The term "Carmelite" is derived from Mount Carmel, a significant biblical location in the land of Israel. Mount Carmel is a coastal mountain range in northern Israel, extending from the Mediterranean Sea towards the southeast. It is renowned for its lush vegetation and scenic beauty, often symbolizing fertility and divine blessing in the Scriptures.

Biblical Significance of Mount Carmel

Mount Carmel holds a prominent place in biblical history, particularly in the Old Testament. It is most famously associated with the prophet Elijah, who confronted the prophets of Baal in a dramatic demonstration of God's power. This event is recorded in 1 Kings 18:19-40. Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest to determine whose deity was the true God. After the prophets of Baal failed to elicit a response from their god, Elijah prayed to the LORD, who answered by sending fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice. This miraculous event led the people to proclaim, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" (1 Kings 18:39).

Mount Carmel is also mentioned in other biblical passages, often symbolizing beauty and majesty. In the Song of Solomon, the beloved is compared to the splendor of Carmel: "Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel, and your flowing locks are like purple threads; a king is held captive in your tresses" (Song of Solomon 7:5). The prophet Isaiah uses Carmel as a metaphor for the glory and excellence of the land: "The splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God" (Isaiah 35:2).

Carmelites in Christian Tradition

The term "Carmelite" also refers to members of the Carmelite Order, a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the 12th century. The order traces its origins to hermits living on Mount Carmel, who sought to emulate the prophet Elijah's life of prayer and contemplation. The Carmelite Rule, attributed to St. Albert of Jerusalem, emphasizes a life of solitude, prayer, and community.

While the Carmelite Order is not directly mentioned in the Bible, its spiritual heritage is deeply rooted in the biblical tradition of Mount Carmel and the prophetic witness of Elijah. The order has produced many notable saints and mystics, including St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross, who have contributed significantly to Christian spirituality.

Symbolism and Legacy

In biblical symbolism, Carmel represents not only physical beauty and fertility but also spiritual richness and divine encounter. The events on Mount Carmel during Elijah's time serve as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and the call to faithfulness amidst idolatry and apostasy. The legacy of the Carmelites, with their emphasis on prayer and contemplation, continues to inspire Christians to seek a deeper relationship with God, following the example of Elijah and the early hermits of Mount Carmel.1. (a.) Alt. of Carmelin.

2. (n.) A friar of a mendicant order (the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel) established on Mount Carmel, in Syria, in the twelfth century; a White Friar.

3. (n.) A nun of the Order of Our lady of Mount Carmel.

CARMELITE

kar'-mel-it (karmeli; Karmelios, Karmelites): A native of the Judean Carmel. Those who are thus named are Nabal, the husband of Abigail (1 Samuel 30:5, etc.), and Hezro (the King James Version Hezrai), one of David's mighty men (2 Samuel 23:35). In 2 Samuel 3:3 Septuagint reads tes Abigaias tes Karmelias, "of Abigail the Carmelitess" (1 Samuel 27:3 1 Chronicles 3:1).

See following article, CARMELITESS.

3762. Karmelith -- a Carmelite woman
... 3761, 3762. Karmelith. 3763 . a Carmelite woman. Transliteration: Karmelith
Phonetic Spelling: (kar-mel-eeth') Short Definition: Carmelitess. Word Origin fem ...
/hebrew/3762.htm - 6k

3761. Karmeli -- inhab. of Carmel
... of Carmel. Transliteration: Karmeli Phonetic Spelling: (kar-mel-ee') Short Definition:
Carmelite. ... of Carmel NASB Word Usage Carmelite (3), Carmelitess (1). ...
/hebrew/3761.htm - 6k

Richard Misyn
... There are scanty records of a Richard Mysyn, a Carmelite and Suffragan, who is thought
to be identical with Bishop Mesin or Musin of Dromore; for at that time ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/richard misyn.htm

Prologue: the Parentage and Birth of Marie Francoise Therese ...
... The gentle St. Francis waived his claim in favour of the great Reformer of the
Carmelite Order: the child recovered, and so retained her sweet name of Therese. ...
/.../martin/the story of a soul/prologue the parentage & birth.htm

Prologue: the Parentage and Birth of Marie Fran??oise Therese ...
... Francis waived his claim in favour of the great Reformer of the Carmelite Order:
the child recovered, and so retained her sweet name of Th??r??se. ...
/.../therese/story of a soul/prologue the parentage & birth.htm

A Pilgrimage to Rome
... Up to this time I had not understood the chief aim of the Carmelite Reform. ...
Mary Magdalen of Pazzi, in the choir of the Carmelite Church. ...
/.../martin/the story of a soul/chapter vi a pilgrimage to.htm

a Pilgrimage to Rome
... Up to this time I had not understood the chief aim of the Carmelite Reform. ...
Mary Magdalen of Pazzi, in the choir of the Carmelite Church. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/therese/story of a soul/chapter vi - a pilgrimage.htm

Preface by David Lewis.
... The brother and sister set out early in the morning, the former for the monastery
of the Dominicans, and the latter for the Carmelite monastery of the ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/preface by david lewis.htm

Note
... which appears to have been misunderstood by nearly all translators; but it is
gratifying to notice that the new French translation by the Carmelite nuns of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/note.htm

The Interior Castle or the Mansions by St. Teresa Ihs
... TREATISE, STYLED THE INTERIOR CASTLE, WAS WRITTEN BY TERESA OF JESUS, NUN OF OUR
LADY OF CARMEL, FOR HER SISTERS AND DAUGHTERS, THE DISCALCED CARMELITE NUNS. ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/the interior castle or the.htm

The Interior Castle, or The Mansions
... i.5; Order of, Constitutions, I. ii.7; V. i.2; Rule of, VI. vi.7. Carmelite
nuns, discalced, Preface, p.36; I. i.9; VI. vi.14. Castle ...
//christianbookshelf.org/teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/index 2.htm

The Preface.
... The following Treatise was approved of at Rome by Fryer Pater Damian, a Discalceate
Carmelite, Visitor General and Reader of Theology in the Convent of S. Mary ...
/.../de molinos/the spiritual guide which disentangles the soul/the preface.htm

Carmelite (6 Occurrences)
...CARMELITE. kar'-mel-it (karmeli; Karmelios, Karmelites): A native of the Judean
Carmel. ... Multi-Version Concordance Carmelite (6 Occurrences). ...
/c/carmelite.htm - 9k

Hezro (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A Carmelite, one of David's warriors (1 Chronicles
11:37). Int. ... See CARMELITE. One of David's thirty "mighty men.". ...
/h/hezro.htm - 7k

Ab'igail (16 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). 1 Samuel 30:5 David's two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess,
and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. (See RSV). ...
/a/ab'igail.htm - 10k

Carmel (33 Occurrences)
... 42; 2 Kings 2:25). On its north-west summit there is an ancient establishment
of Carmelite monks. Vineyards have recently been planted ...
/c/carmel.htm - 25k

Hezrai (1 Occurrence)
... The ancient versions almost unanimously support the form Hezrai): A Carmelite, ie
an inhabitant of Carmel. See CARMELITE. One of David's thirty "mighty men.". ...
/h/hezrai.htm - 7k

Abigail (18 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 30:5 David's two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess,
and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. (WEB ...
/a/abigail.htm - 17k

Nabal (18 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 30:5 David's two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess,
and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. (WEB ...
/n/nabal.htm - 16k

Jizreelitess (5 Occurrences)
... (DBY). 1 Samuel 30:5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the
Jizreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. (DBY). ...
/j/jizreelitess.htm - 7k

Jezreelitess (5 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS). 1 Samuel 30:5 David's two wives were taken captive,
Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. ...
/j/jezreelitess.htm - 8k

Chileab (1 Occurrence)
... His mother was Abigail, whom David married after the death of her husband Nabal,
the Carmelite (2 Samuel 3:3). In the corresponding account (1 Chronicles 3:1 ...
/c/chileab.htm - 8k

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