The Hebrew word Môwrîyâh, represented by H4179, identifies Moriah, a specific hill in Palestine. The name is derived from roots meaning "seen of Jah" (H7200, H3068). It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses, marking it as a location of immense biblical importance.
In its first appearance, God commands Abraham to travel to the land of Moriah H4179 and offer his only H3173 son H1121, Isaac, as a burnt offering H5930 upon one H259 of the mountains H2022 there Genesis 22:2. Centuries later, this same location is explicitly named as the site where Solomon H8010 began H2490 to build H1129 the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 in Jerusalem H3389. The site is identified as mount Moriah H4179, the very place H4725 where the LORD appeared H7200 to David H1732 his father H1 2 Chronicles 3:1.
Several related words highlight the significance of this location:
- H2022 har (a mountain or range of hills): Moriah is consistently identified as a mount H2022 or one of a range of mountains H2022, establishing it as a high place chosen for divine encounter and worship (Genesis 22:2; 2 Chronicles 3:1).
- H7200 râʼâh (to see, appear, provide): This root forms part of Moriah's name. The connection is reinforced when the text states that the LORD appeared H7200 to David at this location, which was prepared for the temple 2 Chronicles 3:1.
- H1004 bayith (a house): The historical significance of Moriah culminates in it being the site for the house H1004 of the LORD, transforming it from a place of patriarchal testing into the physical center of Israel's worship 2 Chronicles 3:1.
- H1637 gôren (threshing-floor): The specific spot on Mount Moriah where the temple was built is identified as the threshingfloor H1637 of Ornan H771 the Jebusite H2983, linking it to a key event in the life of King David 2 Chronicles 3:1.
The theological weight of H4179 is profound, as it bridges key moments in salvation history.
- The Altar of Obedience: The story of Abraham and Isaac establishes Moriah as the ultimate site of tested faith and sacrificial obedience. The command to offer a beloved and only H3173 son sets a precedent for the cost of devotion Genesis 22:2.
- The Place of Divine Presence: The name "seen of Jah" and the subsequent appearance of the LORD to David mark Moriah as a place of divine revelation. It becomes the chosen location for God's permanent dwelling place among His people, the temple in Jerusalem H3389 2 Chronicles 3:1.
- The Foundation of Worship: By becoming the site of Solomon's Temple, Moriah is consecrated as the location where God's people would bring their burnt offerings H5930 and sacrifices, centralizing the nation's worship in the place God himself had chosen and revealed.
In summary, H4179 Moriah is not merely a geographical name but a cornerstone location in the biblical narrative. It is a place forever defined by God's command, a father's obedience, divine appearance, and its ultimate selection as the site for the house H1004 of the LORD H3068. The two occurrences link the foundational faith of the patriarchs directly to the established worship of the nation of Israel.
TRV