What does "Gerizim" mean in the Bible?
Gerizim, a mountain in Ephraim, near Shechem, from which the blessings were pronounced, as the curses were from Mount Ebal, Deut 11:29; Deut 27:1-13; Josh 8:30-33, Gerizim is 2855 feet above the level of the sea, and about 800 feet above Nablus (Shechem). Gerizim appears in 4 verses across 3 books of the Bible.
What does the Bible say about Gerizim?
GER'IZIM, MOUNT, a mountain in Ephraim, near Shechem, from which the blessings were pronounced, as the curses were from Mount Ebal, Deut 11:29; Deut 27:1-13; Josh 8:30-33, Gerizim is 2855 feet above the level of the sea, and about 800 feet above Nablus (Shechem). It is separated from Ebal by a narrow valley. Six tribes were placed on Gerizim, and six on Ebal, Deut 27:12-13, the ark probably in the valley between them, and Joshua read the blessings and cursings successively. Josh 8:33, Josh 8:35. The Levites on either side re-echoed them, and the people responded "Amen!" Deut 27:14-15. Gerizim was the scene of the first recorded parable — that of the trees and brambles. Jud 9:7-21. It was the site of the Samaritan temple, and referred to by the woman at the well. John 4:20. Samaritan tradition asserts that it is the place where Abraham offered Isaac, but this is not sustained by the best authorities. It is now Jebel et Tur. See Moriah. Present Condition. — The mountain is composed chiefly of limestone. It has a large plateau on its summit, covered with ruins of cisterns, paved platforms, and on one side those of a castle. The whole mountain-top bears traces of having once been covered with houses. The small remnant of the Samaritan sect at Nablus performs annually the paschal sacrifice on the top of Gerizim according, to the prescription of the book of Exodus 12. It is the only spot on earth where this Jewish festival is perpetuated in its primitive style. Dean Stanley and other travellers have visited the scene, and point out the striking resemblance to the Mosaic prescription. The amphitheatre formed by these two mounts, Gerizim and Ebal, is most suitable for assembling a vast body of people within the hearing of the human voice, and where all could see what was being done. There is no other place like it in all Palestine. Numerous travellers have repeated the experiment of stationing persons on the opposite mounts, and heard the reading of the ten commandments by each party, and they were also heard by each other with great distinctness. See Ebal, Shechem.
Definition text: Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible · 1898. Public domain.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
What is the Hebrew word for Gerizim?
Where does Gerizim appear in the Bible?
Gerizim is referenced in 4 verses across 3 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- Deuteronomy 11:29
- Deuteronomy 27:12
- Judges 9:7
- Joshua 8:33
What else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Gerizim.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Gerizim?
Gerizim appears in 4 verses across 3 books, most often in Deuteronomy, which accounts for 2 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Gerizim?
Deuteronomy, Judges, Joshua.
Where can I read every verse about Gerizim?
This page lists 4 of them. Protos carries all 4, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.


