עֵיבָל (e.val)
e.val
Obal; Ebal; (Mount) Ebal
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Ebal appears in Scripture with three distinct referents, all sharing a root meaning related to barrenness or stone. It identifies an Arabian tribe descended from Joktan (Genesis 10:28), a son of Shobal in the Edomite lineage (Genesis 36:23), and most notably, a rugged mountain north of Shechem.
As a geographical feature, Mount Ebal is defined by its stark landscape. Its name literally translates to "bare" or "stone," reflecting a terrain that lacks the lush vegetation found on its counterpart, Mount Gerizim. This physical contrast carries theological weight in Deuteronomy 11:29 and Joshua 8:33, where Moses instructs the Israelites to stand on Ebal to pronounce curses, while Gerizim serves as the place of blessing.
The sources highlight this deliberate pairing: one mountain represents fruitfulness and favor, the other desolation and judgment. The name itself acts as a permanent reminder of the consequences of covenant failure, etched into the very geology of the land where Israel entered the Promised Land.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Ebal carries a heavy weight in Scripture, literally meaning 'bare' or 'stone.' It points to a rugged mountain north of Shechem that stands in stark contrast to the fertile Mount Gerizim. In Deuteronomy and Joshua, this barren peak becomes the place where curses are pronounced, serving as a solemn reminder of what happens when we turn away from God's covenant.
Yet even in this harsh landscape, there is profound hope. When Joshua built an altar on Ebal (Joshua 8:30), he did not just acknowledge judgment; he established a place of worship and sacrifice. This shows that God’s grace meets us even in the bleakest moments of our lives. The mountain itself becomes a witness to the seriousness of sin, but also to the enduring presence of Yahweh among His people.
For your faith journey, Ebal invites you to take the reality of consequences seriously without losing sight of God’s mercy. It reminds us that while our choices have weight, the altar we build on that mountain is for communion with the Lord. We are called to live in the light of His blessing, knowing that He provides a way back through repentance and faith.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Ebal6×
- and/ Ebal2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֵיבָ֑ל3×
- עֵיבָֽל\׃2×
- עֵיבָ֥ל1×
- וְ/עֵיבָ֖ל1×
- וְ/עֵיבָ֑ל1×
Key Verses
-
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 theological contrast between Ebal as the place of cursing and Gerizim as the place of blessing, framing Israel's covenant obligations.
-
Joshua 8:30
Then Joshua built an altar to Yahweh, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal,
Here Joshua builds an altar to Yahweh on Mount Ebal, demonstrating that worship and sacrifice are central even in the location associated with judgment.
-
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 passage shows the entire nation standing between the two mountains, fulfilling Moses' command to hear both blessing and curse, highlighting the seriousness of their covenant commitment.