שִׁרְיוֹן
Shirjon or Sirjon, a peak of the Lebanon
Definition
Shiryon (or Sirion) is the ancient Hebrew name for Mount Hermon, the southernmost and highest peak of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range. In the Bible, it is used synonymously with Hermon, as seen in Deuteronomy 3:9, where it is noted that the Sidonians called the mountain Sirion. The word evokes the image of a majestic, snow-capped summit, a prominent landmark in the northern region of ancient Israel. In Psalm 29:6, the poet describes God making Lebanon and Sirion 'skip like a calf,' using the mountain's grandeur to illustrate the Lord's awesome power over creation.
Biblical Usage
This proper noun is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times to refer to the same specific mountain peak. It appears in a historical/geographical context in Deuteronomy 3:9, which explains the different names used by various peoples for Mount Hermon. Its second use is poetic and theological in Psalm 29:6, where it is personified as leaping at the voice of God, highlighting Yahweh's sovereign command over nature.
Etymology
The name שִׁרְיוֹן (Shiryôn) is likely derived from the root שָׂרָה (śārâ), meaning 'to rule' or 'to be a prince,' suggesting a 'princely' or 'exalted' mountain. It is directly related to שִׂרְיֹן (Siryôn), a variant spelling. The connection to H8304 (שְׂרָיָה, Seraiah) is less direct but shares the same root. The traditional explanation that it means 'sheeted with snow' (from שֶׂרֶד, śered, 'sheet') poetically captures its most famous characteristic.
Semantic Range
While primarily a geographical name, Shiryon's use in Psalm 29:6 gives it theological significance. It serves as a powerful symbol of God's absolute sovereignty over the mightiest parts of creation. The mountain, an immovable and awe-inspiring feature of the landscape, is depicted as jumping like a young animal at the mere sound of God's voice. This enriches our reading by showing that all of nature, from the grandest mountain to the smallest creature, is subject to and responds to the command of the Creator.
In the ancient Near East, prominent mountains were often associated with the divine and served as sacred sites. Mount Hermon (Shiryon) was a well-known landmark forming the northern border of the Israelite conquest under Joshua. The note in Deuteronomy 3:9 that different peoples (Sidonians and Amorites) had different names for it reflects the multicultural reality of the region and the mountain's significance to multiple cultures.
חֶרְמוֹן (Hermôn, H2768) — The more common biblical name for the same mountain peak, used interchangeably with Shiryon.
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.
Full methodology & sources →