כַּרְמֶל (kar.mel)
kar.mel
Carmel
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 19 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun kar.mel refers to two distinct places in the Hebrew Bible, both sharing the meaning "garden-land" or fertile ground. The first is a town located in the mountains south of Hebron, mentioned primarily in the books of Joshua and Samuel. This inland settlement appears in contexts involving land distribution and military campaigns, serving as a specific geographic marker in the southern highlands.
The second and more widely recognized Carmel is the mountain promontory on the Mediterranean coast near modern-day Haifa. Its name reflects the lush, fertile slopes that characterize this coastal ridge. This location features prominently in the narrative of 1 Kings, where the prophet Elijah confronts the prophets of Baal on its heights. The contrast between the barren rock and the green vegetation underscores the word’s inherent sense of abundance and productivity.
While the inland town is a minor detail in the historical records, the coastal mountain carries significant theological weight. It serves as the stage for one of the most dramatic demonstrations of divine power in the Old Testament. The name itself, meaning garden-land, provides a fitting backdrop for a story about life, fire, and the supremacy of Yahweh over false gods.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Carmel carries a simple but powerful meaning: garden-land. In the Hebrew Bible, this word points to places of lush fertility, whether the coastal mountain ridge where Elijah stood or the inland hills near Hebron. For the ancient Israelites, these were not just geographic markers but symbols of God’s provision and abundance. The contrast between the dry rock and the green vegetation underscores a deeper truth about divine care in difficult times.
When we read of Carmel today, we are reminded that God is present in both the dramatic moments of spiritual warfare and the quiet rhythms of daily life. Elijah’s prayer on the mountain shows us that even when circumstances seem barren, faithfulness can bring rain and renewal. The land itself testifies to a Creator who provides sustenance and beauty.
This word invites us to look for signs of God’s goodness in our own surroundings. Whether in times of plenty or seasons of waiting, the promise remains that God’s presence brings life where there was once only dust. We can trust that He knows the specific places and moments that shape our journey.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 19 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ Carmel9×
- in <the>/ Carmel2×
- <the>/ Carmel/ towards2×
- of <the>/ Carmel1×
- and/ like/ Carmel1×
- and/ Carmel1×
- [was] in <the>/ Carmel1×
- Carmel/ towards1×
- Carmel1×
- <on>/ Carmel1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/כַּרְמֶ֑ל3×
- הַ/כַּרְמֶ֖ל2×
- בַּ/כַּרְמֶֽל\׃2×
- לַ/כַּרְמֶ֖ל1×
- כַּרְמֶ֖ל1×
- כַרְמֶ֙לָ/ה֙1×
- וּ/כְ/כַרְמֶ֖ל1×
- וְ/כַרְמֶֽל\׃1×
- הַ/כַּרְמֶל֙1×
- הַ/כַּרְמֶֽל\׃\ \פ1×
- הַ/כַּרְמֶֽל\׃1×
- הַ/כַּרְמֶ֙לָ/ה֙1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 18:19
Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and four hundred fifty of the prophets of Baal, and four hundred of the prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
This verse establishes Mount Carmel as the chosen stage for Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal, highlighting its role in demonstrating Yahweh's supremacy.
-
I Kings 18:42
So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down on the earth, and put his face between his knees.
Elijah’s posture on the top of Carmel illustrates intense prayer and expectation before the coming of divine fire.
-
Amos 9:3
Though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out from there; and though they be hidden from my sight in the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent, and it will bite them.
This passage shows that even in the most fortified and fertile hiding places, no one can escape God's searching presence.
-
Isaiah 35:2
It will blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. Lebanon’s glory will be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They will see Yahweh’s glory, the excellence of our God.
Here Carmel represents the restoration of beauty and joy that accompanies the appearance of God's glory.