תָּבוֹר (ta.vor)
ta.vor
(Mount) Tabor
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Tabor refers to a distinct mountain in the Jezreel Valley, rising abruptly from the plain. Its name likely derives from a root meaning "mound" or "heap," reflecting its isolated, dome-like shape that stands apart from surrounding hills except for a narrow ridge on the west. This geographical prominence made it a recognizable landmark in ancient Israel.
In Scripture, Mount Tabor appears eight times, often serving as a strategic location in military narratives. It is mentioned in Joshua 19:22 as part of the tribal boundary for Naphtali and features prominently in Judges 4–5, where Deborah and Barak gather forces before confronting Sisera. Later references in Jeremiah 46:18 use its height metaphorically to describe the inevitability of divine judgment.
The mountain’s physical isolation and visibility gave it symbolic weight in biblical poetry and prophecy. While not a center of worship like Zion, its imposing presence made it a natural reference point for describing stability, danger, or divine intervention. Translators consistently render it as "Tabor," preserving the proper name without attempting to translate its meaning.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Mount Tabor stands as a solitary peak in the Jezreel Valley, rising abruptly from the surrounding plain. Its distinct shape made it an unmistakable landmark for ancient travelers and armies alike. In the biblical narrative, this geographic feature often serves as a backdrop for moments of divine intervention and strategic decision-making.
For believers today, Tabor reminds us that God uses tangible places to reveal His power. When Barak gathered his forces on its slopes, he did not rely on his own strength but on Yahweh’s command (Judges 4:6). The mountain’s visibility symbolizes the clarity of God’s presence in times of uncertainty.
Whether viewed as a historical site or a metaphor for stability, Tabor points to the reliability of God’s promises. Just as the mountain remains fixed against the horizon, so too does His word endure through every season of life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Tabor5×
- like/ Tabor1×
- at/ Tabor1×
- <on>/ Tabor1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תָּב֔וֹר3×
- תָּבֽוֹר\׃\ \ס1×
- תָּבֽוֹר\׃1×
- כְּ/תָב֣וֹר1×
- בְּ/תָב֤וֹר1×
- בְּ/תָב֑וֹר1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 4:6
She sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh Naphtali, and said to him, “Hasn’t Yahweh, the God of Israel, commanded, ‘Go and lead the way to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
This verse establishes Tabor as the specific gathering point where Barak receives divine instruction to mobilize troops, highlighting its role in God's strategic plan.
-
Judges 4:14
Deborah said to Barak, “Go; for this is the day in which Yahweh has delivered Sisera into your hand. Hasn’t Yahweh gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
Here, Barak descends from Tabor with confidence because Yahweh has already gone out before him, linking the mountain to the assurance of victory.
-
Jeremiah 46:18
“As I live,” says the King, whose name is Yahweh of Armies, “surely like Tabor among the mountains, and like Carmel by the sea, so he will come.
The prophet uses Tabor’s prominence among mountains as a simile for the inevitable and undeniable coming of God's judgment.