Senir
Senir is a mountain mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Phoenicia in modern-day Israel. Known today as Mount Hermon. It appears across 4 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Senir is the Amorite name for Mount Hermon, as explained in Deuteronomy 3:9: "The Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir." This majestic snow-capped peak, the highest point in the Anti-Lebanon range, marked the northern boundary of Israelite conquest under Moses and Joshua. While some texts use Senir and Hermon interchangeably, 1 Chronicles 5:23 distinguishes them as separate peaks or sections of the same mountain range, noting that the half-tribe of Manasseh settled "from Bashan to Baal-hermon and Senir and Mount Hermon." In Song of Solomon 4:8, the bridegroom invites his beloved to come with him "from Lebanon, from the summit of Amana, from the summit of Senir and Hermon," evoking the wild, magnificent heights as a backdrop for love. Ezekiel 27:5 records that the shipbuilders of Tyre used fir trees from Senir for the planks of their vessels, indicating the mountain's commercial importance as a source of fine timber. The mountain's imposing presence, often gleaming with snow visible from great distances, made it a natural symbol of majesty and divine grandeur throughout biblical literature.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Senir, identified with Mount Hermon or its southern peak, rises to 2,814 meters at its summit in the Anti-Lebanon range, straddling the modern borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. The mountain is the highest point in the Levant and remains snow-covered for much of the year, feeding the headwaters of the Jordan River through snowmelt. Archaeological remains on and around the mountain include over thirty ancient temples and shrines, the most notable being the large sanctuary at the summit and the well-preserved temple at Qasr Antar at 2,814 meters. These cultic sites span from the Bronze Age through the Roman period, reflecting the mountain's long association with divine worship. Today the Israeli-controlled portion of Mount Hermon hosts a ski resort, while its strategic heights remain militarily significant.
Verse Appearances (4)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →