Why the name?
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2003 2:38 pm
Why is it called, "the lebanon" rather than just, "Lebanon."? Does the word lebanon mean something in another language? Pardon my ignorance.
The name Lebanon (also "Loubnan" or "Lebnan") is derived from the Semitic root "LBN", meaning "white", a reference to snow-capped Mount Lebanon. In British English, the country has often traditionally been referred to with the definite article as the Lebanon, like the Ukraine or the Gambia, derived from the literal translation from the Hebrew "HaLevanon" (e.g Deuteronomy 3:25)
source: wikipedia.com