שְׁנִיר
𐤔𐤍𐤉𐤓
Shᵉnîyr
H8149 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A prominent mountain peak or region associated with Mount Hermon, designated in different biblical passages as 'Shenir' or 'Senir.' The name references both a specific summit and the wider mountainous area on the northern boundary of the traditional Israelite territories. In narrative, prophetic, and poetic contexts, it often functions as a geographical marker and sometimes as a symbol of foreign, lofty, or imposing mountains.
Semantic Range
a peak, prominent summit, specific mountain or region (usually identified with part of Hermon range); poetic/metaphoric reference to distant northern mountains; place name (Senir/Shenir)
Root / Etymology
The precise root is uncertain. A possible derivation from an unused verb meaning 'to be pointed' (סָנַר or שָׁנַר), which would yield the sense of 'peak' or 'pointed summit.' The presence of both spellings (שְׁנִיר/שְׂנִיר) may reflect variant traditions or transmission from non-Semitic (Hurrian or Amorite) sources, reinforced by the use of the name among neighboring peoples.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, שְׁנִיר/Senir is consistently associated with the region of Lebanon, particularly with Mount Hermon and its adjoining highlands (see Deut 3:9, 1 Chr 5:23, Ezek 27:5). Deuteronomy 3:9 notes that while the Sidonians called Hermon 'Sirion,' and the Amorites 'Senir/Senir,' the Israelites typically used 'Hermon.' This demonstrates the multiplicity of local names for prominent land features and the cross-cultural interaction in northern Canaan and Syria. The term 'Senir' does not refer to an ethnic group, nor does it carry religious significance; it is strictly a toponym. English translations frequently use 'Senir' (following KJV) or 'Shenir,' but these maintain the foreignness and otherness of the place in Israelite thought. In prophetic and poetic texts, reference to 'Senir' can evoke the grandeur or foreignness of the north. In Song of Songs 4:8, 'Senir' is paired poetically with Hermon, Lebanon, and Amana, underscoring imagery of remote, impressive heights. Later, non-biblical traditions sometimes identified Senir with specific peaks or regions in the Anti-Lebanon range. The use of 'Senir' thus serves as both a concrete geographical descriptor and a poetic symbol of distance or magnificence, rather than functioning as a social or religious identity marker. British and American English translations differ only in transliteration, and neither fully expresses the cultural connotation of the name in ancient texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or שְׂנִיר; from an unused root meaning to be pointed; peak; Shenir or Senir, a summit of Lebanon; Senir, Shenir.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שנר (sh-n-r) — pointedness, sharpness, prominence
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8149-02 |
שְׂנִֽיר | senir | HNp |
Senir | Shenir (Prominent Peak) | 2 |
H8149-03 |
וּ/שְׂנִ֥יר | usenir | HC/Np |
and Senir | and Shenir Peak | 1 |
H8149-01 |
מִ/שְּׂנִיר֙ | misenir | HR/Np |
from Senir | from Shenir-peak | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8149-02 |
Deuteronomy 3:9 | שְׂנִֽיר | senir | HNp |
Senir | Shenir (Prominent Peak) |
H8149-01 |
Ezekiel 27:5 | מִ/שְּׂנִיר֙ | misenir | HR/Np |
from Senir | from Shenir-peak |
H8149-02 |
Song of Songs 4:8 | שְׂנִיר֙ | senir | HNp |
Senir | Shenir (Prominent Peak) |
H8149-03 |
1 Chronicles 5:23 | וּ/שְׂנִ֥יר | usenir | HC/Np |
and Senir | and Shenir Peak |