ὄρος
óros
G3735 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A raised landform, typically larger and higher than a hill; mountain, highland, or elevated region. In various contexts, can refer to: (1) a single mountain, (2) a mountainous area or high country in general, or (3) by extension, a figurative 'mount' or symbolic height (e.g., as a place of divine encounter or seclusion). It denotes a natural geographic feature characterized by height and prominence in the landscape.
Semantic Range
mountain, mount, high (mountainous) region, hill, elevated landform, sometimes figurative height or place of significance
Root / Etymology
The word ὄρος is of uncertain etymology. There is suggestion of relation to an obsolete verb meaning 'to rise' or 'rear up,' possibly connected to the root of αἴρω ('to lift, carry') and compared with ὄρνις ('bird,' with the notion of rising or being aloft), but no definitive etymology is established. It is a native Greek term attested from the earliest Greek literature.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ὄρος consistently denotes a naturally elevated landform—'mountain'—and is widespread in Homer and later texts. In the Septuagint, ὄρος translates several Hebrew terms for mountains or hills, often used for notable or sacred heights (e.g., Sinai, Zion, Gerizim). In the New Testament and other Koine sources, it covers both mountains proper (e.g., the Mount of Olives, Mount Zion) and less distinct highlands or hilly regions. While English translations sometimes distinguish 'mount' and 'mountain' (or 'hill'), in Greek ὄρος may refer to any significant elevation, and the distinction depends on context rather than strict criteria of height. In religious or symbolic usage, ὄρος often features prominently as a setting for revelation (e.g., Sermon on the Mount), retreat, or divine encounter, inheriting this tradition from earlier Israelite and Hellenistic narratives. There is no strong evidence for a fixed 'religious' versus 'secular' distinction attached to the word itself, though its frequent appearance in narratives of significance has given it symbolic resonance. The semantic range overlaps with λόφος ('hill'), though λόφος more commonly denotes a lower elevation or hillock. The translation 'hill' may sometimes inadequately reflect the geographic or symbolic weight of ὄρος, especially where sacred places or major landforms are intended.
Translation Consistency
ʻὄροςʼ overwhelmingly denotes a raised landform; the attested P2 renderings use 'mountain' 49 times and 'mountains' 12 times. 'Mountain' is the most natural, common English choice that covers single peaks, mountainous regions, and figurative heights, and can be inflected/pluralized consistently across all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from an obsolete (to rise or "rear"; perhaps akin to αἴρω; compare ὄρνις); a mountain (as lifting itself above the plain):--hill, mount(-ain).
Root Family
ὀρ- (óros) — to rise, to be elevated, height
Word Forms
7 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3735-06 |
ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
mountain | mountain | mountain | 28 |
G3735-07 |
ὄρους | orous | N GEN N SG |
mountain | of a mountain | mountain | 12 |
G3735-02 |
ὄρει | orei | N DAT N SG |
mountain | to a mountain | to a mountain | 11 |
G3735-01 |
ὄρη | ore | N ACC N PL |
mountains | mountains | mountains | 7 |
G3735-05 |
ὄρεσιν | oresin | N DAT N PL |
mountains | to the mountains | to the mountains | 3 |
G3735-03 |
ὀρέων | oreon | N GEN N PL |
mountains | of mountains | mountains | 1 |
G3735-04 |
ὄρεσι | oresi | N DAT N PL |
mountains | to the mountains | in the mountains | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
63 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3735-06 |
Matthew 4:8 | ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
mountain | mountain | mountain |
G3735-06 |
Matthew 5:1 | ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
mountain | mountain | mountain |
G3735-07 |
Matthew 5:14 | ὄρους | orous | N GEN N SG |
a hill | of a mountain | a mountain |
G3735-07 |
Matthew 8:1 | ὄρους | orous | N GEN N SG |
mountain | of a mountain | mountain |
G3735-06 |
Matthew 14:23 | ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
mountain | mountain | mountain |
G3735-06 |
Matthew 15:29 | ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
mountain | mountain | mountain |
G3735-06 |
Matthew 17:1 | ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
a mountain | mountain | mountain |
G3735-07 |
Matthew 17:9 | ὄρους | orous | N GEN N SG |
mountain | of a mountain | mountain |
G3735-02 |
Matthew 17:20 | ὄρει | orei | N DAT N SG |
mountain | to a mountain | to a mountain |
G3735-01 |
Matthew 18:12 | ὄρη | ore | N ACC N PL |
mountains | mountains | mountains |
G3735-06 |
Matthew 21:1 | Ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
mount | mountain | mountain |
G3735-02 |
Matthew 21:21 | ὄρει | orei | N DAT N SG |
mountain | to a mountain | to a mountain |
G3735-07 |
Matthew 24:3 | Ὄρους | orous | N GEN N SG |
Mount | of a mountain | mountain |
G3735-01 |
Matthew 24:16 | ὄρη | ore | N ACC N PL |
mountains | mountains | mountains |
G3735-06 |
Matthew 26:30 | Ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
Mount | mountain | mountain |
G3735-06 |
Matthew 28:16 | ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
mountain | mountain | mountain |
G3735-06 |
Mark 3:13 | ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
mountain | mountain | mountain |
G3735-05 |
Mark 5:5 | ὄρεσιν | oresin | N DAT N PL |
mountains | to the mountains | to the mountains |
G3735-02 |
Mark 5:11 | ὄρει | orei | N DAT N SG |
mountain | to a mountain | to a mountain |
G3735-06 |
Mark 6:46 | ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
mountain | mountain | mountain |
G3735-06 |
Mark 9:2 | ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
a mountain | mountain | mountain |
G3735-07 |
Mark 9:9 | ὄρους | orous | N GEN N SG |
mountain | of a mountain | mountain |
G3735-06 |
Mark 11:1 | Ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
mount | mountain | mountain |
G3735-02 |
Mark 11:23 | ὄρει | orei | N DAT N SG |
mountain | to a mountain | to a mountain |
G3735-06 |
Mark 13:3 | Ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
Mount | mountain | mountain |
G3735-01 |
Mark 13:14 | ὄρη | ore | N ACC N PL |
mountains | mountains | mountains |
G3735-06 |
Mark 14:26 | Ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
Mount | mountain | mountain |
G3735-06 |
Luke 3:5 | ὄρος | oros | N NOM N SG |
mountain | mountain | mountain |
G3735-07 |
Luke 4:29 | ὄρους | orous | N GEN N SG |
hill | of a mountain | mountain |
G3735-06 |
Luke 6:12 | ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
mountain | mountain | mountain |
G3735-02 |
Luke 8:32 | ὄρει | orei | N DAT N SG |
mountain | to a mountain | to a mountain |
G3735-06 |
Luke 9:28 | ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
mountain | mountain | mountain |
G3735-07 |
Luke 9:37 | ὄρους | orous | N GEN N SG |
mountain | of a mountain | mountain |
G3735-06 |
Luke 19:29 | ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
mount | mountain | mountain |
G3735-07 |
Luke 19:37 | Ὄρους | orous | N GEN N SG |
Mount | of a mountain | mountain |
G3735-01 |
Luke 21:21 | ὄρη | ore | N ACC N PL |
mountains | mountains | mountains |
G3735-06 |
Luke 21:37 | ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
mount | mountain | mountain |
G3735-06 |
Luke 22:39 | Ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
Mount | mountain | mountain |
G3735-05 |
Luke 23:30 | ὄρεσιν | oresin | N DAT N PL |
mountains | to the mountains | to the mountains |
G3735-02 |
John 4:20 | ὄρει | orei | N DAT N SG |
mountain | to a mountain | to a mountain |
G3735-02 |
John 4:21 | ὄρει | orei | N DAT N SG |
mountain | to a mountain | to a mountain |
G3735-06 |
John 6:3 | ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
mountain | mountain | mountain |
G3735-06 |
John 6:15 | ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
mountain | mountain | mountain |
G3735-06 |
John 8:1 | ὄρος | oros | N ACC N SG |
mountain | mountain | mountain |
G3735-07 |
Acts 1:12 | ὄρους | orous | N GEN N SG |
mount | of a mountain | the mountain |
G3735-07 |
Acts 7:30 | Ὄρους | orous | N GEN N SG |
mount | of a mountain | mountain |
G3735-02 |
Acts 7:38 | Ὄρει | orei | N DAT N SG |
Mount | to a mountain | to a mountain |
G3735-01 |
1 Corinthians 13:2 | ὄρη | ore | N ACC N PL |
mountains | mountains | mountains |
G3735-07 |
Galatians 4:24 | Ὄρους | orous | N GEN N SG |
Mount | of a mountain | of a mountain |
G3735-06 |
Galatians 4:25 | Ὄρος | oros | N NOM N SG |
is mount | mountain | mountain |