יַרְדֵּן182 H3383
Jordan — the principal river of Palestine, flowing from the Sea of Galilee southward to the Dead Sea
The Jordan (Yarden) is the defining waterway of biblical geography, serving as both a physical boundary and a theological symbol. Its name likely derives from yarad ('to descend'), describing its steep drop from Galilee to the Dead Sea — the lowest point on earth. Crossing the Jordan becomes a powerful motif: Abram surveys its plain (Gen 13:10-11), Israel enters the promised land through its parted waters (Josh 3), and Elijah and Elisha cross it miraculously (2 Kgs 2). In the New Testament, it is the site of Jesus' baptism. Spanish el Jordan, French le Jourdain, and German der Jordan all preserve the proper name with minimal adaptation.
Senses
1. Jordan River (proper noun) — The proper name of Palestine's major river, flowing south from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. Almost always appears with the article (ha-Yarden) in prose. Its crossings mark pivotal moments: Israel's entry into Canaan (Josh 3-4), tribal boundary disputes (Judg 12:5-6), and prophetic acts (2 Kgs 5:10-14). The name is preserved nearly unchanged across all target languages. 183×
AR["الأُردُنِّ", "الأُرْدُنَّ", "الأُرْدُنِ", "الأُرْدُنِّ", "الْأُرْدُنَّ", "الْأُرْدُنِّ", "الْـ-أُرْدُنَّ", "الْـ-أُرْدُنِّ"]·ben["-যর্দন", "-যর্দনের", "-যর্দনের।", "যর্দনকে", "যর্দনের", "যর্দনের-প্রতি", "সেই-যর্দন", "সেই-যর্দনের"]·DE["den-Jordan", "der-Jordan", "des-Jordan", "des-Jordan-ist"]·EN["the-Jordan"]·FR["le-Jourdain"]·heb["ה-ירדן", "ל-ה-לירדן"]·HI["-की-ओर", "-यरदन-के", "की-ओर-यरदन", "यरदन", "यरदन-के", "यरदन-को", "यरदेन-कि", "यर्दन", "यर्दन-के"]·ID["-Yordan", "Yordan", "Yordan-itu"]·IT["il-Giordano"]·jav["Lèpèn-Yordan", "Yordan"]·KO["그-요단", "그-요단강", "그-요단을", "그-요단의", "요단", "요단의", "이-요단강을"]·PT["o-Jordão", "o-Yarden"]·RU["-Иордан", "-Иордана", "-Йарден", "-Йарденом", "Иордан", "Иордана", "Иордане", "Иорданом"]·ES["el-Jordán", "el-Yardén"]·SW["Jordan", "Yordani", "wa-Yordani"]·TR["-e-Ürdün'ün", "-Ürdün'un", "-Ürdün'ü", "-Ürdün'ün", "-Şeria'nın", "-Şeria'ı", "Ürdün", "Ürdün'ün", "Ürdün'ün-", "Şeria'nın"]·urd["-یردن", "-یردن-کے", "یردن", "یردن-کے"]
Related Senses
H8033 1. There (locative adverb) (835×)H7760a 1. put, place, set physically (444×)H8064 1. heavens / sky (329×)H5439 1. around, all around (spatial) (319×)H4057b 1. wilderness, desert region (270×)H3220 1. sea, body of water (269×)H0520a 1. cubit (unit of length) (246×)H0127 1. ground, land (territory) (210×)G1093 1. earth, the world (176×)H5800a 1. forsake, abandon (Qal active) (166×)H8121 1. sun (celestial body) (133×)H7126 1. offer, present sacrificially (122×)H6828 1. north, cardinal direction (120×)H2351 1. outside, exterior space (119×)H5104 1. river, stream (119×)H7341 1. width, breadth (101×)G1563 1. there (95×)H7126 2. draw near, approach (95×)G2281 1. sea, large body of water (91×)H7760a 2. make into, turn into (91×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
יַרְדֵּן182 n.pr.fl. Jordan (according to Rel Ol§ 215 c, from ירד with ֵן for orig. ַן, cf. 𝔊 ὁ Ιορδανης; = river as flowing downward, descending, then of particular stream as river κατʼ ἐξοχήν. See also Sta§ 294e (ֵן for ֶן, but name according to Sta non-Hebr.))—abs. always הַיַּר׳ in prose Gn 13:10 + 162 times; c. ה loc. הַיַּרְדֵּ֫נָה Ju 8:4 + 3 times; יַרְדֵּן only ψ 42:7 Jb 40:23; cstr.…