ὀρεινός (oreinos)
oreinos
hilly
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective oreinos describes terrain that is mountainous or hilly. Derived from the word for "mountain," it functions as a straightforward geographical descriptor in the New Testament, appearing only twice in Luke’s Gospel to locate specific events within the rugged landscape of Judea.
Its primary usage marks the region where Elizabeth lived, described as the hill country (Luke 1:39). This setting places Mary’s journey into a remote, elevated area rather than a flat plain. The term also characterizes the reaction of those in this same district when news of John’s birth spread, suggesting a community distinct from the urban centers of Jerusalem or Galilee.
Translators typically render oreinos as "hill country" to capture both the physical elevation and the sense of a settled, inhabited region. It serves as a precise marker of place, grounding the narrative in the specific topography of ancient Palestine without adding metaphorical weight beyond its literal meaning.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word oreinos points us to the rugged, elevated terrain of Judea where Mary traveled to visit her relative Elizabeth. This was not a flat, easy path but a journey into the hill country, a place set apart from the busy centers of Jerusalem or Galilee. By choosing this specific landscape, the Gospel reminds us that God often works in quiet, remote places, far from the noise of the city.
When news of John’s birth spread through these hills, fear and awe filled the community. This suggests that divine events are not confined to grand stages but touch ordinary lives in everyday settings. The hilly region becomes a backdrop for faith, showing that God’s presence is real and tangible even in simple, geographical locations.
For your own life, this word invites you to see value in the 'high places' of your experience—those times when you feel set apart or distant from the mainstream. Just as Mary’s journey through the hills led to a profound encounter, your own steps into unknown or elevated circumstances can lead to deeper trust and connection with God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- hill country2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὀρεινῇ1×
- ὀρεινὴν1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 1:39
Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
This verse uses oreinos to locate Mary’s urgent journey, emphasizing that she left her home for a remote, elevated area to serve Elizabeth.
-
Luke 1:65
Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.
Here the term describes the entire district where awe spread after John’s birth, highlighting how divine events resonate through specific communities.