גְּרִזִים (ge.ri.zim)
ge.ri.zim
(Mount) Gerizim
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Gerizim refers to a specific mountain in northern Israel, situated just south of Shechem and directly opposite Mount Ebal. Its name derives from a root meaning "cuttings off" or "peeled," likely describing its distinct, sharp peak rising from the surrounding valley. In the biblical narrative, this geographical feature serves as a crucial stage for covenant renewal.
Its primary theological significance arises in Deuteronomy 27:12-13, where the tribes of Israel are divided between the two mountains. Half stand on Gerizim to proclaim blessings for obedience, while the other half face Ebal with curses. This setup transforms the landscape into a living courtroom, where the physical elevation underscores the weight of the law being read to the people as they prepare to enter Canaan.
Later historical traditions note that Samaritans built their temple on this site after the exile, cementing Gerizim’s role in long-standing religious divisions. However, within the Hebrew Bible itself, the mountain remains defined by its function in Deuteronomy: a place where divine favor is publicly declared from an elevated position, anchoring the community’s identity to the land they are about to possess.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Mount Gerizim stands as a quiet witness to how God anchors His people in specific places and promises. Its name suggests a sharp peak, cut distinct from the surrounding land, much like the clear boundaries God sets for His covenant community. In Deuteronomy, this mountain was chosen not for its size, but for its role in declaring blessing over those who obeyed His word.
When we read of the tribes gathering there, we see a tangible reminder that faith is lived out in real life, on real ground. The elevation of the mountain mirrors the high calling placed on Israel to be a light to their neighbors. It invites us to consider where our own spiritual foundations rest and how we might stand firm in the blessings promised to us.
This site reminds us that God’s word is not abstract; it is rooted in history and geography. Just as the people of Israel looked toward Gerizim for assurance, we can look to Christ, the true fulfillment of every promise, finding our security in His unchanging love rather than in any physical location.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Gerizim4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גְּרִזִ֔ים4×
Key Verses
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Deuteronomy 11:29
It shall happen, when Yahweh your God brings you into the land that you go to possess, that you shall set the blessing on Mount Gerizim, and the curse on Mount Ebal.
This verse establishes the mountain’s primary purpose as the designated site for proclaiming God’s blessing upon entering the Promised Land.
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Deuteronomy 27:12
“These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.
Here, specific tribes are assigned to stand on Gerizim, highlighting its role in the public ratification of the covenant with the community.
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Joshua 8:33
All Israel, with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on both sides of the ark before the Levitical priests, who carried the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, the foreigner as well as the native; half of them in front of Mount Gerizim, and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of Yahweh had commanded at the first, that they should bless the people of Israel.
This account shows the actual fulfillment of Moses’ command, where the entire assembly gathers before the ark to receive the blessing from this peak.