Deuteronomy 3:9 kjv
(Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion; and the Amorites call it Shenir;)
Deuteronomy 3:9 nkjv
(the Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir),
Deuteronomy 3:9 niv
(Hermon is called Sirion by the Sidonians; the Amorites call it Senir.)
Deuteronomy 3:9 esv
(the Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, while the Amorites call it Senir),
Deuteronomy 3:9 nlt
(Mount Hermon is called Sirion by the Sidonians, and the Amorites call it Senir.)
Deuteronomy 3 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 1:7 | "Turn and take your journey... and to the land of the Canaanites..." | God's promise of the land to Israel. |
| Deut 3:8 | "So we took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites..." | Immediate context of conquering the land. |
| Josh 11:3 | "...to the Hivites below Hermon in the land of Mizpah." | Location of Hermon in northern conquest. |
| Josh 11:17 | "...from Mount Halak... to Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon." | Defines northern extent of Joshua's conquest. |
| Josh 12:1 | "Now these are the kings of the land whom the people of Israel defeated... " | Listing conquered kings, including Og of Bashan. |
| Josh 12:5 | "And ruled over Mount Hermon..." | Og's territory included Hermon. |
| Josh 13:5 | "...and the land of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon..." | Future land to be inherited, defining borders. |
| Num 34:7-9 | "This shall be your northern border... to Mount Hor." | Detailed northern boundaries for Israel. |
| 1 Chr 5:23 | "The descendants of the half-tribe of Manasseh... to Baal-hermon..." | Israelite settlement in Hermon region. |
| Ps 42:6 | "My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar." | Hermon as a sacred or memorable place in song. |
| Ps 89:12 | "The north and the south, you created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name." | Mountains testifying to God's creation. |
| Ps 133:3 | "It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!" | Dew from Hermon as a blessing of unity. |
| Song 4:8 | "Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, look from the peak of Amana, from the peak of Senir and Hermon..." | Hermon (and Senir) used in poetic context. |
| Gen 10:16 | "...the Amorites, the Girgashites, and the Hivites..." | Amorites listed in table of nations. |
| Gen 15:16 | "And in the fourth generation they shall come back here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." | God's timing for judging Amorites. |
| Exo 3:8 | "...a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites..." | Amorites as inhabitants of promised land. |
| Judg 10:6 | "...they forsook the LORD and did not serve him. They served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of Sidon..." | Sidonians associated with idolatry. |
| 1 Kgs 16:31 | "...he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him." | Connection between Sidonians and Baal worship. |
| Acts 7:5 | "Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him as a possession..." | God's promise of land fulfillment over time. |
| Heb 11:9-10 | "By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land... looking forward to the city that has foundations..." | Understanding the ultimate heavenly inheritance. |
| Matt 17:1-8 | The Transfiguration (traditionally on Hermon's slopes) | Potential site of Christ's transfiguration. |
| Acts 17:26 | "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling places." | God's sovereignty over nations and land. |
Deuteronomy 3 verses
Deuteronomy 3 9 Meaning
Deuteronomy 3:9 serves as an explanatory interjection within Moses' historical recount to the Israelites, clarifying the identity of Mount Hermon. It states that the Sidonians, a coastal people from the north, called this mountain Sirion, while the Amorites, a powerful people residing in the highlands east of the Jordan, referred to it as Senir. This note ensures the Israelite audience, many of whom were born in the wilderness and unfamiliar with the region, clearly understood the geographical landmark being discussed in the context of their past victories and future inheritance. It highlights the diversity of peoples and their naming conventions within the broader land.
Deuteronomy 3 9 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 3 is part of Moses' second major address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they are to enter the Promised Land. Chapters 1-4 provide a historical overview, recounting significant events of the Exodus journey from Mount Sinai to their current location. Specifically, chapter 3 details the victories over two powerful Amorite kings: Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan. The reference to Mount Hermon in verse 9 clarifies a key geographical landmark in Og's former kingdom, which has now been conquered by Israel. This note serves to firmly root the narrative in identifiable geography, essential for an audience about to occupy this land. Historically, the area around Mount Hermon was a crucial boundary, a high peak dominating the landscape of northern Israel and parts of Syria and Lebanon, hence its strategic and descriptive importance. Moses, acting as their final teacher before Joshua takes command, ensures clarity regarding the territories God has already given them and those they are yet to possess.
Deuteronomy 3 9 Word analysis
- Hermon (חֶרְמוֹן, Chermôn): A prominent, snow-capped mountain range, forming the northern boundary of the trans-Jordanian territory Israel conquered. Its name is thought to derive from a root meaning "sanctuary" or "forbidden," perhaps reflecting its imposing size or cultic significance to surrounding peoples. It represents a significant geographical marker and a boundary for the land God gave to Israel.
- the Sidonians (הַצִּידֹנִים, ha-Tzîdônîm): Refers to the people of Sidon, a major maritime city on the coast of what is now Lebanon. They were a powerful trading people, later known as Phoenicians, influencing regional culture and language. Their naming of Hermon as Sirion indicates their interaction and understanding of the hinterland east of their coastal plain.
- call Sirion (יִקְרְאוּ שִׂרְיֹן, yiqre'u Siryôn): Sirion is an alternative name for Hermon. The Hebrew root of Sirion relates to "breastplate" or "corselet," possibly describing the mountain's shape, its protective barrier-like quality, or its association with the "hoariness" or "sparkle" of ice/snow. This shows regional linguistic diversity.
- and the Amorites (וְהָאֱמֹרִי, wᵉha-ʼĔmōrî): A powerful and ancient people group mentioned extensively in the Bible, pre-dating Israelite arrival in Canaan. They were widespread, but in the Transjordan, they were formidable adversaries, notably ruled by King Sihon and King Og. Their inclusion signifies the original inhabitants whose lands Israel dispossessed, validating God's promises and judgments.
- call it Senir (יִקְרְאוּהוּ שְׂנִיר, yiqre'uha senir): Senir is another alternative name for Mount Hermon. Its name might derive from a root meaning "pointed" or "spiked," describing the mountain's rugged, multi-peaked appearance, especially its jagged eastern slopes. This geographical clarification underscores Moses' intent to make the narrative clear to all.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion: This phrase links a prominent geographic feature to a coastal trading people, highlighting the northern reach of trade routes and cultural exchange. It provides a common Hebrew name and a well-known local variation, acknowledging diverse regional terms.
- and the Amorites call it Senir: This part connects the same mountain to the primary indigenous inhabitants of the Transjordanian plateau whom Israel just defeated. It shows their specific nomenclature, contrasting with the Sidonian term and demonstrating the varied cultures existing concurrently in the broader region. This also implicitly justifies the conquest, as the land's current owners are clearly identified.
- Clarification of Landmark Identity: The entire verse functions as a geographical explanatory note. Moses uses multiple names for the same mountain to ensure his Israelite audience clearly identifies the landmark regardless of the specific term they might have encountered or learned from their new neighbors. This reflects God's meticulousness in delivering His promises with clear and identifiable markers.
Deuteronomy 3 9 Bonus section
The various names for Mount Hermon (Hermon, Sirion, Senir) highlight its significance as a regional landmark, implying its sacred, economic, or strategic importance to the peoples who inhabited its slopes or engaged with it from a distance. The consistency in its location but variability in its names illustrates how divine narrative intersects with common human realities of cultural and linguistic diversity. Some traditions suggest Mount Hermon or one of its spurs was the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matt 17:1-8), drawing a connection between Old Testament land markers and pivotal New Testament events, reinforcing its enduring spiritual significance. The mention of specific people groups and their unique terminology for a shared natural feature can be seen as an early ethnographic detail in the biblical record, serving to both inform the Israelites of their new surroundings and confirm the authenticity of the recounted events.
Deuteronomy 3 9 Commentary
Deuteronomy 3:9 is a remarkable parenthetical explanation that underlines the meticulous detail God, through Moses, provides concerning the land inheritance of Israel. Far from being a mere geographical trivia, this verse clarifies a crucial landmark—Mount Hermon—by referencing the diverse terminology used by the different peoples living around it. This small detail ensures Moses' address is not vague but grounded in precise geography understood by an audience preparing for settlement. It implicitly reminds the Israelites of the diverse peoples they are encountering and, in some cases, dispossessing—the maritime Sidonians and the powerful Amorites. The provision of these distinct names also reflects the cultural tapestry of Canaan before the Israelite conquest, a region of various tribes and tongues, all under the sovereign plan of God for His people. This attention to detail reflects God's ordered nature and His faithfulness in defining the physical boundaries of the promised inheritance. Practically, it encourages thoroughness in understanding and applying God's word, as every detail, no matter how small, can hold significance for clarity and proper execution of His will.