Location
Overview
Mount Gerizim stands opposite Mount Ebal above Shechem. It is "the mount of blessing," and it became the sacred mountain of the Samaritans.
The mountain of blessing
At the covenant ceremony, the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin "stood upon mount Gerizim to bless the people" (Deuteronomy 27:12; Joshua 8:33).
Jotham's parable
From a crag of Gerizim, Jotham — sole survivor of Gideon's sons — shouted his parable of the trees against the usurper Abimelech to the men of Shechem (Judges 9:7).
The Samaritan mountain
The Samaritans built their temple on Gerizim and held it the true place of worship — which is why the woman at the well said, "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain," and Jesus answered that true worshippers would worship "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:20–24).
Events Here
The tribes stand on Gerizim to pronounce the blessings
Jotham proclaims his parable of the trees from Gerizim
Scripture References
4 versesDeuteronomy2 verses
Deuteronomy 11:29
And it shall come to pass, when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal.
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:
Joshua1 verse
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, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.
Judges1 verse
Judges 9:7
And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.
Archaeology & History
Mount Gerizim (881 m) overlooks Nablus from the south. Excavations have uncovered the remains of the Samaritan temple and sacred precinct, and a small Samaritan community still keeps the Passover on its summit to this day — a living link to the covenant mountain of Joshua's ceremony.
People who appear here
Objects mentioned here
Frequently asked about Mount Gerizim
Where is Mount Gerizim today?
Today, Mount Gerizim corresponds to Mount Gerizim, above Nablus.
What happened at Mount Gerizim in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Mount Gerizim include the tribes stand on gerizim to pronounce the blessings; jotham proclaims his parable of the trees from gerizim.
Where is Mount Gerizim first mentioned in the Bible?
Mount Gerizim is first mentioned in Deuteronomy 11:29.
How often is Mount Gerizim mentioned in the Bible?
Mount Gerizim is mentioned in 4 verses across 3 books: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges.
What is Mount Gerizim known for?
It was the mountain of blessing in the covenant ceremony of Joshua, the place of Jotham’s parable, and later the holy mountain and temple site of the Samaritans.
Why did the Samaritan woman mention this mountain?
The Samaritans worshipped on Mount Gerizim rather than in Jerusalem; she raised the dispute with Jesus, who pointed beyond both places to worship "in spirit and in truth" (John 4).