A Mr. Rang asked Tolkien whether the name Moria was a reference to the biblical mountains of Moriah, where according to the book of Genesis Abraham was to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Tolkien denied this, writing that his mind did not work that way, explaining that Moria meant Black Chasm in Sindarin, and detailing the connection with the root Mor found in Mordor, Morgoth, Morgul. He went on As for the 'land of Morīah' (note stress): that has no connection (even 'externally') whatsoever. Internally there is no conceivable connection between the mining of Dwarves, and the story of Abraham.