לְבָנוֹן (le.va.non)
le.va.non
Lebanon
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 47 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The name Lebanon comes from a root meaning "whiteness," referring to the snow-capped peaks that dominate the mountain range on Israel’s northern border. This geographical feature is so prominent in the biblical landscape that the word appears over seventy times, serving as a symbol of majestic stability and natural beauty.
Scripture uses Lebanon in two distinct ways. It often denotes the source of high-quality timber, such as the cedar wood used to build Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 5:6). It also functions as a metaphor for grandeur and permanence, as seen when Psalm 29 describes God’s voice breaking the cedars of Lebanon.
The contrast between its enduring physical presence and human fragility is striking. Jeremiah 18:14 asks why people forget that Lebanon’s snow does not vanish from its rocky slopes. This imagery highlights a reliability that human affairs often lack, anchoring the concept in the tangible reality of the region's climate.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Lebanon carries a sense of enduring whiteness and stability. In Scripture, the snow-capped peaks serve as a reminder of God’s unchanging nature. When we face seasons of uncertainty, this imagery invites us to look beyond our immediate circumstances to the reliability of the Creator who established these mountains.
Lebanon also represents the finest resources available. The cedars from its slopes were used to build Solomon’s temple and palace, symbolizing strength and beauty dedicated to God. This connection reminds us that the best parts of creation are meant to reflect His glory. We can trust that He provides what is truly lasting, unlike the fleeting things of this world.
Even when human pride attempts to claim these heights, as seen in prophetic warnings, God’s voice remains supreme. The cedars break before Him. This truth offers comfort: our security does not rest in our own strength or achievements, but in the One who holds all power and beauty in His hands.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 47 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ Lebanon20×
- Lebanon11×
- [was] in <the>/ Lebanon6×
- and/ <the>/ Lebanon4×
- from/ Lebanon2×
- and/ in <the>/ Lebanon2×
- and/ Lebanon2×
- like <the>/ Lebanon1×
- in <the>/ Lebanon1×
- and/ the/ Lebanon1×
- [is] like <the>/ Lebanon1×
- O Lebanon1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/לְּבָנוֹן֙5×
- לְבָנ֑וֹן4×
- לְבָנ֖וֹן3×
- הַ/לְּבָנֽוֹן\׃3×
- הַ/לְּבָנ֔וֹן3×
- הַ/לְּבָנ֑וֹן3×
- בַּ/לְּבָנ֔וֹן3×
- וּ/בַ/לְּבָנ֔וֹן2×
- הַ/לְּבָנֽוֹן\׃\ \פ2×
- הַ/לְּבָנ֖וֹן2×
- בַּ/לְּבָנוֹן֙2×
- בַּ/לְּבָנ֗וֹן2×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 29:5
Yahweh’s voice breaks the cedars. Yes, Yahweh breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
This verse highlights God’s absolute sovereignty over nature, showing that even the majestic cedars of Lebanon are powerless against His voice.
-
I Kings 7:2
For he built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was one hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits, on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars.
Here, the 'House of the Forest of Lebanon' demonstrates how the region's timber was used to create structures of immense strength and beauty for the king.
-
II Kings 14:9
Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as wife.’ Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by, and trampled down the thistle.
The parable of the thistle and the cedar uses Lebanon’s iconic trees to illustrate the danger of pride and the humility required in leadership.
-
Ezra 3:7
They also gave money to the masons and to the carpenters. They also gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus King of Persia.
This passage shows the practical use of Lebanon’s resources for rebuilding, linking physical materials to the spiritual restoration of God’s people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the word Lebanon mean in Hebrew?
Why is Lebanon mentioned so often in the Bible?
How is Lebanon used as a metaphor in Scripture?
Every Occurrence (47 verses across 13 books)
Deuteronomy 3 verses
Turn, and take your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the places near there: in the…
Deuteronomy 3:25Please let me go over and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that fine mountain, and Lebanon.”
Deuteronomy 11:24Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the…