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βουνός

bounós

G1015 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A raised mass of earth, a hill or mound; specifically, a prominent elevation of land, usually smaller than a mountain. In Koine Greek, used to indicate natural or occasionally artificial hills as distinct from mountains (ὄρος). Can refer to modest elevations in the landscape or to particular sites with topographical prominence.

Semantic Range

hill, small elevation, mound, mound for altar, tumulus, natural or artificial hillock

Root / Etymology

Uncertain; possibly of non-Greek (foreign) origin, as the form is rare in earlier Greek literature. Not transparently related to standard Greek roots for 'mountain' (ὄρος) or 'land elevation.' Loanword status is suggested, but the precise source is undetermined.

Historical & Contextual Notes

βουνός appears infrequently in classical Greek, with sporadic occurrences in later literary Koine and more commonly in the Septuagint as a rendering of Hebrew geographical terms. In the New Testament, it occurs in contexts emphasizing land formations smaller or less imposing than mountains. The distinction from ὄρος ('mountain') is generally maintained, with βουνός referring to lower hills or natural mounds rather than significant mountain ranges. English translations often render both βουνός and ὄρος as 'hill' or 'mountain,' potentially obscuring the difference in Greek. In the LXX, βουνός translates several Hebrew terms for hill or mound, particularly those significant for landmarks or altars. In later Hellenistic and Roman geographical descriptions, βουνός is used for both natural and human-made (e.g., tumulus) elevations. The term does not carry metaphorical senses in biblical Greek but appears sometimes with symbolic significance in prophetic or apocalyptic passages.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably of foreign origin; a hillock:--hill.

Root Family

βουν- (bounós) — hill, mound, raised land

Root βουν- hill, mound, raised land

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1015-01 βουνοῖς bounois N DAT M PL hills to the hills hills 1
G1015-02 βουνὸς bounos N NOM M SG hill hill hill 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1015-02 Luke 3:5 βουνὸς bounos N NOM M SG hill hill hill
G1015-01 Luke 23:30 βουνοῖς bounois N DAT M PL hills to the hills hills
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