Lexical Definition

‎סִינַי‎ Çîynay (see-nah'-ee) Sinai ^N:N--L
of uncertain derivation

Sinai.

• § Sinai = "thorny"
• Sinai, mountain of Arabia

1) the mountain where Moses received the Law from Jehovah; located at the southern end of the Sinai peninsula between the horns of the Red Sea; exact site unknown

See Greek: Σινᾶ

Extended Information

• the mountain where Moses received the Law from Jehovah; located at the southern end of the Sinai peninsula between the horns of the Red Sea; exact

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎סִינַי‎ proper name, of a mountain Sinai; — name of mountain of law-giving in J and especially P (‎חֹרֵב‎ in E and especially D): Judg 5:5; Ps 68:9*; Deut 33:2 (poem), also Exod 16:1 (P); usually ‎הַרסִֿינַי‎ (‎סִֿינָ֑י‎ Lev 7:38 +), rarely J, Exod 19:20; Exod 19:23 and perhaps Exod 34:2; Exod 34:4, elsewhere mostly P, Exod 24:16; Exod 31:18; Exod 34:29; Exod 34:32; Lev 7:38; Lev 25:1; Lev 27:34 and Lev 26:46 (H), Num 3:1; Num 28:6, also Neh 9:13 ‎מִרְבַּר סִינַי‎ (‎סִינָ֑י‎ Num 1:19 +), Exod 19:1; Exod 19:2; Lev 7:38; Num 1:1; Num 1:19; Num 3:4; Num 3:14; Num 9:1; Num 9:5; Num 10:12; Num 26:64; Num 33:15; Num 33:16 (all P); — in view of these facts, and of E's use of ‎חֹרֵב‎ (q. v.), it is probably that Exod 19:11; Exod 19:18 (in E passages) are from R. — ᵐ5 Σ(ε)ινα. Identification dubious; local tradition names Jebel Musa, mountain at southern end of peninsular between the two arms of Red Sea, so Rob^{BR i. 90 ff., especially 119-122} compare Stanley^{Sinai and Pal. 42 f. and elsewhere}, specifically its northern spur, Ras ‚afƒâfeh; but Lepsius^{Briefe 345 ff., 416 ff.} Eb^{GS especially 392 ff.} and others advocate Serbal, northwest from Jebel Musa (on tradition, cf Eb^{ib. 413 ff.}); see discussion Di^{Exod 19:1}. Against both is the working of Egyptian mines in the peninsula as late as the 19th dynasty (see Eb^{GS 135, 148 ff., 159, etc.}), involving presence of soldiers there. This, and connection with Midian (compare also Judg 5:5), have led to search for Sinai further northeast, near head of Gulf of Akaba, or even in Seir, so Say^{Monuments 263 ff.}, compare GFM^{Judg 5:5; Judg 6:1} and Yakut, cited by Id^{179 n. §}, also see Gall^{Altisr. Kultst. 12}; on sanctity of the mountain see further RS^{Sem i. 110 f., 2nd ed. 177 f.} Sm^{Rel. Geschichte. 30}.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Mount Sinai • Mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments

Sinai, also called Mount Sinai, Horeb, or Mount Horeb, was the mountain where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and other laws (Exod. 19-40; Lev. 7:38; 25:1; 26:46; 27:34; Num. 3:1; 28:6; Deut. 33:2; Judg. 5:5; Ps. 68:8, 17; Neh. 9:13; Mal. 4:4; Acts 7:30, 38; Gal. 4:24-25).

• A location first mentioned at Exo.16.1;
• referred to as Sinai or (Mount )Sinai סִינַי, or Horeb or (Mount )Horeb חֹרֵב, or (Mount )Sinai Σινᾶ.
  

Sinai, also known as Mount Sinai, Horeb, or Mount Horeb, is one of the most significant locations in the Bible. It is the mountain where God revealed Himself to Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments, as well as other laws and instructions for the Israelites.

After the Exodus from Egypt, the Israelites camped at the base of Mount Sinai for about a year (Exod. 19:1-2). During this time, God called Moses to the top of the mountain and spoke to him, giving him the Ten Commandments and other laws (Exod. 19-31). The mountain was filled with smoke, fire, and thunder, symbolizing the awesome presence of God (Exod. 19:16-19).

Moses spent forty days and forty nights on the mountain, receiving instructions from God and writing down the laws (Exod. 24:18; 34:28). He also received the two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments (Exod. 31:18; 34:1, 4, 28-29).

The location of Mount Sinai is not specified in the Bible, but tradition has identified it with Jebel Musa (Mountain of Moses) in the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula. However, some scholars have proposed alternative locations, such as Jebel al-Lawz in Saudi Arabia, based on various geographical and archaeological considerations.

Throughout the Bible, Sinai is mentioned as a symbol of God's revelation, covenant, and law (Deut. 33:2; Judg. 5:5; Ps. 68:8, 17; Neh. 9:13; Mal. 4:4). In the New Testament, Paul uses Sinai as an allegory for the old covenant, in contrast to the new covenant represented by the heavenly Jerusalem (Gal. 4:24-25).

The events at Sinai, including the giving of the Ten Commandments and the establishment of the Mosaic covenant, were pivotal moments in the history of Israel and laid the foundation for their identity as God's chosen people.

All entries for Sinai or Sinai Mount or Horeb or Horeb Mount: סִינַי ☩ חֹרֵב ☩ Σινᾶ