📖 Biblical Definition
Mount Gerizim was the mountain near Shechem from which the blessings of the covenant were pronounced when Israel first entered the promised land. Moses commanded that six tribes — Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin — stand on Gerizim to say Amen to the blessings, while six other tribes stood on Mount Ebal opposite to say Amen to the curses (Deuteronomy 27:11-13; Joshua 8:33). Gerizim later became the alternative worship-center of the Samaritans, who built a rival temple there in the fourth century BC. The Samaritan woman at the well asked Jesus about it: "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship" (John 4:20). Christ reframed the question entirely.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
The mountain of blessing in Joshua's covenant ceremony.
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The mountain near Shechem from which the blessings of the Sinai covenant were pronounced when Israel entered the land — six tribes stood on Gerizim and answered "amen" to the blessings, while six stood on Mount Ebal opposite and answered "amen" to the curses. Later the Samaritan religious center; the Samaritan woman at the well referenced it (John 4:20). Jesus' answer transcended the mountain dispute: "the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father."
📖 Key Scripture
Deuteronomy 27:12 — "These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin."
Joshua 8:33 — "And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites... half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal."
John 4:20-21 — "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
The blessing-curse covenant ceremony at the entry to the land is largely forgotten; with it, the seriousness of covenant blessing-and-curse fades.
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Joshua 8 dramatically stages Israel's entry into the land: half the tribes on Gerizim shouting "amen" to blessings, half on Ebal shouting "amen" to curses. The covenant cuts both ways. Modern preaching often takes the blessings without the curses.
Recover the seriousness: the same covenant that promises blessing for obedience promises curse for disobedience. Christ became the curse for us (Gal 3:13) so we might receive the blessing.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Har Gerizim.
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['Hebrew', 'H1630', 'Gerizim', 'Mount Gerizim']
Usage
"Mount of blessing in the Joshua ceremony."
"Six tribes shouted amen to blessings."
"Christ became the curse so we receive the blessing."