Lebanon
Lebanon is a region mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Phoenicia in modern-day Lebanon. Known today as Jezzine. It appears across 57 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Lebanon features extensively throughout Scripture, appearing in fifty-seven verses as a region of legendary beauty, towering cedars, and abundant resources. Moses desired to see 'the good hill country and Lebanon' (Deuteronomy 3:25), and the region marked the northern boundary of the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 1:7; Joshua 1:4). The famed cedars of Lebanon became central to Israel's greatest building project when Solomon procured them through King Hiram of Tyre for the construction of the Temple (1 Kings 5:6-10). Solomon also built the 'House of the Forest of Lebanon' as part of his palace complex (1 Kings 7:2). The prophets employed Lebanon as a symbol of majesty and strength: Isaiah proclaimed that 'the glory of Lebanon shall be given to it' in the messianic age (Isaiah 35:2), while Ezekiel used its cedars to depict the greatness and fall of Assyria (Ezekiel 31:3). The Psalmist declares that 'the trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted' (Psalm 104:16). In Song of Solomon, Lebanon appears as a poetic image of beauty and fragrance (Song of Solomon 4:11, 15).
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Lebanon corresponds to the modern nation of Lebanon, particularly the Lebanon mountain range running parallel to the Mediterranean coast. The ancient cedar forests, once covering vast mountain slopes, have been reduced to small remnant groves, the most famous being the Cedars of God (Arz el-Rab) near Bsharri, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Archaeological evidence of cedar timber trade extends back to the third millennium BC, with Egyptian and Mesopotamian records confirming Lebanon's role as a primary timber source for the ancient Near East. Phoenician port cities like Byblos, Sidon, and Tyre along the Lebanese coast have yielded rich archaeological remains spanning thousands of years. The Beqaa Valley between the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon ranges contains major sites including Baalbek with its monumental Roman temples.
Verse Appearances (57)
Judg
Ezra
Nah
Hab
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →