βουνός (bounos)
bounos
hill
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun bounos refers simply to a hill or eminence. It is a straightforward geographical term that appears only twice in the New Testament, both within the Gospel of Luke. The word likely entered Greek from a foreign source, possibly Cyrenaic, and serves as the standard translation for the Hebrew gibeah in the Septuagint.
In Luke 3:5, the text quotes Isaiah regarding paths prepared to cross these hills, emphasizing rough terrain that requires leveling. Later, in Luke 23:30, Jesus uses the image of falling on such hills during a time of judgment, highlighting their physical presence as places of refuge or danger. The term carries no complex theological nuance; it denotes a natural rise in the land.
Translators consistently render bounos as "hill" to maintain this literal sense. Its rarity in Scripture suggests it was not a common feature of daily urban life for the original audience, but rather part of the rural landscape described in prophetic texts or historical narratives. The word anchors the reader in the physical reality of the setting without adding symbolic weight.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word bounos simply means a hill or a rise in the land. It appears only twice in the New Testament, both in Luke’s Gospel. In one place, it describes the rough terrain that needs to be made smooth for a path. In the other, it is part of a cry for relief from judgment. The term itself carries no hidden spiritual code; it points to the real, physical ground beneath our feet.
When we read about hills being leveled or asked to cover us, we are reminded that God cares about the actual landscape of our lives. Just as valleys and mountains shape the earth, the challenges and high points of our days shape our journey. Scripture does not shy away from this reality. Instead, it invites us to trust in a God who walks through every kind of terrain with us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- hills;1×
- hill1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- βουνὸς1×
- βουνοῖς·1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 3:5
Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth.
This verse uses the word to describe physical obstacles that must be removed so a path can be made straight and accessible.
-
Luke 23:30
Then they will begin to tell the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and tell the hills, ‘Cover us.’
Here the hills are personified as places where people might seek shelter from impending judgment, highlighting their role in the landscape of crisis.