What is the significance of the Jordan River and why is it called by that name?

Weather of Arabia - The Jordan River is famous for its distinctive geography and location associated with ancient historical events. It also runs in the Great Rift Valley, southwest Asia, and flows in a geological depression, making it the lowest river in the world.

The Jordan River is the most important river in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which was named after Jordan, but why was the Jordan River called by that name?

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What is the Jordan River?

The Jordan River passes through the Levant, and is formed as a result of the confluence of three tributaries: Banias from Syria, Al-Landan from northern Palestine, and Baraghit and Al-Hasbani from Lebanon. The upper Jordan River is formed, which flows into Lake Tiberias.

When it exits Lake Tiberias, it forms the Lower Jordan River, and it also pours into it the tributaries of the Yarmouk River, the Zarqa River, the Kafrnaja Valley and Goliath.

Where does the Jordan River originate and where does it flow?

The Jordan River originates from Mount Hermon (Mount Hermon), which is located between Syria and Lebanon, and flows south towards northern Palestine to Lake Tiberias, then exits from it and travels between Palestine and Jordan; Where Palestine is located on the western side and Jordan on the eastern side, and eventually flows into the Dead Sea,

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Why is the Jordan River given that name?

The Jordan River has been known by this name since ancient times, and there are different opinions about the reason for calling it by this name.

1. Jordan is a word derived from the root of the word descend in the Semitic languages, which refers to the stream that descends rapidly, and this name accurately describes the course of the Jordan River, especially in the upper region of it above the Sea of Galilee.

2. The word Jordan comes in the ancient Indian language from the word "Yordon", which means the eternal river.

3. But the oldest reference to the name of the Jordan River was found in the Egyptian pharaonic records of the nineteenth dynasty, where the river was documented in its records under the name "Yarduna", and this name is similar to the Canaanite name "Yardun".

4. The Romans and Greeks called it the Valley of Olon, due to the rapid flow of its waters.

5. The word “Jordan” consists of “Jor” and “Dan”, which are the two northern tributaries of the Jordan River, Banias and Aldan, and it was pronounced Jordan and Jordan, then with time it became pronounced Jordan, which means intensity and victory.

6. It should be noted that there is another term that refers to the Jordan River in the Arabic language, which is the Sharia, meaning the place of watering, and sometimes it is called the Great Law.

The historical significance of the Jordan River

The name of the Jordan River was mentioned in the texts of the heavenly books of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in word and in sign, which mentioned its relationship to some prophets, such as Moses and Jesus, peace be upon them, and its waters are considered sacred by all Christian denominations, where Christ was baptized in the river, besides that, four were buried One of the companions of the Messenger of God Muhammad - may God bless him and grant him peace - on the eastern banks of it.