### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **yerach**, represented by `{{H3391}}`, is a term for a **lunation**, which can mean a **month** or the **moon**. It appears **13 times** across **13 unique verses** in the Bible. This word is used both to mark specific periods of time and to refer to the celestial body that governs the night sky.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical usage, `{{H3391}}` functions as a key unit for measuring time. It designates the duration of specific events, such as the three **months** Jochebed hid the infant Moses [[Exodus 2:2]] or the "full **month**" of mourning prescribed for a captive woman before she could be married [[Deuteronomy 21:13]]. It is also used to name specific calendar months for important events, such as laying the temple's foundation in the **month** Zif [[1 Kings 6:37]] and its completion in the **month** Bul [[1 Kings 6:38]]. The word can refer to the moon itself, as when describing agricultural blessings "put forth by the **moon**" [[Deuteronomy 33:14]] or in prophetic promises where the **moon** will no longer need to give its light [[Isaiah 60:20]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the context of time and celestial bodies:
* `{{H2320}}` **chôdesh** (the new moon; by implication, a month): This word is often used interchangeably with `{{H3391}}` to signify a month, but it specifically emphasizes the new moon as the start of the period. It is central to Israel's religious calendar, marking feasts and solemnities [[Ezekiel 45:17]].
* `{{H8121}}` **shemesh** (the sun): As the counterpart to the moon, the sun is often mentioned alongside `{{H3391}}`. The two are paired to describe God's comprehensive blessing over creation through the fruits brought forth by the **sun** and the precious things put forth by the moon [[Deuteronomy 33:14]].
* `{{H8141}}` **shâneh** (a year): Representing a complete revolution of time, this term provides the larger framework within which months are counted. Job connects days, months, and years when wishing a particular night would not be counted in the number of the **months** or joined to the days of the **year** [[Job 3:6]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3391}}` is demonstrated in its various applications.
* **Divine Sovereignty over Time:** The term is used in contexts that highlight God's control over life and its appointed seasons. God's knowledge extends to numbering the **months** for animals to give birth [[Job 39:2]], while Job laments the "**months** of vanity" appointed to him, acknowledging a divine hand in his suffering [[Job 7:3]].
* **Cycles of Blessing and Judgment:** The moon is directly associated with God's provision, as seen in the "precious things" it helps bring forth from the earth [[Deuteronomy 33:14]]. Conversely, a period measured in **months** can also signify judgment, as when God cuts off three shepherds in one **month** [[Zechariah 11:8]].
* **Symbol of Eschatological Promise:** In a prophetic vision of God's ultimate restoration, the moon's role as a light source becomes obsolete. The promise that the **moon** will no longer withdraw itself signifies a new era where the LORD Himself will be an everlasting light, ending all mourning [[Isaiah 60:20]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3391}}` is more than a simple word for "month" or "moon." It serves as a fundamental building block for marking time in both civil and personal contexts within the biblical narrative. From the construction of Solomon's temple to the seasons of an individual's life, **yerach** connects the observable cycle of the moon to the overarching providence and promises of God.
TRV