לְבָנוֹן
𐤋𐤁𐤍𐤅𐤍
Levanon
H3844 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Lebanon—a mountainous region or range located to the north of ancient Israel, characterized by its prominent peaks and forests of cedar; also used for the larger region surrounding the mountains. In biblical contexts, 'Lebanon' refers both to the specific highland area and, by extension, to the resources associated with it (notably, its renowned cedar trees).
Semantic Range
mountain range to the north of ancient Israel, the geographical region including its forests, by metonymy—the cedars of Lebanon or resources of the region, symbol or metaphor for grandeur, majesty, or purity
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root לָבַן (lavan), meaning 'to be white,' referencing the snow-capped peaks that characterize the mountain range.
Historical & Contextual Notes
'Lebanon' in the Hebrew Bible is used geographically for the mountain range north of Israel, primarily running parallel to the coast of the Mediterranean. The region was famed for its forests, particularly the cedars of Lebanon, which were highly valued for building and ritual uses (e.g., the construction of the Jerusalem Temple). It appears in narratives relating to territorial boundaries, trade, and as a symbol of majesty, fertility, and sometimes remoteness. The historical boundaries of 'Lebanon' in biblical usage vary, but it commonly referred to both the main Lebanon range and sometimes the Anti-Lebanon range further east. In First Temple texts, the term is mostly associated with the resource-rich territory under non-Israelite control. While modern English translations often render לְבָנוֹן as 'Lebanon,' this can obscure the rich symbolic and material significance the term held in the ancient context, especially regarding its vital role in ritual and royal architecture. The place name is not used as an ethnic or political designation in the biblical texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from לְבַב; (the) white mountain (from its snow); Lebanon, a mountain range in Palestine; Lebanon.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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לבן (l-b-n) — to be white, whiten, to make white
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3828 | לְבוֹנָה | frankincense resin |
| H3829 | לְבוֹנָה | to Lebonah |
| H3835 | לָבַן | I will whiten |
| H3836 | לָבָן | the white one |
| H3837 | לָבָן | with Laban |
Word Forms
11 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3844-02 |
הַ/לְּבָנ֑וֹן | halevanon | HTd/Np |
Lebanon | the White Mountain Range | 25 |
H3844-04 |
לְבָנ֑וֹן | levanon | HNp |
Lebanon | White-Mountain Lebanon | 17 |
H3844-01 |
בַּ/לְּבָנ֔וֹן | balevanon | HRd/Np |
in Lebanon | in the White-Mountain-Range | 10 |
H3844-11 |
וְ/הַ/לְּבָנ֔וֹן | vehalevanon | HC/Td/Np |
and-Lebanon | and the White Lebanon | 5 |
H3844-03 |
כַּ/לְּבָנֽוֹן | kalevanon | HRd/Np |
like Lebanon | like White-Mountain | 4 |
H3844-07 |
מִ/לְּבָנוֹן֙ | milevanon | HR/Np |
from Lebanon | from White-Lebanon | 3 |
H3844-08 |
וּ/לְבָנ֕וֹן | ulevanon | HC/Np |
and Lebanon | and White-Mountain Lebanon | 2 |
H3844-09 |
וּ/בַ/לְּבָנ֔וֹן | uvalevanon | HC/Rd/Np |
and in Lebanon | and in the White-Range | 2 |
H3844-06 |
מֵֽ/הַ/לְּבָנוֹן֒ | mehalevanon | HR/Td/Np |
from the Lebanon | from the White Mountain-Range | 1 |
H3844-05 |
לְבָנ֗וֹנָ/ה | levanonah | HNp/Sd |
to Lebanon | White-Mountain-ward | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
71 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3844-11 |
Deuteronomy 1:7 | וְ/הַ/לְּבָנ֔וֹן | vehalevanon | HC/Td/Np |
and-Lebanon | and the White Lebanon |
H3844-11 |
Deuteronomy 3:25 | וְ/הַ/לְּבָנֽוֹן | vehalevanon | HC/Td/Np |
and Lebanon | and the White Lebanon |
H3844-11 |
Deuteronomy 11:24 | וְ/הַ/לְּבָנ֜וֹן | vehalevanon | HC/Td/Np |
and the Lebanon | and the White Lebanon |
H3844-11 |
Joshua 1:4 | וְ/הַ/לְּבָנ֨וֹן | vehalevanon | HC/Td/Np |
and the Lebanon | and the White Lebanon |
H3844-02 |
Joshua 9:1 | הַ/לְּבָנ֑וֹן | halevanon | HTd/Np |
Lebanon | the White Mountain Range |
H3844-02 |
Joshua 11:17 | הַ/לְּבָנ֔וֹן | halevanon | HTd/Np |
Lebanon | the White Mountain Range |
H3844-02 |
Joshua 12:7 | הַ/לְּבָנ֔וֹן | halevanon | HTd/Np |
Lebanon | the White Mountain Range |
H3844-02 |
Joshua 13:5 | הַ/לְּבָנוֹן֙ | halevanon | HTd/Np |
the-Lebanon | the White Mountain Range |
H3844-02 |
Joshua 13:6 | הַ/לְּבָנ֞וֹן | halevanon | HTd/Np |
Lebanon | the White Mountain Range |
H3844-02 |
Judges 3:3 | הַ/לְּבָנ֑וֹן | halevanon | HTd/Np |
Lebanon | the White Mountain Range |