(the Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, while the Amorites call it Senir),
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Deuteronomy 3:9
What does Deuteronomy 3:9 mean?
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Deuteronomy 3:9
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This seemingly simple note about mountain names is actually a subtle declaration of God's sovereignty. By acknowledging the different names given by various peoples—Sidonians, Amorites—Moses shows that this prominent mountain belongs to God, not to the nations who claim it. It's a quiet way of asserting that God controls all the land and all its peoples, no matter what they call their landmarks.
(the Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, while the Amorites call it Senir),
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following their victories over Sihon and Og, Moses is describing the territory they've conquered, stretching from the Arnon River up to Mount Hermon. To help the Israelites identify this significant geographical marker, Moses lists the different names it was known by to neighboring peoples, the Sidonians and the Amorites. This detail grounds the conquest within the broader landscape of Canaan and its diverse inhabitants.
Why would Moses include seemingly minor details like different names for a mountain? This verse holds a clue to understanding the land Israel was entering.
The Bible often uses geographical details to root its narratives in real places and peoples. Here, we see Mount Hermon referred to by names known to the Sidonians (Sirion) and the Amorites (Shenir).
What's in a name? Sometimes, the meaning behind a name can reveal something profound about the place itself.
Scholars suggest that the names Sirion and Shenir likely relate to the mountain's appearance or characteristics, particularly its snow-capped peaks.
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The verse highlights how different peoples, like the Sidonians and Amorites, gave distinct names to the prominent Mount Hermon, reflecting their presence and interaction with the land.
c. 15th century BC
Canaanite City-States Flourish
The region around Mount Hermon is inhabited by various Canaanite groups, including the Sidonians and Amorites, who each have their own names for the prominent mountain.
c. 12th century BC
Sea Peoples and Phoenician Influence
The Sidonians, a prominent Phoenician coastal city-state, exert influence inland, and their name for Mount Hermon, Sirion, is known in the region.
c. 9th century BC
Assyrian Inscriptions Mention Mount Hermon
Assyrian king Shalmaneser II's inscriptions refer to a region called Saniru, likely an Assyrian rendering of the local Amorite name for Mount Hermon, Shenir.
c. 14th century BC— this verse
Amorite Kingdom in Bashan
The Amorites, who previously held sway in the region, have established a kingdom in Bashan, near Mount Hermon, giving it the name Shenir.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Bashan by Israelites
The Israelites, led by Moses, conquer the Amorite kingdom of Bashan, including cities and territory around Mount Hermon.
This psalm, often called the 'Great Hallel,' sings of God's power over creation, mentioning 'Hermon' by its poetic Sidonian name, 'Sirion,' highlighting the awe-inspiring majesty of this mountain.
Song of Solomon 4:8In this romantic poem, the lover calls his beloved to 'come with me from Lebanon and descend from Amana, from the peak of Senir and Hermon,' suggesting that Senir and Hermon are names for the same majestic mountain range, emphasizing its grandeur.
1 Chronicles 5:23This passage lists the territories inhabited by the half-tribe of Manasseh, mentioning 'mount Hermon, and Senir, and their habitation,' which implies Senir might refer to a specific region or part of the larger Hermon range.
Ezekiel 27:5The prophet describes the wealth and trade of Tyre, mentioning that they used 'fir trees from Senir' for their ships, indicating that Senir was a source of valuable timber known even to distant trading cities.
clarkeDeuteronomy 3:9: "(Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion; and the Amorites call it Shenir;)"
Hermon the Sidonians call - Shenir - I suppose this verse to have been a marginal remark, which afterwards got incorporated with the text, or an addition by Joshua or Ezra.
bensonDeuteronomy 3:9: "(Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion; and the Amorites call it Shenir;)"
Deuteronomy 3:9 . Sirion — Elsewhere called mount Gilead, and Lebanon, and here Shenir, and Sirion, which several names were given to this one mountain, partly by several people, and partly in regard of several tops and parts of it.
This seemingly simple note about mountain names is actually a subtle declaration of God's sovereignty. By acknowledging the different names given by various peoples—Sidonians, Amorites—Moses shows that this prominent mountain belongs to God, not to the nations who claim it. It's a quiet way of asserting that God controls all the land and all its peoples, no matter what they call their landmarks.
Following their victories over Sihon and Og, Moses is describing the territory they've conquered, stretching from the Arnon River up to Mount Hermon. To help the Israelites identify this significant geographical marker, Moses lists the different names it was known by to neighboring peoples, the Sidonians and the Amorites. This detail grounds the conquest within the broader landscape of Canaan and its diverse inhabitants.
Following their victories over Sihon and Og, Moses is describing the territory they've conquered, stretching from the Arnon River up to Mount Hermon. To help the Israelites identify this significant geographical marker, Moses lists the different names it was known by to neighboring peoples, the Sidonians and the Amorites. This detail grounds the conquest within the broader landscape of Canaan and its diverse inhabitants.
"(the Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, while the Amorites call it Senir)," — This seemingly simple note about mountain names is actually a subtle declaration of God's sovereignty. By acknowledging the different names given by various peoples—Sidonians, Amorites—Moses shows th…
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Last reviewed October 2026