ὄρος

From the study of Matthew 5:14

Range of meaning

Mountain, hill or high ground. Biblical Greek doesn't make a sharp distinction between "hill" and "mountain".

Against the English

BSB, NIV, WEB, ESV and NASB say "hill". KJV says "an hill" and YLT "a mount". "Hill" is accurate, but it hides the fact that this is the same word as 5:1 ("he went up on the mountain").

Used elsewhere in the period

Mountains matter in Matthew: the temptation (4:8), this sermon (5:1), the feeding (15:29), the transfiguration (17:1), the Mount of Olives (24:3) and the final commission (28:16). In Israel's Scriptures "the mountain" calls up Sinai and Zion (Isa 2:2; Mic 4:1).

From the study of Matthew 24:3

Range of meaning

The Mount of Olives, the ridge about 800 m (half a mile) east of the temple mount across the Kidron valley, slightly higher than the temple.

Against the English

English versions agree. What English cannot carry is what the place meant to people.

Used elsewhere in the period

Zech 14:4: 'On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives.' Ezek 11:23: God's glory leaves the temple and stops on the mountain east of the city. Josephus (Ant. 20.169–172; War 2.261–263) tells of an 'Egyptian' prophet who gathered followers on the Mount of Olives in the 50s AD, promising that Jerusalem's walls would fall at his command.

From the study of Matthew 18:12

Range of meaning

Mountain, hill, or the hill country as a region.

Against the English

BSB and NIV use 'hills'; ESV and NASB use 'mountains'. Both work. In Palestine the 'mountains' are mostly upland grazing country.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ezekiel 34:6, 13–14 places the scattered and restored flock 'on the mountains of Israel'. Luke 15:4 has 'in the wilderness' (erēmos) instead.