עֵיבָל
Ebal, a mountain of Palestine
Definition
Ebal is a prominent mountain in the central hill country of ancient Palestine, located in the territory of the tribe of Ephraim, directly north of the city of Shechem and opposite Mount Gerizim. In the Bible, it is most famously designated as the 'mount of cursing' (Deuteronomy 11:29, 27:13), where the Israelites were commanded to pronounce the curses of the covenant upon disobedience. This stands in contrast to Mount Gerizim, the 'mount of blessing.' Joshua later fulfilled this command, building an altar on Mount Ebal and inscribing the law on stones there (Joshua 8:30-33). The name also appears in genealogical lists as a descendant of Seir the Horite (Genesis 36:23, 1 Chronicles 1:40).
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively as a proper noun for a geographical location. Its primary usage is in Deuteronomy and Joshua, detailing the covenant ceremony commanded by Moses and executed by Joshua (Deuteronomy 11:29, 27:4, 27:13; Joshua 8:30, 8:33). It also appears in genealogical contexts in Genesis 36:23 and 1 Chronicles 1:22, 1:40, referring to a descendant of Seir, likely indicating a clan or geographical feature named after this individual in the region of Edom.
Etymology
The name 'Ebal' (עֵיבָל) is likely derived from the Hebrew root עָבַל (ʿābal, H56), meaning 'to be bald' or 'bare.' This etymology suggests a mountain characterized by a barren, rocky, or treeless summit, which fits the description of the location. The connection to baldness or bareness is purely descriptive of its physical appearance.
Semantic Range
Mount Ebal is theologically significant as the site of the covenant ratification ceremony where the curses for breaking God's law were proclaimed (Deuteronomy 27). This act formally established the consequences of Israel's disobedience, grounding the nation's relationship with God in the seriousness of His holy commands. Its pairing with Mount Gerizim (blessing) presents a powerful picture of the two ways set before God's people. Understanding this location enriches the reading of Deuteronomy and Joshua, highlighting the tangible fulfillment of God's instructions and the solemn reality of covenant life.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, mountains were often seen as meeting places between the divine and human realms. The specific pairing of Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, with tribes positioned on each to pronounce curses and blessings, created a powerful, amphitheater-like setting for a national covenant renewal ceremony. This public, geographical enactment of the covenant terms was a culturally potent method for communal instruction and memory.
Gerizim (Gĕrizyim, H1630) — The mountain of blessing, situated opposite Ebal near Shechem. har (H2022) — The generic Hebrew word for 'mountain' or 'hill,' of which Ebal is a specific instance.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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