Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4200 Places  »  4254 mountains

These natural features of Palestine are often used as poetic symbols when describing God or his dealings with his people. Specific mountains are remembered because of their association with important events in the history of Israel. Some of the key events in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ take place on mountain sites.

Mountains and the character of God

Mountains and the steadfastness of God

Psalm 125:2 See also Psalm 11:1; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 54:10

Mountains tremble at God's awesome presence

Judges 5:5 The violent physical response to the presence of the holy God evokes a sense of his might and majesty. See also Exodus 19:16-19; Psalm 97:5; Isaiah 64:1; Micah 1:3-4; Habakkuk 3:3-6

Mountains cannot stand before the anger of God

Psalm 18:7 See also Jeremiah 4:23-26; Nahum 1:5-6; Revelation 6:12-14; Revelation 16:19-20

Mountains as places of encounter with God

Exodus 34:1-3 See also 1 Kings 19:11-13; 2 Peter 1:16-18

Specific mountains as the sites of important events in Israel's history

The mountains of Abarim: site of Israel's camp

Numbers 33:47-48

Mount Ararat: resting place of Noah's ark

Genesis 8:1-5

Mount Carmel: scene of Elijah's defeat of the prophets of Baal

1 Kings 18:16-40

Mount Ebal: site of cursing; Mount Gerizim: site of blessing

See also Deuteronomy 11:29; Deuteronomy 27:12-13; Joshua 8:30-35

Mount Gilboa: place of Saul's suicide

1 Chronicles 10:1-12 pp 1 Samuel 31:1-13 pp 2 Samuel 1:4-12

Mount Hermon: a boundary of Israel

See also Deuteronomy 3:8; Joshua 11:16-17; Psalm 42:6-7; Psalm 89:12

Mount Hor: place of Aaron's death

Numbers 33:37-39 See also Numbers 20:22-29

Mount Moriah: testing place of Abraham

Genesis 22:1-3

Mount Moriah: site of Solomon's temple

2 Chronicles 3:1

Mount Nebo: place of Moses' death

Deuteronomy 32:48-52 See also Deuteronomy 34:1-5

Mount Sinai: God gives Moses the law

Exodus 24:12 See also Exodus 31:18; Nehemiah 9:13-14

Mount Tabor: scene of Sisera's defeat

Judges 4:12-16

Mountains as the sites of significant events in the NT

On the Mount of Temptation the devil offers Jesus Christ the kingdoms of the world

Matthew 4:8-9 pp Luke 4:5-7

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus Christ teaches about life in the kingdom of God

Matthew 5:1-2

On the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus Christ's glory is revealed

Matthew 17:1-8 pp Mark 9:2-8 pp Luke 9:28-36

On the Mount of Olives Jesus Christ teaches about the destruction of the temple and the last things

Matthew 24:3 pp Mark 13:3-4

See also

1025  God, anger of
1090  God, majesty of
1140  God, the eternal
1660  Sermon on the Mount
2575  Christ, temptation
2580  Christ, transfiguration
4245  hills
4269  Sinai, Mount
4290  valleys
7269  Zion
7374  high places