām way·yō·rê·nî way·yō·rêm way·yō·rū way·yō·w·rê·hū way·yō·wr wayyōrêm wayyōrênî wayyōrū wayyōwr wayyōwrêhū wə’ōwrḵā wə·’ō·wr·ḵā wə·hō·w·rê·ṯî wə·hō·w·rê·ṯî·ḵā wə·ṯō·re·kā wə·ṯō·wr·ḵā wə·yā·rî·ṯî wə·yō·rê·nū wə·yō·reh wə·yō·rêm wə·yō·w·rê·nū wəhōwrêṯî wəhōwrêṯîḵā wəṯōrekā wəṯōwrḵā wəyārîṯî wəyōreh wəyōrêm wəyōrênū wəyōwrênū yā·rāh yā·rî·ṯî yā·rōh yaRah yārāh yaRiti yārîṯî yaRoh yārōh yə·rêh yeReh yərêh yî·yā·reh yiyaReh yîyāreh yō·rū yō·ru·hū yō·w·re yō·w·reh yō·w·ren·nū yō·w·rū yō·w·rū·ḵā yoRe yoReh yoRennu yoRu yōrū yoRucha yoRuhu yōruhū yōwre yōwreh yōwrennū yōwrū yōwrūḵāInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts