Hill

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

HILL. —In  Luke 3:5;  Luke 23:30 ὅρος is distinguished from βουνός, which in LXX Septuagint commonly stands for נִּבִעָה, and as representing the lesser eminence, is properly rendered ‘hill.’ Language like that of  Luke 23:30 is used in hyperbole to-day by Easterns, of preparing a highway for royalty through a practically roadless country. In two cases ( Matthew 5:14,  Luke 4:29) Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 retains Authorized Version rendering of ὌΡΟ, ‘hill.’ In  Luke 9:37 Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 rightly substitutes ‘mountain.’ Perhaps we should read ‘mountain’ also in  Matthew 5:14. There is nothing to show that any particular city was referred to, but if the words were spoken on any height west of the Lake, Safed, with white walls gleaming in the sun, must have been a striking feature in the landscape. It stands literally ‘on a mountain,’ to the north, nearly 3500 ft. above the Sea of Galilee. Ancient Nazareth, however, was built on the slope of a hill to which ‘mountain’ could hardly apply.

Hill country (ἡ ὀρεινή,  Luke 1:39;  Luke 1:65). ἠ ὀρεινη is a frequent LXX Septuagint equivalent of הָהָד. The use of Heb. הַר closely resembles that of Arab, jebel , which denotes a single height, but also a whole range, as Jebel Libnân  ; or a definite part of a range, as Jebel Nâblus —this indicating that portion of ‘the mountain’ which is under the government of Nâblus. This expression and Jebel el-Kuds the present writer has often heard on Palestinian lips, without any sense of vagueness or confusion. הָהָד was ‘the mountain’—the central range as distinguished from the plain and the Shephelah on the west, and the ‘Arabah on the east. Jebel el-Kuds , ‘mountain of Jerusalem,’ is perhaps the nearest modern equivalent of ἡ ὀρεινὴ τῆς Ἰουδαίας, that part of ‘the mountain’ associated with the tribe of Judah. See, further, art. Mountain.

W. Ewing.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Psalm 2:6 (a) This is a clear reference to the Mount of Olives on which the Lord Jesus will stand when He returns to this earth to set up His kingdom. (See also  Zechariah 14:4).

 Psalm 3:4 (a) This word is used as a type of the high and holy place where GOD sits upon His throne in Heaven.

 Psalm 24:3 (b) By this we understand the action of that one who seeks to come into GOD's presence in prayer and worship. He must be cleansed by the precious Blood, and must be washed by the Word of GOD.

 Isaiah 40:4 (c) This probably refers to real hills which prevent so much of this earth from being usable and tillable. Also may be a type of the difficulties, obstructions and hindrances in the Christian pathway which the Lord removes as it pleases Him. (See also  Luke 3:5).

 Isaiah 40:12 (c) Chemical elements are combined by weight rather than by volume. All mountains and hills are made of many chemical elements which have been put into combinations by the Creator, our Lord. GOD must know the weight of each mountain and hill in order that these may be balanced against the weight of the water in the oceans. A pint of water weighs a pound, so our Lord measures the waters in order that He may know their weight. The earth is a ball which rotates upon its axis and therefore it must be balanced, or else it would fly to pieces. GOD therefore does measure the waters, weigh the hills, and weigh the mountains so that the weight would be equally distributed throughout every part of the earth. The Lord is telling us this great fact so that we may reverence Him, worship Him, and rejoice in the GOD who can do it, and does do it for our blessing. He is perhaps teaching us that He knows all the troubles, sorrows, disappointments and victories of our lives, and knows how to balance them perfectly to give us a wonderful experience of living.

 Psalm 68:16 (b) Here is a picture of the joy and gladness which fills the hearts of the rulers of. Israel when GOD rules and reigns in Jerusalem.

 Psalm 114:6 (b) We probably are to learn from this that difficulties and problems, large and small, are no problem to GOD. He removes all hindrances easily.

 Matthew 5:14 (b) This is a type of the blessed influence a Christian exerts when he takes an out and out stand for Christ so that the world can see and recognize his faith.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Ὄρος (Strong'S #3735 — Noun Neuter — oros — or'-os )

"a hill or mountain," is translated "hill" in  Matthew 5:14;  Luke 4:29; "mountain" in  Luke 9:37 , RV, AV, "hill" (of the mount of transfiguration) as in  Luke 9:28 . See Mountain.

2: Ὀρεινός (Strong'S #3714 — Adjective — oreinos — or-i-nos' )

an adjective meaning "mountainous, hilly," is used in the feminine, oreine, as a noun, and rendered "hill country" in  Luke 1:39,65 . See Country.

3: Βουνός (Strong'S #1015 — Noun Masculine — bounos — boo-nos' )

"a mound, heap, height," is translated "hill" in  Luke 3:5; "hills" in  Luke 23:30 .

 Acts 17:22

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Hebrew Gibeah , "a carved, rounded hill"; frequent in the Holy Land. Ηar , mistranslated "hill;" it means a" mountain range or district" ( Exodus 24:4;  Exodus 24:12-13;  Exodus 24:18;  Numbers 14:40;  Numbers 14:44-45). The "hill" in  Joshua 15:9, compare 8, is the Mount of Olives. "The hills,"  Deuteronomy 1:7;  Joshua 9:1, is the mountain district of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim ( Numbers 13:29). The "holy hill," "hill of Jehovah," etc.,  Psalms 3:4;  Psalms 24:3, is mount Zion. Carmel should be called the mount, not "a hill" ( 2 Kings 1:9;  2 Kings 4:27; compare  1 Kings 18:19). Μaleh should be "ascent," not "hill" ( 1 Samuel 9:11, margin). In  Luke 9:28;  Luke 9:37, "the hill" ( Oros ) is the mountain of transfiguration. In  Luke 1:39 "the hill country" ought to be translated "the mountain country" of Judah.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( v. t.) A single cluster or group of plants growing close together, and having the earth heaped up about them; as, a hill of corn or potatoes.

(2): ( n.) A natural elevation of land, or a mass of earth rising above the common level of the surrounding land; an eminence less than a mountain.

(3): ( n.) The earth raised about the roots of a plant or cluster of plants. [U. S.] See Hill, v. t.

(4): ( v. t.) To surround with earth; to heap or draw earth around or upon; as, to hill corn.

King James Dictionary

HILL, n. L. collis.

1. A natural elevation of land, or a mass of earth rising above the common level of the surrounding land an eminence. A hill is less than a mountain, but of no definite magnitude, and is sometimes applied to a mountain. Jerusalem is seated on two hills. Rome stood on seven hills. 2. A cluster of plants, and the earth raised about them as a hill of maiz or potatoes.

HILL, To raise earth about plants to raise a little mass of earth. Farmers in New England hill their maiz in July.

Hilling is generally the third hoeing.

1. To cover. L. celo.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

In  Luke 9:37 the "hill" is the Mount of Transfiguration.

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., DD Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Hill'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/h/hill.html. 1897.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

is the rendering of the following original words in the Auth. Vers. of the Bible. (See Palestine).

1. Gib'Ah,', גַּבְעָה , from a root akin to גָּבִע , to Be High, which seems to have the force of Curvature or humpishness. A word involving this idea is peculiarly applicable to the rounded hills of Palestine, and from it are derived, as has been pointed out under Gibeah the names of several places situated on hills. Our translators have been consistent in rendering Gib'Ah by "hill:" in four passages only qualifying it as "little hill," doubtless for the more complete antithesis to "mountain" ( Psalms 65:12;  Psalms 72:3;  Psalms 114:4;  Psalms 114:6). (See Topographical Terms).

2. But they have also employed the same English word for the very different term Bar, הִר , which has a much more extended sense than gib'ah, meaning a whole district rather than an individual eminence, and to which our word "mountain" answers with tolerable accuracy. This exchange is always undesirable, but it sometimes occurs so as to confuse the meaning of a passage where it is desirable that the topography should be unmistakable. For instance, in  Ezekiel 24:4, the "hill" is the same which is elsewhere in the same chapter ( Ezekiel 24:12-13;  Ezekiel 24:18, etc.) and book consistently and accurately rendered "mount" and "mountain." In  Numbers 14:44-45, the "hill" is the "mountain" of  Numbers 14:40, as also in  Deuteronomy 1:41;  Deuteronomy 1:43, compared with  Deuteronomy 1:24;  Deuteronomy 1:44. In  Joshua 15:9, the allusion is to the Mount of Olives, correctly called "mountain" in the preceding verse; and so also in  2 Samuel 16:13. The country of the "hills," in  Deuteronomy 1:7;  Joshua 9:1;  Joshua 10:40;  Joshua 11:16, is the elevated district of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim, which is correctly called "the mountain" in the earliest descriptions of Palestine ( Numbers 13:29), and in many subsequent passages. The "holy hill" ( Psalms 3:4), the "hill of Jehovah" ( Psalms 24:3), the "hill of God" ( Psalms 68:15). are nothing else than "Mount Zion." In  2 Kings 1:9;  2 Kings 4:27, the use of the word "hill" obscures the allusion to Carmel, which in other passages of the life of the prophet (e.g.  1 Kings 18:19;  2 Kings 4:25) has the term "mount" correctly attached to it. Other places in the historical books in which the same substitution weakens the force of the narrative are as follows:  Genesis 7:19;  Deuteronomy 8:7;  Joshua 13:6;  Joshua 18:13-14;  Judges 16:3;  1 Samuel 23:14;  1 Samuel 25:20;  1 Samuel 26:13;  2 Samuel 13:34;  1 Kings 20:23;  1 Kings 20:28;  1 Kings 22:17, etc. (See Mountain).

3. On one occasion the word Ma'Aleh', מִעֲלֶה , is rendered "hill," viz.  1 Samuel 9:11, where it would be better to employ "ascent," or some similar term. (See Maaleh).

4. In the N.T. the word "hill" is employed to render the Greek word Βουνός ; but on one occasion it is used for Ὄρος , elsewhere "mountain," so as to obscure the connection between the two parts of the same narrative. The "hill" from which Jesus was coming down in  Luke 9:36, is the same as "the mountain" into which he had gone for his transfiguration the day before (comp.  Luke 9:28). In  Matthew 5:14, and  Luke 4:29, Ὄρος is also rendered "hill," but not with the inconvenience just noticed. In  Luke 1:39, the "hill country" ( Ἡ Ὀρεινή ) is the same "mountain of Judah" to which frequent reference is made in the Old Testament. (See Tribe Of Judah).