Genesis 12:6 - Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem.
I wonder how big the great tree of Moreh was. It was obviously a well-known landmark. How old was it? Did anyone back then have any idea? If it started growing right after the Flood, it could have been about 400 years old by Abram's time.
What kind of tree was it? Cedar? Oak?
Where did the name Moreh come from? A place? A person?
I'm curious. Could you please tell me what brought you to this page by mentioning it in a comment? I won't publish the comment, if you ask me not to.
Ah! I just was reading Genesis and I came to 12:6 and thought "The great tree of Moreh! That sounds incredible" and was enthralled. I love the cultural bits added to Genesis.
ReplyDeleteSo I took out some paper and started to draw what I thought it would look like. Then I typed "The Great Tree of Moreh" into google and found this.
I loved that others are enthralled by this.
In my studying of the bible, I too was enthralled upon hearing of this tree; so naturally I needed to find out more information about it. I love the way your mind operates! May God continue to bless you, prosper you, and use you to bring glory to His Name...
DeleteSame here! I thought that it must have been a mighty tree if it warranted a mention in the Bible. I would very much have liked to see it.
ReplyDeleteDoing some further research, one bible commentary suggested this; the Canaanites had shrines of teachers usually in oak trees. Morah maybe have been one of their greater teachers. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteMoreh may have been a teacher...maybe, but in Deuteronomy, 11: 30 it says "the great trees of Moreh"
ReplyDeleteTo which it goes on to figure...there must be more than one due to the pluralization.
i was just going through the Bible, in Genesis at the time Abraham had his calling. As he untertook his journy with his son Lot ,he travelled quite a distance hovever despite this, the tree was still visible. Amazing
ReplyDeleteI stumbled across your blog due to some research about Abram for a history class I am teaching. I am quite intrigued by the fact that whoever wrote Genesis (and especially these Abram/Abraham narratives) knew that this tree would be known to the readers of that time. Or if this was oral history, at first, then they would recognize this landmark. My question is what is its significance? Have you found any further information regarding who or what Moreh was? What was special about this tree or these trees.
ReplyDeleteSorry, Tamera, I have no new information for you.
ReplyDeleteBefore Moses wrote these facts, they were probably passed down orally. Then again, it is entirely possible that someone wrote them down in another book before Moses recorded them here.
The significance of the tree itself seems to be mainly as a landmark. It (or they) may have been around for dozens, if not hundreds, of years by the time of this writing.
A reference to Moreh might be similar to a modern day reference to a man-made object such as the Great Wall or the Eiffel Tower - anything that most people would know about and be able to locate.
I've long been curious about "The Great tree of Moreh." Just came up on in again as I start a yearly Bible reading plan. Decided to google it this time. Disappointing that we can't do much more than speculate, but I'd imagine it must have been quite a spectacular site. I picture it something on order of the Sequoias in California. Of course, still being a part of the earlier creation, maybe it even dwarfed the Sequoias.
ReplyDeleteI've long been curious about "The Great tree of Moreh." Just came up on in again as I start a yearly Bible reading plan. Decided to google it this time. Disappointing that we can't do much more than speculate, but I'd imagine it must have been quite a spectacular site. I picture it something on order of the Sequoias in California. Of course, still being a part of the earlier creation, maybe it even dwarfed the Sequoias.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed that people are interested in an old tree, however great,that ceased to exist a very long time ago!
ReplyDeleteWhen was the last comment written? This train of treeline seems to have started in 2008.
I wonder if the "tree" was that large because of the region in which it grew. Many of the items in the Bible suggesting a large mass have been "traditionally" smaller. Case in point, "The Mount of Olives" or the location of "The Sermon on the Mount"?
ReplyDeleteI've read the Bible from Genesis to Revelations several times but never studied the Word. Beginning anew with Genesis, I want to begin studying the Word. Strangely enough, I don't ever remember seeing the Great Tree of Moreh and decided to look it up.
ReplyDeleteI've recently been realizing th fact that EVERY single word in the bible is relevant and has a significant meaning. God just doesn't decode to put in a random detail or landmark of the time. Though the tree may just be a landmark to the people of that time, later throughout the bible it amounts to so much more.
ReplyDeleteIn the Greek translation this verse translates to "Yahweh appears to Abraham" this tree was the first time that God had actually appeared to Abraham and signified a change in his relations to man. Also at the site of this tree was where the first pillar of the patriarchs was built. Showing that this was a very significant an special place to God which also shows that it was even more special that he gave this land to Abraham and his decendants which would become Israel. Showing how God was choosing them as his special nation.
Quite a while after this when the isrealites had finnished roaming in the desert for 40 years (the number symbolizing testing, a whole different topic) this tree was where they crossed over the river and renewed their covenant with God by building the altar with the 12 stones. This all happened at the base of this tree.
This tree was a significant symbol to God. It to me, symbolizes a new beginning with his relationship to man, his covenant with Abraham (which the ceremony of the covenant was done at the base of this tree as well) and the start of a new nation in the promise land.
I'm sure with more research there could be mre answers and textual ties with the tree, but this is just what I have found according to history and the scriptures in the short amount of time I have spent on the subject
@Previous Anonymous Commenter: Thank you for your input. It would have been better if you would have cited references for your conclusions. I'm not saying they aren't true, but you do make some inferences that aren't immediately apparent.
ReplyDeleteThere are only 2 direct references to the tree(s) of Moreh. One is the Genesis 12 verse that started this thread. The other is in Deuteronomy 11:29-30 - When the LORD your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses. As you know, these mountains are across the Jordan, west of the road, toward the setting sun, near the great trees of Moreh, in the territory of those Canaanites living in the Arabah in the vicinity of Gilgal.
For those seeking more on the "tree of Moreh," go a google search for Terebinth, which the the hebrew word for "might" tree. Clearly a significant location for the meeting between man and God. The word "Moreh" means "teacher" and is some indication of what happens there. I wonder as we start the "covenant" all over again, if this tree is not another witness to the "tree in the midst of the garden." The OT image of "tree which shall not be removed" and the ultimate "tree of life" are all points where the affirmation of the world God creates and the way he witnesses his presence in our midst is powerful.
ReplyDeletedoes anyone think it possible that it was a Sequoia, they use to be all over the world but they environment is limited now. We saw them this past summer and THEY WERE GREAT TREES.
ReplyDeleteI read the devotional from Our Daily Bread and it has Genesis 12:1-8. I, too, was curious as to what I could find out about The Terebinth Tree of Moreh.
ReplyDeletePHMannes I think you are on to something, I have been researching this quite diligently and in several versions now tracing back to the Hebrew roots, In the NIV version it says "the great tree of Moreh" the NKJV says "the terebinth tree of Moreh" and in the Restoration Scriptures it says "to the plain of Moreh" and in this instance plain means Heb. 'elon (Gen. 12:6; 13:18; 14:13; 18:1; Deut. 11:30; Judg. 9:6), more correctly "oak," as in the Revised Version; margin, "terebinth." So there is the scripture to back up part of 12:6 in Genesis but in Hebrew Moreh does mean "Teacher" and so I think that it is a reminder of the covenant that the Lord made with Abram, with being the father of nations. I also believe that the number 4, whether it be 4, 40, 400, 44, 4000, whatever stands for the Messiah, the son of God! So I believe this "Oak tree" is also a shadow picture of what was to come...The Messiah, "teacher", he spent time in the wilderness and if not mistaken taught by...just my studies on this subject thought I'd share....
ReplyDeleteGenesis 12:6 about the great tree that is in discussion I have also been studying and in the Restoration Scriptures it says "to the plain of Moreh" and looking up Plain in a Hebrew dictionary you find... "Heb. 'elon (Gen. 12:6; 13:18; 14:13; 18:1; Deut. 11:30; Judg. 9:6), more correctly "oak," as in the Revised Version; margin, "terebinth."". In the NIV it says, "the great tree of Moreh". And the NKJV says, "the terebinth tree of Moreh". Now also looking up Moreh in the Hebrew dictionary I found that it said "Teacher" which I found quite interesting to say the least... Because I see it as reminder of the covenant with Abram that he will be the father of the nations, I also see it as a shadow picture of the coming of the Messiah and how he was a "teacher" he "taught by trees" "The tree of life" I mean there are so many things that can remind us of what has happened and show us what is going to happen in the future if we just look at what it says deep enough...I also believe that any number with a 4 in it resembles or is because of or is in reference to or has something to do with the Messiah! Something to think about in your studies....Just things I have learned and come to learn and understand hope it is helpful! God Bless!
ReplyDeleteWas there not found A tree base/branches that were petrified and it was almost a mile wide ??
ReplyDeletehttp://s8int.com/WordPress/2012/11/23/update-the-biggest-out-of-place-artifacts-ever-immense-stupendous-petrified-trees-of-the-black-hills-south-dakota/
I found most of these comments quite interesting. I too am a student and teacher of the bible, and ones knowledge of the Bible is endless and the journey of understanding the Bible more enriches and deepens ones relationship with God! James 4:8. I wanted to see a picture of the Moreh trees and learn more about the area (land)from our weekly bible reading, and came across your comments.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to extended another resource library to any who would be interested in more information about the Moreh trees its location of relevance to why God instructed Abram/Abraham (as God later changed his and Sarai's name)the fulfillment of his family arriving near to Moreh, near Shechem, and how this Vital Biblical time has a greater fulfillment and relevance for our day and in our near future.
Please visit the www.JW.org Website, click on Publications, then Online Library. Type in Moreh etc. I think you will be inspired by what you read. It's an outstanding research tool for all biblically questions along with a wealth of historical and future prophecies already fulfilled and those that have yet to be fulfilled in our very near future. If your native tongue is not English, in the upper right hand corner type in your native language (which is the language of your heart) and allow God to continue to speak to you.
If we look at family trees,this becomes clearer.The Great tree of Moreh was located in the realm of Sihon the Great King of the A-mor-ites. Shortly after this Ab-raham is blessed by Melchi-zedic the King of Salem and priest of God Most High. Was Melchi an A-mor-ite?
ReplyDeleteIf so,We know who the true King of Jerusalem is and if we are looking for a Meshiak or Messianic figure,the bloodline of the Moreh's would lead us to such a being.
If we look at family trees,this becomes clearer.The Great tree of Moreh was located in the realm of Sihon the Great King of the A-mor-ites. Shortly after this Ab-raham is blessed by Melchi-zedic the King of Salem and priest of God Most High. Was Melchi an A-mor-ite?
ReplyDeleteIf so,We know who the true King of Jerusalem is and if we are looking for a Meshiak or Messianic figure,the bloodline of the Moreh's would lead us to such a being.
By having personally devoted myself to the study of the scriptures, the lord by his spirit has taught me to discern what he has hidden in the figurative language. At one time the disciples ask Jesus, why do you speak to this people in parables? And Jesus answered i speak to them in parables because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven is not for them but is for you. Meaning the secrets of the kingdom are revealed to the disciples of the word. Therefore, apart from the figurative language used in the scriptures. There is a spiritual meaning to be discerned by the disciples of the word, those who have divorted themselves to the study of the scriptures. Now Abram had heeded to the call of God to come out of Haran in ur of the Chaldeans, a place named after his brother who died while Terah his father was still alive. Terah also died in this place while trying to go to Canaan and was buried their. But Abram took his wife, his nephew Lot, the people he had acquired, his house hold, and his property and set out for Canaan, and he arrived their. Meaning he accomplished what the lord required of him. He went us far as the sight of the great tree of moreh. ( Moreh is a Hebrew word meaning teacher.. ) Now a spiritual person we seek a spiritual meaning of this words. In the garden of Eden, God planted many trees. In the middle of the garden he planted the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And he commanded Adam and Eve to eat from all the tree in the garden, but forbid them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for if they eat of it they shall surely die. Only two trees are are mentioned by name, that is the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now since the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was declared a forbidden tree, then the tree of life is not only good for food and gaining the Godly knowledge, but it is a great tree that is also called wisdom in the proverbs. So Abram because of his obedience to the lord, he arrived in the spiritual land that flows with spiritual milk and honey , that is righteousness, and went as far as the sight of the great tree of life that is wisdom. And God appeared to him their after Abram had built an altar acceptable to him. The discernment of the deep things of God is an encounter with him.
ReplyDeleteIm just interested in understanding the significance of this site to abram's invasion of canaan
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