Deuteronomy 3:9

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 3:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “([which] Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir;)” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

([which] Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir;)
Deuteronomy 3:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9([which] Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir;)

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion, etc.] Which name it has in (<192906>Psalm 29:6) a name the inhabitants of Sidon gave it, but for what reason it is not easy to say; however, that it was well known to Tyre and Sidon, appears from snow in summer time being brought to the former, as will be hereafter observed: and the Amorites call it Shenir; in whose possession it was last. Bochart f34 thinks it had its name from the multitude of wild cats in it, Shunar in the Chaldee tongue being the name of that creature; but Jarchi says Shenir in the Canaanitish language signifies “snow”; so, in the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, it is called the mountain of snow; and the Hebrew who read to Jerom,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Hermon--now Jebel-Es-Sheick--the majestic hill on which the long and elevated range of Anti-Lebanon terminates. Its summit and the ridges on its sides are almost constantly covered with snow. It is not so much one high mountain as a whole cluster of mountain peaks, the highest in Palestine. According to the survey taken by the English Government Engineers in 1840, they were about 9376 feet above the sea. Being a mountain chain, it is no wonder that it should have received different names at different points from the different tribes which lay along the base--all of them designating extraordinary height: Hermon, the lofty peak; "Sirion," or in an abbreviated form "Sion" (Deu 4:48), the…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Hermon, the southern and culminating point of the range of Lebanon, was also the religious center of primaeval Syria. Its Baal sanctuaries not only existed but gave it a name before the Exodus. Hence, the careful specification of the various names by which the mountain was known. The Sidonian name of it might easily have become known to Moses through the constant traffic which had gone on from the most ancient times between Sidon and Egypt. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Sirion - Elsewhere called Mount Gilead, and Lebanon, and here Shenir, and Sirion, which several names are given to this one mountain partly by several people, and partly in regard of several tops and parts of it. Deuteronomy 3:10”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“3:9 The alternative names Sirion and Senir suggest that Hermon was perhaps a later name given by the Israelites. Hermon is apparently related to the verb kharam, which means “to destroy” (see study note on 2:34), and perhaps describes the destruction summarized in 3:3-7.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Hermon: Mount Hermon is the south-eastern branch of Lebanon, beyond Jordan. The Chaldee Targumist, who places it at Cesarea and Samaritan interpreter call it toor talga, "the mountain of snow," because of its being always covered with snow; and Jerome informs us, that it lies higher than Paneas or Csarea Philippi, and that in the summer time snow used to be carried from thence to Tyre. It is now call El Heish, and is comprised in the district of Kanneytra. Deu 4:48, Deu 4:49; Psa 29:6, Psa 89:12, Psa 133:3; Sol 4:8 Shenir: Ch1 5:23; Eze 27:5, Senir Deuteronomy 3:10”
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Sources and verification