Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Meaning:The term "hilly" refers to a landscape characterized by numerous hills, which are naturally elevated areas of land. In biblical contexts, hills often hold significant spiritual and symbolic meanings. They are frequently mentioned in the Bible as places of refuge, worship, and divine encounters.
Biblical Significance:Hills and mountains are prominent in biblical narratives and are often associated with God's presence and revelation. They serve as settings for pivotal events and are symbolic of spiritual ascent and divine encounters.
1.
Places of Worship and Revelation: Hills are often depicted as places where people go to worship or encounter God. For instance, in the Old Testament, high places were frequently used for worship, both in the service of Yahweh and in idolatrous practices. The prophet Isaiah speaks of the mountain of the Lord's house being established as the highest of the hills, a place where nations will gather to learn God's ways (
Isaiah 2:2-3).
2.
Symbol of Strength and Stability: Hills are sometimes used metaphorically to represent strength and stability. In
Psalm 125:2 , it is written, "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people both now and forevermore." This imagery conveys the idea of divine protection and enduring support.
3.
Divine Encounters: Several significant biblical events occur on hills or mountains. For example, Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, and Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. These elevated places are often depicted as sites where God reveals Himself and His will to His people.
4.
Refuge and Safety: Hills are also seen as places of refuge and safety. In the Psalms, the psalmist often looks to the hills for help, symbolizing a search for divine assistance and protection.
Psalm 121:1-2 states, "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth."
5.
Prophetic Imagery: In prophetic literature, hills can symbolize nations or kingdoms. The leveling of hills is sometimes used to describe the humbling of the proud or the preparation for the coming of the Lord.
Isaiah 40:4 declares, "Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain."
Cultural and Historical Context:In ancient Israel, the topography of the land included many hills and mountains, which influenced the daily life and spiritual practices of the people. The geography of the region often necessitated travel over hilly terrain, and these natural features became integral to the cultural and religious identity of the Israelites.
Theological Implications:The use of hills in biblical texts often points to themes of divine majesty, protection, and revelation. They serve as reminders of God's sovereignty and the call to ascend spiritually towards Him. Hills, as part of God's creation, reflect His power and the beauty of His handiwork, inviting believers to seek higher ground in their faith journey.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Abounding with hills; uneven in surface; as, a hilly country.
2. (a.) Lofty; as, hilly empire.
Greek
3714. oreinos -- mountainous, the hill country... the hill country. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: oreinos Phonetic Spelling:
(or-i-nos) Short Definition: mountainous,
hilly Definition: mountainous
...Strong's Hebrew
6121b. aqob -- steep,hilly... steep,
hilly. Transliteration: aqob Short Definition: ground. Word Origin from the
same as aqeb Definition steep,
hilly NASB Word Usage rough ground (1).
...3522. Kabbon -- a place in Judah
... Cabbon. From an unused root meaning to heap up;hilly; Cabon, a place in Palestine --
Cabbon. 3521, 3522. Kabbon. 3523 . Strong's Numbers.
1405. Gibbethon -- "mound," a city in Dan
... Gibbethon. Intensive from gib'ah; ahilly spot; Gibbethon, a place in Palestine --
Gibbethon. see HEBREW gib'ah. 1404, 1405. Gibbethon. 1406 . Strong's Numbers
1391. Gibon -- a Levitical city in Benjamin
... Gibeon. From the same as Geba';hilly; Gibon, a place in Palestine -- Gibeon. see
HEBREW Geba'. 1390, 1391. Gibon. 1392 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Beth-El. Beth-Aven.
... Beth-el itself was situate in ahilly country, Joshua 16:1; which yet one would
scarcely call the hill-country of Ephraim (since there was a time, when Beth-el...
His First Continental Journey.
... heard; and they learnt that they had retired to a place called Schwartzenau, near
Berlenburg, a small town at the eastern end of the barrenhilly region known...
Some Words and Works of Jesus
... Next day, as he was going down the longhilly road from Cana to Capernaum, some
of the servants from his house came to meet him, and they said to him, 'Thy son...
Labors in a New Field
... The country was very rough andhilly. Many of the people were very wicked"most of
them being of the type that live in a rough country remote from railroads....
The visitation
... They were eating bread and mixing in their drinking water drops of balsam which
they had collected on their way. It was veryhilly here....
The Patriarchs.
... Yet he obeyed and believed, and was led into the beautifulhilly land then held
by the sons of Canaan, where he was a stranger, wandering with his flocks and...
On Shoes.
... of shoes is partly for covering, partly for defence in case of stumbling against
objects, and for saving the sole of the foot from the roughness ofhilly paths...
The South Country. Judea Called 'the South,' in Respect of Galilee...
... The 'Upper South country' consisted of that part of the country, which washilly;
the 'Nether,' of a plain, and valley sinking on both sides....
Ephraim
... Karchiim and Atolin "produce the best wine: Beth Rimmah and Beth Laban, in the
hilly country,"and Caphar Sigana, in the valley, next to them."....
Emmaus. Kiriath-Jearim.
... A Chorographical Century. Chapters 41-50 Chapter 45 Emmaus. Kiriath-jearim. "From
Beth-horon to Emmaus it washilly.""It was sixty furlongs distant from...
Thesaurus
Hilly (1 Occurrence)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Abounding with hills; uneven in surface; as, a
hilly country. 2. (a.) Lofty; as,
hilly empire.
...Hilly (1 Occurrence).
...Mount (311 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Palestine is ahilly country (Deuteronomy 3:25;
11:11; Ezek. 34:13). West of Jordan the mountains stretch...
Agriculture
... The same was true of thehilly regions and valleys except where water from a stream
could be diverted from its channel and spread over the fields....
Hilltops (10 Occurrences)
Gebal (3 Occurrences)
... It is ahilly region, as the modern name signifies, and includes the towns of Shobek
and Tolfieh. H. Porter. Multi-Version Concordance Gebal (3 Occurrences)....
Earth (10501 Occurrences)
... urth ('adhamah, 'erets, 'aphar; ge, oikoumene): In ahilly limestone country like
Palestine, the small amount of iron oxide in the rocks tends to be oxidized...
Down (12601 Occurrences)
... 8. (prep.) A tract of poor, sandy, undulating orhilly land near the sea, covered
with fine turf which serves chiefly for the grazing of sheep; -- usually in...
Paran (11 Occurrences)
... Probably thehilly region or upland wilderness on the north of the desert of Paran
forming the southern boundary of the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 33:2...
Place (9195 Occurrences)
... If any reason is to be assigned, the best seems to be that to dwellers inhilly
country the heaven appears to rest on the ridges and the sun to go forth from...
Bethel (67 Occurrences)
... (2.) Mount Bethel was ahilly district near Bethel (Joshua 16:1; 1 Samuel
13:2). (3.) A town in the south of Judah (Joshua 8:17; 12:16)....
Resources
What is the significance of Mount Ephraim in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the importance of Samaria in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did Jesus allow the demons to enter the herd of pigs? | GotQuestions.orgHilly: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
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