בַּ֫עַל חֶרְמוֹן (ba.al cher.mon)
ba.al cher.mon
(Mount) Baal-hermon
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The phrase Baal-hermon identifies a location near Mount Hermon, serving as another name for the mountain itself in certain biblical texts. The name translates to "lord of destruction" or "lord of Hermon," reflecting its association with the Canaanite deity Baal. This designation highlights the site’s history as a center for pagan worship before it became part of Israelite territory.
Scripture mentions this place only twice, in Judges 3:3 and 1 Chronicles 5:23. In these passages, it marks the northern boundary of the land held by the tribes of Israel. The use of a name rooted in foreign religion for a geographic landmark illustrates how ancient landscapes carried layers of cultural and religious memory, even as political control shifted.
Translators typically render Baal-hermon literally, preserving the tension between the sacred geography of Israel and the prior spiritual claims attached to it. The word does not appear in theological discourses but serves as a historical marker, reminding readers that the land’s identity was contested and complex long before it was fully integrated into the biblical narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Baal-hermon appears only twice in Scripture, marking the northern edge of Israel’s territory. It translates to “lord of Hermon,” a title tied to ancient Canaanite worship. This single phrase reminds us that the land we inhabit carries deep history, often layered with meanings from times long past.
For your faith today, this detail invites humility. The same mountains that once hosted foreign altars later stood as witnesses to God’s provision for His people. It shows that geography is never neutral; it holds memory. When you walk through your own world, consider how places hold stories of struggle and settlement.
Ultimately, these verses point to a larger truth: God works within human history, even where spiritual confusion once reigned. The land was claimed, not by force alone, but by the steady movement of tribes into their inheritance. This offers hope that no place is beyond redemption or use in God’s plan.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Hermon2×
- Baal2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֶרְמ֛וֹן1×
- חֶרְמ֔וֹן1×
- בַּ֧עַל1×
- בַּ֣עַל1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 3:3
the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath.
This verse defines Baal-hermon as the northern boundary marker, showing how the name served a practical geographic role despite its pagan origins.
-
I Chronicles 5:23
The children of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land. They increased from Bashan to Baal Hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon.
Here the term appears alongside Mount Hermon and Senir, linking the older Canaanite name to the broader region inhabited by the half-tribe of Manasseh.