Places in the Bible Today:

Mount Sinai

Data

Translated NamesMount Sinai, mount Sinai, Sina, Sinai
Typemountain
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

14 Possible Identifications

  1. Jebel Musa (modern): 50% confidence

    1. panorama of Jebel MusaJebel Musa

  2. Har Karkom (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. panorama of Har KarkomHar Karkom

  3. Jebel Sin Bishar (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Jebel Sin BisharJebel Sin Bishar

  4. Ras es Safsafeh (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. panorama of Ras es SafsafehRas es Safsafeh

  5. Jebel Serbal (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. historical panorama of Jebel Serbal, which is the peaks in the distanceJebel Serbal

  6. Jebel Katherina (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. closeup of Jebel KatherinaJebel Katherina

  7. Jebel Hashem el Tarif (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Jebel Hashem el TarifJebel Hashem el Tarif

  8. Jebel Halal (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Jebel HalalJebel Halal

  9. Har ‘Arif (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. panorama of Har ‘ArifHar ‘Arif

  10. Jabal al Magharah (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Jabal al MagharahJabal al Magharah

  11. Jebel Yeleq (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Jebel YeleqJebel Yeleq

  12. Jabal al Lawz (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Jabal al LawzJabal al Lawz

  13. Al Manifa (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Al ManifaAl Manifa

  14. Jabal Harb (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Jabal HarbJabal Harb

Verses (30)

Gen-Deut (20)
Exod 16:1, 19:2, 19:11, 19:18, 19:20, 19:23, 24:16, 31:18, 34:2, 34:4, 34:29, 34:32
Lev 7:38, 25:1, 26:46, 27:34
Num 3:1, 28:6
Deut 33:2, 33:16
Josh-Ruth (1)
Judg 5:5
1Sam-Esth (1)
Neh 9:13
Job-Mal (2)
Ps 68:8, 68:17
Acts-Rev (6)
Acts 7:30, 7:38
Gal 4:24, 4:25
Heb 12:18, 12:26

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Biblemapper.com1062, 1063
Logos FactbookMount Sinai
OpenBible.info (2007)Mount Sinai, Sinai
OpenBible.infoabfba2a (Mount Sinai)
TIPNRSinai@Exo.19.11
UBS Names Databasent ID_1046, ot ID_2047
WikidataQ377485

Sources

  1. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992): Sinai, Mount (place)
  2. Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2013): Sinai, Mount
  3. Baly, Atlas of the Biblical World (1971): page 208
  4. Baly, The Geography of the Bible (1974): pages 105, 251
  5. Carta Bible Atlas, 5th Edition (2011)
  6. Cole, Numbers (2000): 1:1
  7. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000): Sinai
  8. ESV Bible Atlas (2010): Mount Sinai
  9. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (1984): Exod 19:1-2; Exod introduction: 5. Route of the Exodus; Num 33:5-37 note 15
  10. Grollenberg, Atlas of the Bible (1957): Sinai (Mount)
  11. Hamilton, Exodus: An Exegetical Commentary (2011): 19:1-2
  12. Hammond Atlas of the Bible Lands (2007): Sinai, Mt.
  13. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (2011): Sinai
  14. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  15. Holman Illustrated Guide to Bible Geography (2020): page 27
  16. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979): Sinai
  17. IVP Atlas of Bible History (2006): page 38
  18. IVP Old Testament Bible Background Commentary (2000): Exod 19:1-2
  19. Lexham Bible Dictionary (2016): Mount Sinai
  20. Mackay, Exodus (2001): 3:1
  21. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2014): Sinai
  22. New Bible Atlas (1985): page 31
  23. New Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary (2009)
  24. Oxford Bible Atlas, Fourth Edition (2007)
  25. Rogerson, New Atlas of the Bible (1985): page 115
  26. Schlegel, Satellite Bible Atlas (2016): page 30
  27. Stuart, Exodus (2006): 17:1-2
  28. Tyndale Bible Dictionary (2001): Sina, Sinai
  29. Tübingen Bible Atlas (2001): Choreb; Sina; Sinai map
  30. Wenham, Numbers (1981): 33:8-15
  31. Westminster Historical Atlas to the Bible (1956): Mount Sinai
  32. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (1975): Sinai
  33. Zondervan Atlas of the Bible (2010)
  34. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)
  35. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (2009): Numbers Introduction; Numbers Introduction; 1Kgs 19:8

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others (in this case, Jebel Musa), then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Thumbnail Image Credits

Ian Sewell, שועל, Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019, Esben Stenfeldt, Francis Frith, Mohamed kamal 1984, valleyofdawn

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.