4177. mowrah
Lexical Summary
mowrah: Fear, Reverence

Original Word: מוֹרָה
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: mowrah
Pronunciation: mo-raw'
Phonetic Spelling: (mo-raw')
KJV: razor
Word Origin: [from H4171 (מוּר - change) in the sense of shearing]

1. a razor

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
razor

From muwr in the sense of shearing; a razor -- razor.

see HEBREW muwr

Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. מוֺרָה noun masculine razor (√ dubious; WeSm p. 146 thinks = מַעֲרָה); — razor, always in phrase א׳ל ׳מ עַלרֿאֹשׁ (עָלָה) יַעֲלֶה Judges 13:5; Judges 16:17; 1 Samuel 1:11.

I, II. מוֺרֶה see ירה. מוֺרִיָּה see מֹרִיָּה.

[מוֺרָשׁ], מוֺרָשָׁה, מוֺר֫שֶׁת, מוֺרַשְׁתִּי see ירשׁ.

Topical Lexicon
Definition and Scope

מֹורָה (morah) denotes a razor or shaving knife, the instrument used to remove hair from the head. Although the word appears only three times, its usage is tightly linked to the Nazirite vow of consecration, giving it theological weight beyond its modest lexical footprint.

Occurrences in Scripture

Judges 13:5

“For behold, you will conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the boy will be a Nazirite to God from birth…”

Judges 16:17

“A razor has never come over my head,” Samson confesses to Delilah, grounding his superhuman strength in a life of separation symbolized by uncut hair.

1 Samuel 1:11

Hannah pledges concerning Samuel, “No razor shall ever touch his head,” binding her long-awaited child to lifelong service before he is conceived.

Nazirite Vow and Consecration

The substance of the Nazirite vow is spelled out in Numbers 6. Abstinence from grape products and contact with the dead are distinctive, yet the prohibition against applying a razor is the visible hallmark. מֹורָה thus becomes the concrete sign that a person’s ordinary autonomy has been surrendered to God. By withholding the razor, the Nazirite advertises divine ownership of every faculty, even physical appearance.

Symbolism of the Unshorn Head

1. Ownership: Hair left untouched signifies that God alone has the right to “harvest”—to direct—one’s life.
2. Strength: In Samson’s case, the untouched hair becomes a conduit for supernatural power, demonstrating that true strength is received, not self-generated.
3. Prayer and Prophecy: Samuel’s lifelong ministry, begun in uncut innocence, shows that separation to God is fertile soil for hearing His voice.

Historical Background of Razors in the Ancient Near East

Bronze and later iron razors were common in Egypt and Mesopotamia, where priests often shaved their heads completely. Israel’s Nazirite counter-pattern—refusing the razor—distinguished Yahweh’s servants from the surrounding religious systems. מֹורָה therefore marks a boundary between covenant fidelity and pagan custom.

Theological and Ministry Implications

• Divine Initiative: In all three passages, the restriction originates with God or a Spirit-led vow before the child’s birth, highlighting sovereign purpose.
• Lifelong Callings: Because Samson and Samuel are set apart from the womb, מֹורָה points to vocation determined by grace rather than merit.
• Vulnerability and Faith: When Samson finally surrenders his secret, the removal of unshorn hair signals the surrender of consecration, leading to spiritual and physical weakness. Ministry without consecration is powerless.

Typology and Fulfillment in Christ

The Nazirite ideal anticipates Jesus Christ, whose absolute holiness required no external symbol yet fulfilled its essence. As the greater Nazarene (Matthew 2:23), He remained wholly dedicated to the Father, accomplishing what every Nazirite signified—perfect obedience and perfect sacrifice.

Applications for Believers Today

1. Visible Witness: While the outward sign varies, believers still make their consecration tangible through baptism, sacrificial living, and ethical distinctiveness.
2. Guarding the Source of Strength: Like Samson, the church must protect the secret place of devotion lest spiritual power be forfeited.
3. Parental Stewardship: Hannah’s vow encourages modern parents to recognize God’s prior claim on their children and to nurture them toward lifelong service.

Conclusion

מֹורָה may be a small word, but it wields theological heft. Each appearance of the razor calls the reader to consider the cost and privilege of bearing visible tokens of belonging to God, reminding every generation that true power and enduring ministry flow from unreserved consecration.

Forms and Transliterations
וּמוֹרָ֖ה וּמוֹרָה֙ ומורה מוֹרָה֙ מורה mō·w·rāh moRah mōwrāh ū·mō·w·rāh umoRah ūmōwrāh
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Englishman's Concordance
Judges 13:5
HEB: וְיֹלַ֣דְתְּ בֵּ֗ן וּמוֹרָה֙ לֹא־ יַעֲלֶ֣ה
NAS: and no razor shall come
KJV: a son; and no razor shall come
INT: and give to a son razor and no shall come

Judges 16:17
HEB: וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהּ֙ מוֹרָה֙ לֹֽא־ עָלָ֣ה
NAS: and said to her, A razor has never
KJV: unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head;
INT: his heart and said to her a razor has never come

1 Samuel 1:11
HEB: יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֔יו וּמוֹרָ֖ה לֹא־ יַעֲלֶ֥ה
NAS: of his life, and a razor shall never
KJV: of his life, and there shall no razor come
INT: the days of his life razor shall never come

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4177
3 Occurrences


mō·w·rāh — 1 Occ.
ū·mō·w·rāh — 2 Occ.

4176
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