יְהוָה יִרְאֶה
Yahweh Yireh / Jehovah Jireh
“The Lord Will Provide”
Jehovah Jireh (יְהוָה יִרְאֶה, Yahweh Yireh) is a Hebrew name meaning “the lord will provide,” pronounced “yah-WEH yir-EH.” From YHWH (the LORD) + יִרְאֶה (yireh, 'He will see/provide'). The verb ר-א-ה (ra'ah) means 'to see,' but in this context takes on the meaning 'to see to it' — i.e., 'to provide.' Abraham named the location this after God provided the ram substitute for Isaac.
| Hebrew | יְהוָה יִרְאֶה |
|---|---|
| Transliteration | Yahweh Yireh |
| English Name | Jehovah Jireh |
| Meaning | The Lord Will Provide |
| Pronunciation | yah-WEH yir-EH |
| Gender | Unisex |
| Category | Names of God |
| Variants | Yahweh Yireh, Jehovah-Jireh, The LORD Will Provide, YHWH Yireh |
| Key Scripture | Genesis 22:14 |
Jehovah Jireh — YHWH Yireh — is the name born at the most harrowing moment in the patriarchal narrative. Abraham had raised the knife over his son Isaac on Mount Moriah when God stopped his hand and provided a ram caught in a thicket as a substitute sacrifice. Abraham named that place 'YHWH Yireh' — 'The LORD will provide' — and the text adds: 'On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided' (Genesis 22:14). The Hebrew word 'yireh' means both 'He will see' and 'He will provide,' revealing a profound theology: God's seeing IS His providing. When God sees our need, the provision is already on the way. Centuries later, Solomon's Temple would be built on this same Mount Moriah — the ultimate place of provision.
Key Scripture: Genesis 22:14
“So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, 'On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.'”
What Does Jehovah Jireh Mean in Hebrew?
יִרְאֶה (yireh) is from the root ר-א-ה (resh-aleph-heh) meaning 'to see.' In the imperfect/future form with divine subject: 'He will see [to it]' = 'He will provide.' The double meaning — seeing and providing — reveals that divine perception and divine provision are the same act. God sees the need before we voice it, and His seeing is already the beginning of His answer.
Jehovah Jireh in the Bible
This name comes from the Akedah — the Binding of Isaac (Genesis 22) — one of the most significant events in the entire Bible. When Abraham demonstrated his willingness to sacrifice Isaac, God provided a ram instead. The name YHWH Yireh declares that God will always provide what is needed at the right moment, especially in the most desperate circumstances.
Cultural Context & Modern Usage
The traditional location of Mount Moriah — where YHWH Yireh was spoken — is identified with the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, where Solomon later built the Temple. The connection between Abraham's altar of sacrifice, Solomon's Temple, and (in Christian theology) Golgotha creates a multilayered narrative of divine provision across all of biblical history.
Jehovah Jireh is widely known in Christian worship through songs and devotional teaching. It is one of the most frequently cited compound names of God, especially in contexts of financial provision, crisis moments, and testimonies of unexpected divine help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jehovah Jireh
What does Jehovah Jireh mean in Hebrew?
Jehovah Jireh (יְהוָה יִרְאֶה, Yahweh Yireh) means “The Lord Will Provide” in Hebrew. From YHWH (the LORD) + יִרְאֶה (yireh, 'He will see/provide'). The verb ר-א-ה (ra'ah) means 'to see,' but in this context takes on the meaning 'to see to it' — i.e., 'to provide.' Abraham named the location this after God provided the ram substitute for Isaac.
How do you pronounce Jehovah Jireh in Hebrew?
The Hebrew pronunciation of Jehovah Jireh is “yah-WEH yir-EH.” The name is written יְהוָה יִרְאֶה in Hebrew script.
What does Jehovah Jireh mean in Hebrew?
Jehovah Jireh (יְהוָה יִרְאֶה, YHWH Yireh) means 'The LORD Will Provide' in Hebrew. The word 'yireh' comes from the root 'ra'ah' (to see), meaning 'He will see [to it]' — in other words, God's seeing our need IS His provision. Abraham gave this name to Mount Moriah after God provided a ram in place of Isaac (Genesis 22:14).
When did Abraham name God Jehovah Jireh?
Abraham named the place YHWH Yireh immediately after the most intense test of faith in Scripture — the Binding of Isaac (Akedah). When God stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac and provided a ram caught in a thicket as a substitute, Abraham named the mountain 'The LORD Will Provide' (Genesis 22:14). It was a declaration that God's provision arrives at precisely the right moment.
Where is Mount Moriah today?
Mount Moriah is traditionally identified with the Temple Mount in Jerusalem — the site where Solomon built the First Temple (2 Chronicles 3:1). This means the place where God provided a ram for Abraham later became the location of the Temple where sacrifices were offered for Israel. The connection between provision and sacrifice at this single location runs through the entire biblical narrative.
Sources & Further Study
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