יָרָה

From the study of Proverbs 11:25

Range of meaning

The root yarah covers 'throw, shoot' and 'point out, teach'. A related or homonymous yarah means 'to water, give rain' (Hos 6:3; 10:12). The noun yoreh, from the same letters, is the autumn 'early rain' (Deut 11:14; Jer 5:24).

Against the English

All the major English versions render it as a passive, 'be watered' or 'be refreshed'. That is the consensus reading, but the Hebrew form is irregular.

Used elsewhere in the period

HALOT and BDB take this verse as the passive of yarah II, 'be watered', with an irregular aleph spelling. Some scholars correct the text to a form of ravah, to match marveh. Hos 10:12 uses the same root for God 'raining' righteousness.

From the study of Isaiah 9:15

Range of meaning

Moreh is the participle of yarah, a verb whose range runs from 'throw, shoot' to 'point out' and 'instruct'. It is the root of torah, 'instruction'. Sheqer is falsehood in a wide sense: a spoken lie, but also anything deceptive, empty or bound to let you down (a 'false' hope, a 'deceptive' brook).

Against the English

'Teaches lies' is accurate. It can, though, sound like simple dishonesty. In Hebrew the phrase means giving false torah: guidance that claims to come from God and is not true.

Used elsewhere in the period

The prophets keep attacking prophets who say 'peace' when there is no peace and who prophesy sheqer (Jer 14:14; 23:25–32; Mic 3:5, 11, where priests 'teach for a price' and prophets 'divine for money'). Habakkuk 2:18 uses the same phrase, moreh sheqer, of an idol, 'a teacher of lies'.

From the study of Proverbs 4:11

Range of meaning

In the simple stem: to throw or shoot (arrows, lots). In the causative stem used here: to point out, show, direct, teach. Priests 'teach' (horah) the people (Deut 33:10; Lev 10:11), and parents and teachers instruct. The noun torah ('instruction, teaching, law') comes from the same root.

Against the English

'Taught' (KJV, WEB, ESV) and 'instruct' (NIV) are accurate. 'Directed' (YLT, NASB) keeps the picture of pointing the way. 'Guide' (BSB) is fine in meaning but turns the tense to the future.

Used elsewhere in the period

Prov 4:2 calls the father's words 'my torah'; 4:4 uses the same verb, vayoreni, 'he taught me,' about the grandfather. Compare Ps 25:8, 12 and 32:8 ('I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go'), where God teaches the way.