What does the Bible say about Persia?
Bible verses about Iran Persia. Ezra 1:1-4 ESV / 21 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God ...
What does Persia mean in the Bible?
Persia as a girl’s name is of Biblical origin meaning “that cuts or divides”. It was also the name of a Middle Eastern country now known as Iran. When did Persia fall?
What is the Order of kings of Persia?
List of monarchs of Persia
- Median Dynasty (678–549 BC)
- Achaemenid Kingdom (~705–559 BC)
- Achaemenid Empire (559–334/327 BC)
- Macedonian Empire (336–306 BC)
- Seleucid Empire (311–129 BC)
- Fratarakas
- Kings of Persis
- Parthian Empire (247 BC – AD 228)
- Sasanian Empire (224–651)
- Dabuyid Kingdom (642–760)
What is Medo Persia?
The Medo-Persians, led by King Cyrus II, invaded Babylonia from the east in June of 539 B.C. and captured its capital, Babylon, in July of the same year. In biblical chronology, this occurred near the end of the Babylonian exile. Within a short time, Daniel became a trusted adviser to the new Medo-Persian Empire.
Where was Persia located in biblical times?
Persia, historic region of southwestern Asia associated with the area that is now modern Iran.
What was Iran called in Bible times?
In the later parts of the Bible, where this kingdom is frequently mentioned (Books of Esther, Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah), it is called Paras (Biblical Hebrew: פרס), or sometimes Paras u Madai (פרס ומדי), ("Persia and Media").
Where is ancient Persia located today?
of IranPersia is today the country of Iran. By the 5th century B.C.E., it was the largest empire the world had ever seen, surpassing the size of their Assyrian predecessors.
Is the Persian empire in the Bible?
“King Cyrus lived more than five hundred years before Christ and figured in prophecies of the Old Testament mentioned in 2 Chronicles and the book of Ezra, and by the prophets Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Daniel. The Bible states how 'the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, King of Persia. ' (2 Chron. 36:22.)
Did Jesus travel to Persia?
This has lead to stories of him having travelled to far-flung places such as India to study with Eastern mystics, Persia and also tales of him having visited North America.
Where is the city of Armageddon?
DENVER—Looming over a strategic spot on Israel's northern coastal plain, the ancient city of Megiddo was often a battleground, befitting its biblical name Armageddon. But in two Bronze Age tombs, archaeologists are finding signs that, nearly 3500 years ago, Megiddo was also a surprisingly cosmopolitan place.
What countries made up Persia?
At its height, it encompassed the areas of modern-day Iran, Egypt, Turkey, and parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Persian Empire emerged under the leadership of Cyrus II, who conquered the neighboring Median Empire ruled by his grandfather. From then on Cyrus was called the “shah,” or king, of Persia.
Which nation was formerly known as Persia?
Iran (pronounced ee-RAHN), formerly known as Persia, is situated at the crossroads of Central Asia, South Asia, and the Arab states of the Middle East.
What religion was ancient Persia?
By 650 BCE, the Zoroastrian faith, a monotheistic religion founded on the ideas of the philosopher Zoroaster, had become the official religion of ancient Persia.
Was Babylon part of Persia?
Under the Parthian and Sassanid Empires, Babylon (like Assyria) became a province of these Persian Empires for nine centuries, until after AD 650.
What was Greece called in Biblical times?
Also serving as the Hebrew name for Greece or Greeks in general, יָוָן Yavan or Yāwān has long been considered cognate with the name of the eastern Greeks, the Ionians (Greek Ἴωνες Iōnes, Homeric Greek Ἰάονες Iáones; Mycenaean Greek *Ιαϝονες Iawones).
How long did Persia rule Israel?
Persian rule (538–332 BCE) According to the Bible, Cyrus issued a proclamation granting subjugated nations their freedom. Jewish exiles in Babylon, including 50,000 Judeans, led by Zerubabel returned to Judah to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem.
What was Iran called before?
ancient Iran, also known as Persia, historic region of southwestern Asia that is only roughly coterminous with modern Iran.
What was Iran's original name?
PersiaFor most of history, the tract of land now called Iran was known as Persia. It wasn't until 1935 that it adopted its present name.
What was the old name of Iran and Iraq?
PersiaSince the Ottoman–Persian Wars of the 16th and 17th centuries, Iran (known as "Persia" prior to 1935) and the Ottomans fought over Iraq (then known as Mesopotamia) and full control of the Shatt al-Arab until the signing of the Treaty of Zuhab in 1639 which established the final borders between the two countries.
Who was Persian in the Bible?
Cyrus the Great was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire and king of Persia from 559-530 BC. He is venerated in the Hebrew Bible as Cyrus the Messiah for conquering Babylon and liberating the Jews from captivity.
What did Yahweh stir up in Ezra?
Ezra 1:1Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
What does 2 Chronicles 36:22 mean?
2 Chronicles 36:22Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
What does Ezra 4:3 mean?
Ezra 4:3But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers' houses of Israel, said to them, You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.
What is the name of the thing Daniel revealed to Cyrus?
Daniel 10:1In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, even a great warfare: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.
How many sq ms is Persia?
by Media, w. by Susiana, s. by the Persian Gulf and e. by Carmania. Now it is much enlarged and contains 470,000 sq. ms. and a pop. of 11,000,000.
Which ancient civilization was allied with the Accadians?
Nearer the desert, however, cultivation grows scanty for want of water. Persia was doubtless in early times included in Elam, and its population was then either Semitic or allied to the Accadians, who founded more than one state in the Babylonian plain.
Who wrote the letter to Artaxerxes?
Ezra 4:7In the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian character, and set forth in the Syrian language.
Where is Persia mentioned in the Bible?
Persia, A Branch of Aryan Where Mentioned in the Bible. Persia is listed on the Biblical Timeline around 1454 BC and at a later point ruled by King Cyrus, as mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah. The king ruled the land with much wisdom, and he served the people as a great king should. In Ezra 1:1-3, it was stated that Cyrus ordered god’s people ...
Who were the Persians?
The Persians were noted to be Aryans; there were two lines that came forth from Teispes, who was the early leader of Persia. Teispes gained control of Elam during the downfall of the Assyrian Empire, and he had lines in Persia and Anzan. The king of Anzan at that time was Cyrus II, and he united the people after conquering Babylonia, ...
What did Darius consider Persepolis?
Darius and his several successors considered Persepolis as the ceremonial capital, which is one of Persia’s ancient cities. Persia helped shape Bible history. Te Aryans. Based on a Biblical perspective, the people of Persia helped shape Bible history. For instance, these people were a part of the chain of several empires that became a part ...
What was the glory of Persia?
The Glory of Persia. During the pinnacle of Persia, the empire extended to Greece, India, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Caspian Sea. The people of Persia also came originally from Media, and they decided to settle in Persia, specifically on the eastern portion of the Persian Gulf. ‘During the pinnacle of Persia, ...
How many years of history is the Amazing Bible?
These Articles are Written by the Publishers of The Amazing Bible Timeline with World History . Quickly See Over 6000 Years of Bible and World History Together
Who was the king of Anzan?
The king of Anzan at that time was Cyrus II, and he united the people after conquering Babylonia, Lydia and Media. On the other hand, Cambyses, the son of Cyrus II, controlled Egypt. During that period, Egypt was under the rule of Darius, who was the son of Hyptaspes. Darius and his several successors considered Persepolis as ...
Where did the name Iran come from?
Furthermore, the term Iran was derived from the word Aryan, which pertained to the land of Aryans. Thus was the story of the migration of the Aryans, and the possibility that these people originally came from a remote land. Upon arriving in Iran, they gave it a name and considered to make it as their new homeland.
What were the Parthians called?
5. Arsacid (Parthian) era. The origins of the Parthians prob. are to be sought among the Scythian nomads who poured down from Russia in antiquity and overran the great civilizations of Asia Minor. Many settled in the province of Parthava and were simply called “Parthians” by their enemies. Their ruling house was descended from the Arsacidae, from which came the name of their dynasty—Arsacid. They began the long series of conquests that built their power in 249/248 b.c. They solidified their home fortresses in the Elburz Mountains. For almost a cent., the fortunes of the declining Seleucids continued to recede until the dynasty was virtually a puppet of the Rom. republic, whereas the Parthian advance continued. In 170 b.c., a new ruler, Mithradates I, came to the throne. Exceedingly able, he expanded the borders of Parthia on all fronts. It seems that the later Parthians actually traded with China and possibly made the Romans and other western Europeans aware of the Middle Kingdom. In 51/50 b.c., the Parthians invaded Syria-Palestine but withdrew quickly; however, they invaded the coast again in 40 b.c., looted Jerusalem, and pillaged the countryside. Meanwhile Herod and the royal harem fled to Masada, a visit that assured Herod of the rock’s impregnable nature as a fortress. After the Peace of Brundisium, which established the Second Roman Triumvirate, Antony was awarded the former Asiatic provinces. He defeated the Parthians in a series of battles and restricted them to their own borders. In the days of Caesar Augustus, a standoff existed between the two great powers and some trade was actually carried on. Internal feuds in Parthia, however, allowed the Romans to subvert the ruling house and set up a rival federated state in Armenia. Throughout the early decades of the Christian era, Rome increased her power in the E, and in a.d. 66, Nero had sufficient authority actually to invest Tiridates as king of Parthia. In the next cent., the barbarian Alans poured through the Caucasian passes and forced the Parthian monarch to buy them off on his borders. In a.d. 161, during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, the king of Parthia (Volagases III) again invaded Armenia which had continued to be allied to, if not supported by, Rome. After a quick victory, the Parthians went on to invade Syria. As Rome began to descend into the anarchy and civil war that led to the barbarian invasions, Parthia was first of all allied with various claimants for the imperial throne. Slowly Parthia drifted further out of the Rom. orbit as the empire began to shrink, and in a.d. 226 was completely overthrown by a series of battles with a resurgent Pers. monarchy. This victorious rebirth of ancient Persia was to produce the Sassanian dynasty, which returned the rule of Iran to the remnants of the ancient Pers. nobility.
What was Cyrus' greatest achievement?
satrapy) was governed by an official answering to the great king but allowing a remarkable degree of autonomy and freedom of religion and customs for the vassal states. His enormous empire with its roads, cities, postal system, legal codes, metaphysical religion, and innate sense of humanity have been his enduring memorial. His greatest building effort was the capital at Pasargadae where innumerable styles and decorations learned from the subjected peoples were blended into the early “Achaemenid” style. As with all Pers. palace compounds, the paradayadām, “retreat” or “park” was a major construction. This notion passed into Gr. and ultimately into Eng. as “paradise.” Throughout the palace and its many buildings, the simple but artistic lines and the alternate use of black and white building materials lent themselves to the variations in the sun’s rays throughout the course of the day. In 530 b.c. the kingdom passed to Cyrus’ son, Cambyses II, who immediately had to put down various attempts to take over the throne, and his zeal in fulfilling this necessity earned him the title “despot.” He carried out his father’s plan to attack Egypt, and with the help of many native Semites of the S of Arabia he overcame the city of Pelusium, under the Pharaoh Psammetichus III, the son of Amasis, and the Gr. mercenaries Egypt had employed. He planned a campaign against Carthage, the reigning “queen” of the Mediterranean, but was unable to hire the necessary shipping to transport his army. In his solidification of his kingship, Cambyses had slain his brother Smerdis, whereas in Egypt, a Magian noble, Gaumata, had proclaimed himself the true Smerdis and revolted, usurping the throne. Cambyses may have committed suicide; he died in 522 b.c. The army then supported a distant cousin of Cambyses, a descendant of Ariaramnes named Darayavaush (Darius), son of Vishtaspa (Hystaspes), and he initiated a new era of the House of Hakhamanish. After winning his throne from all the pretenders he carved his victory inscr. high on the rock face at Behistan, one of the most extensive royal inscrs. of antiquity. His experience under the preceding king as commander of the Pers. shock troops, the fabled Ten Thousand Immortals, stood him in good stead. With their help he held the empire. He built the palaces at Susa, the ancient Elamite city, and his own capital at Persepolis (q.v.). The turmoil of his early regnal years caused him to initiate conservative and restrictive policies in his administration of the subject peoples, but he did not have a large enough army or sufficient majority to force his subjects to obedience to Persia.
What is Persian art?
Persian art of all periods is marked by its hard lines and highly polished finishes. The Assyrian art was largely two-dimensional, whereas the sculpture of Iran achieved a magnificent three-dimensional effect in monumental reliefs. The anatomy of the body and the treatment of the draperies in all forms are considerably more naturalistic than anything previous. Persian art is definitely the continuation of the oriental tradition, whereas its great opposition, that of Gr. art, sought a new and original simplicity. Persian architectural embellishment is concerned with the repetition and replication of simple patterns. Some of the great friezes consist of many figures of animals and/or men in simple square compositions. This ability with the sculptured surface came to its full bloom in the working of metals. The Persian craftsmen utilized the wild zoomorphic and botanomorphic figures in vogue among the Ural-Altai of central Asia. They combined these motifs with the time-honored forms of the ancient Near E. Thus they brought the graphic arts of miniature painting and repoussé to the service of Islam. This outlet for the creative artists allowed a vast effusion of works of art within the strictures of Islamic law. The Kufic and other scripts with illuminated initials became an art form rarely equalled in the history of book making. The Pers. garden with its manifold forms of animal and plant life were all represented in Pers. art and used as an integral part of Pers. architecture. Landscaping was developed for its own sake, and great palaces and enormous porticos were constructed with gardens within them.
What was the impact of Persian art on the Renaissance?
The magnificence of Pers. art, literature, and science has left a vast impact on the European world. Persian textiles, ceramics, and jewelry were valued highly in Renaissance Europe. The first concrete advances beyond ancient natural science were made by Pers. physicians such as Rhazes and mathematicians like ’Umar Khayám, who also wrote the one Pers. poem known in the W through many trs., the Rubáiyát. Persian is still used as a major creative vehicle in the Islamic world by such renowned authors as the Pakistani poet, Muhammad Iqbal, and others.
What were the powers of Satraps?
The powers of satraps were balanced by royal military commanders and tax officials in each province, not unlike the commissar system of later oriental potentates. No doubt he expanded the empire in the E, but the limit is not known. He built a commercial empire as well as political and even considered cutting a canal through to the Red Sea. He attempted a great campaign against the Scyths of south Russia; his army crossed the Danube but was thwarted before the Dniester River. On his return, Darius conquered the Greek coastal cities of Asia Minor, forcing on all the Greek cities the issue of whether or not to ally with Persia. Athens went against Persia, and the stage was set for the Pers. defeat at Marathon in August of 490 b.c. The real conflict between Persia and Greece lies more in the realm of Kultur-kampf. Persia was the last of the great archaic religious states in which civilization had its birth and first formulation, and had been the last vestige of the elaborate state-pantheon cultus of antiquity. It had simplified the complex cuneiform to the most efficient of all syllabaries. On the other hand, Greece had entered a new era. It had produced some form of democratic state, the medium of the alphabet, the popular lit., and citizen army—all of which were harbingers of the social systems to come. In effect the conflict was that between old and new forms of human life, more direct and more bitter than many less crucial conflicts in history. In 486 b.c., Egypt revolted against Persia to spite the colonies of mercenaries that had been stationed around its borders, such as the Jewish garrison at Elephantine (q.v.). During Darius’ reign, the religion of Mazdaism began to spread. With Darius’ death in 485 b.c., the high point of the Achaemenid dynasty had been reached. Xerxes, the eldest son of Darius and his queen, Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus, ascended to the throne in 485 b.c. and dealt harshly with a new Egyp. revolt. He reduced Egypt to slavery and placed over it his brother Akhaimemesh. Xerxes, under the W. Sem. transliteration of his Old Pers. name—Xshayarshan, Akkad. hisi’arsa, Heb. אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹ֑ושׁ, is the Ahasuerus of the Book of Esther. After building a double bridge across the Hellespont, he invaded Greece in 480 b.c. The Persians defeated the Spartan rear guard at the Pass of Thermopylae and finally occupied Athens in the latter part of the year, but their fleet was defeated in the monumental naval battle at Salamis under the horror-stricken eyes of Xerxes himself. This ended Persia’s last hope to conquer Greece. The next year the Persians were again defeated, at Platea, which left Athens to enjoy the glories of the Age of Pericles but finally to face destruction in her fratricidal war with Sparta. The reigns after Xerxes experienced increasing rebellion and declining central authority, a list of incompetent rulers. The final scenes of the Achaemenids comprised harem intrigues, assassinations, plots, and counter plots, which left the way open for the total collapse that was at hand.
What is the land area of Persia?
Iraq and Turkey lie on the western border whereas on the E Persia is bordered by Afghanistan and West Pakistan. The total land area is about 630,000 square m. with about 1,600 m. of coastline. The term Iran has been traditionally applied to this land area plus Afghanistan, Baluchistan, and West Turkistan. The Pers. expanse is divisible into four geographic regions. Most of the land lies on a great triangular plateau with the longest side running from NW to SE for almost 800 m. through the middle of the country. This plateau has an elevation of nearly 4,000 ft. and is bordered by numerous ridges and mountains. This plateau and the Zagros and Elburz mountain ranges are the two largest geographic regions. The third region is the desert, which is divided by mountains and some fertile valleys into the northern Dasht-i-Kavir and the more southern Dasht-i-Lut. These are rock strewn wastes coated in many areas with alkali salts. The fourth and smallest environ is the flat, barren Khuzistan Plain. It lies at the N end of the Persian Gulf between the Tigris-Euphrates watershed and the Zagros Mountains. This is the site today of Iran’s oil reserves, which are shipped out through the seaport of Abādān. The mountains effectively block rain clouds from crossing the central plateau so that the foothills of the ranges yield the best crops. The temperatures are extremely variable, ranging across the land from below 32 o F. in winter to well over 112 o F. in summer. Most of the available lake water is not suitable for agricultural purposes, as it has a high degree of salinity, since many bodies of fresh water lose fifty percent of their volume during the summer months. By far the biggest prohibition to habi tation in many parts of the land is the lack of water. Although there are many types of grazing and herding animals, in the more remote areas deforestation has continued from remote antiquity and trees are found in very few areas at present. Only in the coastal lowlands S of the Caspian are there extensive areas of natural vegetation. Aside from the petroleum deposits there are those minerals found in desert and arid locations. On the sea coasts and in such inland bodies as Lake Urmia and the larger rivers, fishing is a major industry.
What is the biggest prohibition to habi tation in many parts of the land?
By far the biggest prohibition to habi tation in many parts of the land is the lack of water. Although there are many types of grazing and herding animals, in the more remote areas deforestation has continued from remote antiquity and trees are found in very few areas at present.
Who is the ruler of Persia in the Bible?
Persia in the Old Testament. The Persian Empire plays a prominent role in a few Old Testament books. The ruler called Ahasuerus (Strong's Concordance #H325), which many Bible commentaries believe is referring to King Xerxes I of Persia, is mentioned thirty times. Although found only once in the books of Daniel and Ezra, ...
When was Purim celebrated?
The events in the book and the ultimate saving of the Jewish race, which occurred around 483 B.C., are celebrated every year in the festival known as Purim.
Who defeated the Babylonians?
In 539 B.C., more than sixty years after Nebuchadnezzar's prophetic dream, the Persian King Cyrus invaded Babylonia and defeated the Babylonians at Opis.
How many times does Ahasuerus appear in the book of Esther?
Although found only once in the books of Daniel and Ezra, Ahasuerus appears twenty-eight times in the book of Esther. The focus of Esther's book (one of only two named after a woman) revolves around the story of how the Jews in Persia escape total extermination. The main characters are Esther, a young Jewess who marries the Persian king, Haman, ...
Who was the Persian Empire?
The Persian Empire was founded by Cyrus the Great who conquered Babylon in 536 BC. Cyrus issued the decree for the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Under Darius the second Temple of Zerubbabel was completed; and under Xerxes, or Ahasuerus, the events recorded in the Book of Esther in the Bible happened; under Artaxerxes the Jewish state was reformed by Ezra, and the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt by Nehemiah. The capital of the Persian Empire was Shushan. The Empire lasted a little more than 200 years, and came to an end in 330 BC.
Who was the first Persian ruler?
Cyrus II “the Great” (600-529 BC) founded the first Persian Empire. Cyrus the Great respected the customs of the lands he conquered and allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem.
Who defeated Darius III?
Darius III (336-330 BC) – defeated by Alexander the Great.
What is Iran called in the Bible?
There are several biblical prophecies of the end times that mention Iran, called Persia or Elam in the Bible. Given the fact that Iran is often in the news as a nation seeking armaments (possibly nuclear) and repeatedly issuing threats against Israel, students of Bible prophecy are taking note.
When did the Medo-Persian Empire conquer Babylon?
The Medo-Persian Empire ascended to power and conquered Babylon in 539 BC, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 21:2. This happened during the time of Daniel ( Daniel 5 ); in fact, Daniel later resided “in the province of Elam” in Persia ( Daniel 8:2 ).
What is the setting of the book of Esther?
Persia is the setting for the book of Esther and the first part of Nehemiah. Alexander the Great’s conquests put an end to Persia as a world power, fulfilling the prophecy of Daniel 8. In the following centuries, Persia was ruled by the Seleucids, the Parthians, the Sassanians, the Romans, the Byzantines, and finally, in AD 636, the Muslims. ...
What nations are involved in the end times?
Iran ’s involvement in the end times will be as one of the nations involved in the battle of Gog and Magog, which probably occurs during the first half of the tribulation. Ezekiel 38:5 specifically mentions Persia as an ally of Magog/Russia. Other nations included in this coalition will be Sudan, Turkey, Libya, and others. This vast army will come against Israel, who at that time will be “a peaceful and unsuspecting people” (verse 11).
When was Iran founded?
In 1501 , the state of Iran was founded. In the New Testament, men from Iran are mentioned indirectly as “Parthians, Medes and Elamites” were present in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost ( Acts 2:9 ).
Did Iran have a role in the end times?
Iran does have a role to play in the end times, but, first, a little history of Iran and its neighborhood, as it relates to biblical history. Jeremiah prophesied that Elam, a nation east of Babylon, west of Persia, and south of Media, would be conquered and then rise to power again ( Jeremiah 49:34–39 ). True to that prophecy, Babylon conquered ...
