3383. Yarden
Lexical Summary
Yarden: Jordan

Original Word: יַרְדֵּן
Part of Speech: Proper Name
Transliteration: Yarden
Pronunciation: yar-DEN
Phonetic Spelling: (yar-dane')
KJV: Jordan
NASB: Jordan
Word Origin: [from H3381 (יָרַד - go down)]

1. a descender
2. Jarden, the principal river of Israel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Jordan

From yarad; a descender; Jarden, the principal river of Palestine -- Jordan.

see HEBREW yarad

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from yarad
Definition
the principal river of Pal.
NASB Translation
Jordan (182).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
יַרְדֵּן182 proper name, of a river Jordan (according to Rel Ol§ 215 c, from ירד with ןֵ֯ for original ןַ֯, compare ᵐ5 ὁ Ιορδανης; = river as flowing downward, descending, then of particular stream as river Κατ’ ἐξοχήν. See also Sta§ 294 e (ןֵ֯ for ןֶ֯, but name according to Sta non-Hebrew)) — absolute always ׳הַיַּר in prose Genesis 13:10 162t.; with ה locative הַיַּרְדֵּ֫נָה Judges 8:4 3t.; יַרְדֵּן only Psalm 42:7; Job 40:23; construct יַרְדֵּן Numbers 26:3 11t. Numbers Josh + 1 Chronicles 6:63; — the river of Palestine: in all periods, chiefly Hexateuch (122 t.: Genesis 5 t. J; Numbers 20 t. P, 1 t. J E; Deuteronomy 26 t.; Josh 34 t. J E, 20 t. D, 16 t. P), Judges (12 t.), and Samuel (18 t.); in Kings 13 t.; Chronicles 7 t.; elsewhere 10 t.; — הַיַּרְדֵּן הַזֶּה Genesis 32:11 (J), Deuteronomy 3:27; Deuteronomy 31:2; Joshua 1:2,11; Joshua 4:22 (all D); בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן Genesis 50:10,11 (J), Joshua 7:7; Joshua 24:8 (both J E), + 20 t. D + Judges 5:17; Judges 10:8; 1 Samuel 31:7; P has also מֵעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן Numbers 32:19, and לַיַּרְדֵּן ׳מֵע Numbers 32:19; Numbers 32:32; Numbers 35:14; Joshua 14:3, also Joshua 17:5 (JE), Joshua 18:7 (D), Judges 7:25; 1 Chronicles 12:37; 1 Chronicles 26:30; in P peculiarly יַרְדֵּן יְרֵחוֺ the Jordan of (at) Jericho, with עַל Numbers 26:3,63; Numbers 31:12; Numbers 33:48,50; Numbers 35:1; Numbers 36:13, with מֵעֵבֶר לְ Numbers 22:1; Numbers 34:15; Joshua 13:32; Joshua 20:8 (= 1 Chronicles 6:63), with מִן Joshua 16:1 (E?); עֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן Isaiah 8:23; Deuteronomy 4:49; Joshua 13:27 (P); see below עבר; מֵי הַיַּרְדֵּן Joshua 3:13 (twice in verse); Joshua 4:18,23 (all J E), Joshua 3:8; Joshua 5:1 (both D); מֵימֵי הַיַּרְדֵּן Joshua 4:7 (JE); ׳גְּאוֺן הַיַּר Jeremiah 12:5; Jeremiah 49:19; Jeremiah 50:44; Zechariah 11:3 (see גאון a, above); שְׂפַת ׳הַיּר 2 Kings 2:13; יוֺשֵׁב עַלהַֿיָּם וְעַל יַד הַיַּרְדֵּן Numbers 13:29 (J E; elsewhere in Numbers, P); כִּכַּר הַיַּרְדֵּן the circle of Jordan, i.e. the plain about Jericho Genesis 13:10,11 (J), 1 Kings 7:46; 2Chronicles 4:17; ׳מַעְבְּרוֺת הַיַּר Judges 3:28; Judges 12:5,6 fords of the Jordan; אֶלגְּֿגְּלִילוֺת הַיַּרְדֵּן אֶלעֵֿבֶר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל Joshua 22:11, compare Joshua 22:10 (both P; see גלילות above); אֶרֶץ יַרְדֵּן Psalm 42:7 (without article only here and in following); יָגִּיחַיַרְדֵּן אֶלמִּֿיהוּ Job 40:23 a Jordan bursteth forth into his mouth.



Topical Lexicon
Geographical Setting

The Jordan is the principal river of the land promised to Abraham’s descendants, rising from the foothills of Mount Hermon, plunging through the Huleh Basin and the Sea of Galilee, then winding southward through the Jordan Valley before emptying into the Dead Sea. Its steep descent of more than 2 800 feet gives rise to swift currents and seasonal flooding (Joshua 3:15). Fertile plains fringe its banks, while dense thickets—“the jungles of the Jordan” (Jeremiah 12:5)—shelter wildlife such as lions (Jeremiah 49:19).

Boundary and Inheritance

Repeatedly the river defines the western border of Transjordan and the eastern edge of Canaan (Numbers 34:12; Joshua 1:4). Two and a half tribes received allotments east of the Jordan (Numbers 32:33), yet their unity with the western tribes was sealed by the erection of the memorial altar just west of the river (Joshua 22:10–34). Crossing the Jordan is therefore linked to covenant inheritance and national identity.

Key Moments in Redemptive History

1. Israel’s Crossing under Joshua

“The priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan … and all Israel crossed over on dry ground” (Joshua 3:17). This miracle parallels the Red Sea and signals God’s faithfulness to a new generation (Joshua 4:23).

2. Elijah and Elisha

Elijah struck the waters with his mantle and they parted (2 Kings 2:8); Elisha repeated the sign (2 Kings 2:14), marking the transfer of prophetic authority.

3. Naaman’s Cleansing

“Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored” (2 Kings 5:10). The river becomes a channel of God’s grace to a Gentile, prefiguring the global scope of salvation.

4. Ministry of John the Baptist

John baptized “in the Jordan River, confessing their sins” (Matthew 3:6). Here Jesus submitted to baptism, and the Father’s voice declared, “This is My beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17).

Symbolism and Theology

• Transition and New Beginnings: From wilderness wandering to promised rest (Joshua 3–4).
• Death and Resurrection Motif: Descent into water, emergence to new life (Romans 6:3–4 typology).
• Cleansing: Naaman’s healing foreshadows spiritual purification (1 Peter 3:21 application).
• Divine Sovereignty over Creation: Repeatedly the Jordan obeys God’s command.

Prophetic and Poetic Usage

• A marker of divine judgment and blessing (Isaiah 16:1–2).
• A symbol of overwhelming trials—“When the swelling of the Jordan rises” (Jeremiah 12:5).
• A testimony to God’s might: “The sea saw and fled; the Jordan turned back” (Psalm 114:3).

Miraculous Interventions

• Waters halted at Adam (Joshua 3:16).
• Waters returned upon the priests’ withdrawal (Joshua 4:18).
• Mantle of Elijah (2 Kings 2:8).
• Floating axe head recovered near the Jordan (2 Kings 6:6).

All underscore the Lord’s mastery over natural forces.

Selected Thematic References

Promise and Boundary: Genesis 13:10–11; Numbers 22:1.

Military Campaigns: Judges 7:24; 2 Samuel 17:22.

Harvest and Flood Stage: Joshua 3:15; 1 Chronicles 12:15.

Prophetic Imagery: Jeremiah 50:44; Zechariah 11:3.

Messianic Ministry: Matthew 3:13; John 1:28.

Archaeological and Cultural Notes

Ancient fords such as Beth-barah (Judges 7:24) and modern sites like Bethany beyond the Jordan preserve the memory of crossings. Tell el-Hammam and other digs illuminate settlement patterns east of the river. Papyrus and historical inscriptions attest to its strategic and economic importance.

Ministry Implications

The Jordan teaches believers to trust God when confronting seemingly impassable obstacles, to seek cleansing through repentance, and to embrace new life in Christ. Its waters invite reflection on baptism’s meaning and the believer’s entrance into the fullness of God’s promises.

Anticipation of Future Restoration

Prophecies envision waters transformed and deserts blooming (Isaiah 35:1–7), foreshadowing a day when creation, including the Jordan Valley, will be fully redeemed under the reign of the Messiah.

Forms and Transliterations
בַּיַּרְדֵּ֔ן בַּיַּרְדֵּ֖ן בַּיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ בַּיַּרְדֵּן֙ בירדן בירדן׃ הַ֝יַּרְדֵּ֗ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֑נָה הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֔נָה הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֜ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֞ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֣ן הַיַּרְדֵּ֥ן הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ הַיַּרְדֵּן֮ הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ הירדן הירדן׃ הירדנה וְהַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן וְהַיַּרְדֵּ֣ן וְהַיַּרְדֵּ֥ן והירדן יַרְדֵּ֑ן יַרְדֵּ֣ן יַרְדֵּ֥ן ירדן לְיַרְדֵּ֣ן לְיַרְדֵּ֤ן לְיַרְדֵּ֥ן לַ֠יַּרְדֵּן לַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן לַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן לַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן לַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ לַיַּרְדֵּן֙ לירדן לירדן׃ מִיַּרְדֵּ֣ן מירדן baiyarDen bay·yar·dên bayyardên haiyarDen haiyarDenah hay·yar·dê·nāh hay·yar·dên hayyardên hayyardênāh laiyarDen lay·yar·dên layyardên lə·yar·dên leyarDen ləyardên mî·yar·dên miyarDen mîyardên vehaiyarDen wə·hay·yar·dên wəhayyardên yar·dên yarDen yardên
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 13:10
HEB: כָּל־ כִּכַּ֣ר הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן כִּ֥י כֻלָּ֖הּ
NAS: the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered
KJV: all the plain of Jordan, that it [was] well watered
INT: all the valley of the Jordan for everywhere

Genesis 13:11
HEB: כָּל־ כִּכַּ֣ר הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וַיִּסַּ֥ע ל֖וֹט
NAS: the valley of the Jordan, and Lot
KJV: him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot
INT: all the valley of the Jordan journeyed and Lot

Genesis 32:10
HEB: עָבַ֙רְתִּי֙ אֶת־ הַיַּרְדֵּ֣ן הַזֶּ֔ה וְעַתָּ֥ה
NAS: this Jordan, and now
KJV: I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two
INT: my staff crossed Jordan this and now

Genesis 50:10
HEB: אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּעֵ֣בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וַיִּ֨סְפְּדוּ־ שָׁ֔ם
NAS: is beyond the Jordan, they lamented
KJV: which [is] beyond Jordan, and there they mourned
INT: which is beyond the Jordan lamented there

Genesis 50:11
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּעֵ֥בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃
NAS: which is beyond the Jordan.
KJV: Abelmizraim, which [is] beyond Jordan.
INT: which is beyond the Jordan

Numbers 13:29
HEB: וְעַ֖ל יַ֥ד הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃
NAS: and by the side of the Jordan.
KJV: and by the coast of Jordan.
INT: and by the side of the Jordan

Numbers 22:1
HEB: מוֹאָ֔ב מֵעֵ֖בֶר לְיַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵחֽוֹ׃ ס
NAS: beyond the Jordan [opposite] Jericho.
KJV: on this side Jordan [by] Jericho.
INT: of Moab side the Jordan Jericho

Numbers 26:3
HEB: מוֹאָ֑ב עַל־ יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵח֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר׃
NAS: of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho,
KJV: of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho,
INT: of Moab by the Jordan Jericho saying

Numbers 26:63
HEB: מוֹאָ֔ב עַ֖ל יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵחֽוֹ׃
NAS: of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.
KJV: of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho.
INT: of Moab by the Jordan Jericho

Numbers 31:12
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־ יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵחֽוֹ׃ ס
NAS: which are by the Jordan [opposite] Jericho.
KJV: of Moab, which [are] by Jordan [near] Jericho.
INT: which are by the Jordan Jericho

Numbers 32:5
HEB: תַּעֲבִרֵ֖נוּ אֶת־ הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃
NAS: do not take us across the Jordan.
KJV: [and] bring us not over Jordan.
INT: not take the Jordan

Numbers 32:19
HEB: אִתָּ֔ם מֵעֵ֥בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן וָהָ֑לְאָה כִּ֣י
NAS: side of the Jordan and beyond,
KJV: with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward;
INT: on the other of the Jordan and beyond because

Numbers 32:19
HEB: אֵלֵ֔ינוּ מֵעֵ֥בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן מִזְרָֽחָה׃ פ
NAS: to us on this side of the Jordan toward the east.
KJV: to us on this side Jordan eastward.
INT: about side of the Jordan the east

Numbers 32:21
HEB: חָל֛וּץ אֶת־ הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה
NAS: men cross over the Jordan before
KJV: over Jordan before
INT: and all armed the Jordan before the LORD

Numbers 32:29
HEB: אִ֠תְּכֶם אֶֽת־ הַיַּרְדֵּ֞ן כָּל־ חָל֤וּץ
NAS: will cross with you over the Jordan in the presence
KJV: will pass with you over Jordan, every man armed
INT: of Reuben for the Jordan everyone is armed

Numbers 32:32
HEB: נַחֲלָתֵ֔נוּ מֵעֵ֖בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃
NAS: [shall remain] with us across the Jordan.
KJV: on this side Jordan [may be] ours.
INT: of our inheritance side the Jordan

Numbers 33:48
HEB: מוֹאָ֔ב עַ֖ל יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵחֽוֹ׃
NAS: of Moab by the Jordan [opposite] Jericho.
KJV: of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho.
INT: of Moab by the Jordan Jericho

Numbers 33:49
HEB: וַיַּחֲנ֤וּ עַל־ הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ מִבֵּ֣ית הַיְשִׁמֹ֔ת
NAS: They camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth
KJV: And they pitched by Jordan, from Bethjesimoth
INT: camped by the Jordan Beth-jeshimoth far

Numbers 33:50
HEB: מוֹאָ֑ב עַל־ יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵח֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר׃
NAS: of Moab by the Jordan [opposite] Jericho,
KJV: of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho,
INT: of Moab by the Jordan Jericho saying

Numbers 33:51
HEB: עֹבְרִ֥ים אֶת־ הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן אֶל־ אֶ֥רֶץ
NAS: you cross over the Jordan into the land
KJV: unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land
INT: you cross the Jordan into the land

Numbers 34:12
HEB: וְיָרַ֤ד הַגְּבוּל֙ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔נָה וְהָי֥וּ תוֹצְאֹתָ֖יו
NAS: shall go down to the Jordan and its termination
KJV: shall go down to Jordan, and the goings out
INT: shall go and the border to the Jordan become termination

Numbers 34:15
HEB: נַחֲלָתָ֗ם מֵעֵ֛בֶר לְיַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵח֖וֹ קֵ֥דְמָה
NAS: across the Jordan opposite Jericho,
KJV: on this side Jordan [near] Jericho
INT: their possession side the Jordan Jericho eastward

Numbers 35:1
HEB: מוֹאָ֑ב עַל־ יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵח֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר׃
NAS: of Moab by the Jordan [opposite] Jericho,
KJV: of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho,
INT: of Moab by the Jordan Jericho saying

Numbers 35:10
HEB: עֹבְרִ֥ים אֶת־ הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן אַ֥רְצָה כְּנָֽעַן׃
NAS: you cross the Jordan into the land
KJV: unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land
INT: you cross the Jordan the land of Canaan

Numbers 35:14
HEB: תִּתְּנוּ֙ מֵעֵ֣בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וְאֵת֙ שְׁלֹ֣שׁ
NAS: across the Jordan and three
KJV: on this side Jordan, and three
INT: shall give side the Jordan and three cities

182 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3383
182 Occurrences


bay·yar·dên — 6 Occ.
hay·yar·dên — 145 Occ.
hay·yar·dê·nāh — 4 Occ.
lay·yar·dên — 9 Occ.
lə·yar·dên — 5 Occ.
mî·yar·dên — 1 Occ.
wə·hay·yar·dên — 3 Occ.
yar·dên — 9 Occ.

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