UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: mountain

Semantic entry: 1.46

Semantic domains: Geographical Objects and Features

Subdomains: Elevated Land Formations

Definition: a relatively high elevation of land, in contrast with βουνός hill (1.48: βουνός), which is by comparison somewhat lower

Notes: Terms referring to mountains, hills, or mounds inevitably reflect the nature of the surrounding landscape. For example, in the flat marshlands of the Central Sudan, an elevation called Doleib Hill is only some three or four feet above the surrounding area, but in the Himalayas elevations of land some ten or twelve thousand feet are still regarded as hills in contrast with the mountains. In the choice of receptor language terms for ὄρος and βουνός (1.48: βουνός), one must seek expressions which suggest corresponding differences. What is important is relative size, not an exact correspondence to biblical geography. It may, however, be necessary in some instances to introduce a footnote to describe the approximate height of certain biblical mountains or hills.