Lexical Summary Chermon: Hermon Original Word: חֶרְמוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hermon From charam; abrupt; Chermon, a mount of Palestine -- Hermon. see HEBREW charam NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom charam Definition "sacred (mountain)," a mountain in S. Aram (Syria) and N. Isr. NASB Translation Hermon (13). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֶרְמוֺן proper name, of a mountain Hermon (sacred mountain, compare Sabean מחרם, etc., temple, Arabic  interior of mosque,  asylum, WetzstZKW see 1884, 115 RSSemitic i, 93; 2nd ed., 94) — the highest peak of Anti-Lebanon range, usually snow-capped, commanding southern Syria & northern Palestine; it is called שִׂיאֹן by the author of Deuteronomy 4:48; by the Amorites שְׂנִיר, by the Sidonians שִׂרְיֹן Deuteronomy 3:9. It has three peaks; and the names חרמון and שׂניר, distinguished in 1 Chronicles 5:23; Songs 4:8, may refer to two of these peaks; חֶרְמוֺנִים Psalm 42:7 probably refers to these different peaks (see RobBR iii. 357 BädPal 301). It is a northern boundary ׳עד הר ח Deuteronomy 3:8; Joshua 12:1; הר חרמוֺן mount Hermon is used also Joshua 11:17; Joshua 12:5; Joshua 13:5,11; 1 Chronicles 5:23; but חרמון Joshua 11:3; Psalm 89:13; Psalm 133:3; Songs 4:8. see בַּעַל חֶרְמוֺן Judges 3:3; 1 Chronicles 5:23 (see Wetzstib. 115). חֶרְמוֺנִים see foregoing. Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Hermon is the commanding snow-capped massif that closes the northern horizon of the land promised to Abraham. Rising more than 2,800 m (9,200 ft) above sea level, its triple peak drains into the Jordan headwaters and guards the northern approaches to Canaan. Its prominence made it a natural landmark for surrounding peoples, who called it Sirion (Phoenician) and Senir (Amorite, Deuteronomy 3:9). Biblical Boundaries and Territorial Significance Hermon defines the northernmost stretch of Israel’s inheritance. Moses records that Israel “took the land from the two kings of the Amorites… as far as Mount Hermon” (Deuteronomy 3:8). Joshua repeats the mountain as a boundary in his territorial lists (Joshua 11:17; 12:1; 13:5, 11). For the half-tribe of Manasseh east of the Jordan, the range provided both pasture and protection: “They dwelt… from Bashan to Baal-Hermon, that is, to Senir and Mount Hermon” (1 Chronicles 5:23). Thus, Hermon serves the textually consistent role of God-ordained border marker, reminding Israel that her allotment is fixed by divine decree rather than human ambition. Role in Israel’s Conquest The high country north of Galilee was ruled by Og of Bashan, a giant king famed for his iron bedstead. When “the LORD our God also gave into our hands King Og of Bashan and all his people” (Deuteronomy 3:3), Hermon and its foothills fell under Israelite control. Strategically, subduing this region removed the last organized Amorite resistance east of the Jordan and secured the Golan heights, giving Israel topographical advantage and an extended defensive line. A Marker of Covenant Blessing Hermon’s perpetual snowpack generates heavy dew that refreshes fields far below. Psalm 133:3 compares fraternal unity to “the dew of Hermon falling on the mountains of Zion. For there the LORD has ordained the blessing—life forevermore”. By linking Hermon’s lavish moisture with Zion’s spiritual abundance, the psalmist shows that physical refreshment echoes covenantal grace. Poetic and Wisdom Literature Psalm 89:12 celebrates the created order: “North and south—You created them; Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name”. The pairing of Tabor in the west with Hermon in the east frames Israel’s landscape in praise, illustrating that all geography belongs to Yahweh. Song of Songs 4:8 invites the bride to descend “from the summit of Senir and Hermon,” portraying the mountain as both majestic and perilous—home to lions and leopards—until love calls her to safer, covenantal intimacy. Symbolism and Theological Echoes 1. Height and Revelation: Hermon’s towering elevation made it a natural site for pagan high places, yet Scripture underscores that true revelation comes not from lofty geography but from the Word of God delivered through prophets and ultimately the Son. Possible New Testament Connection While the Gospels do not name the Mount of Transfiguration, its proximity to Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13) has led many interpreters to view Hermon as the likely setting where Jesus’ glory was unveiled before Peter, James, and John. If so, the mountain that once signified Israel’s northern limit became the stage for a foretaste of the kingdom without borders, where “His face shone like the sun” (Matthew 17:2). Lessons for Faith and Ministry • God sets boundaries for blessing; contentment and stewardship flourish within His appointed borders. Forms and Transliterations וְ֝חֶרְמ֗וֹן וְחֶרְמ֔וֹן וחרמון חֶרְמ֑וֹן חֶרְמ֔וֹן חֶרְמ֖וֹן חֶרְמ֗וֹן חֶרְמ֛וֹן חֶרְמ֤וֹן חֶרְמֽוֹן׃ חרמון חרמון׃ לְחֶרְמ֖וֹן לחרמון cherMon ḥer·mō·wn ḥermōwn lə·ḥer·mō·wn lecherMon ləḥermōwn vecherMon wə·ḥer·mō·wn wəḥermōwnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 3:8 HEB: עַד־ הַ֥ר חֶרְמֽוֹן׃ NAS: of Arnon to Mount Hermon KJV: of Arnon unto mount Hermon; INT: against to Mount Hermon Deuteronomy 3:9 Deuteronomy 4:48 Joshua 11:3 Joshua 11:17 Joshua 12:1 Joshua 12:5 Joshua 13:5 Joshua 13:11 1 Chronicles 5:23 Psalm 89:12 Psalm 133:3 Songs 4:8 13 Occurrences |
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