Arabia

עֲרָב · a.rav · H6152BἈραβία · Arabia · G06887 other spellings“evening; desert; ravens” Hitchcock's 186919 mentions in 9 books, most in 2 Chronicles (5)

Where it is

27.40° N, 37.70° E · region

Coordinates and map: OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding · CC BY 4.0 · drawn without map tiles

Mentioned most in

2 Chronicles · 5 Nehemiah · 3 Isaiah · 2 Jeremiah · 2 Ezekiel · 2 Galatians · 2 + 3 books

Counted from 19 references · STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

About this place

Arabia is a vast desert region located southeast of Israel, encompassing the Arabian Peninsula. In the Bible, Arabia and its inhabitants, the Arabs or Arbites, are mentioned in various contexts, ranging from commercial interactions to prophetic messages.

The Queen of Sheba, who visited King Solomon, is said to have brought gifts from Arabia, including gold, spices, and precious stones (1Ki.10.15; 2Ch.9.14). The Arabians also paid tribute to King Jehoshaphat of Judah (2Ch.17.11) and were among the enemies who attacked Judah during the reigns of Jehoram and Ahaziah (2Ch.21.16; 22:1).

The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel mention Arabia and its inhabitants in their prophecies. Isaiah delivers a message concerning Arabia, foretelling the decline of its glory (Isaiah 21:13-17). Jeremiah includes the kings of Arabia among those who will drink the cup of God's wrath (Jeremiah 25:24). Ezekiel lists Arabia as one of the nations that traded with Tyre (Ezk.27.21) and includes the Arabians among the allies of Egypt who will fall (Ezk.30.5).

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul mentions his visit to Arabia after his conversion (Galatians 1:17) and uses Mount Sinai in Arabia as an allegory for the earthly Jerusalem (Galatians 4:25). On the day of Pentecost, Arabs were among the people who heard the apostles speaking in their own languages (Act.2.11).

The Arabians were known for their nomadic lifestyle, traveling through the desert with their herds and engaging in trade. They were skilled in archery and horsemanship, making them formidable opponents in warfare.

Throughout the Bible, Arabia and its people are portrayed as having both positive and negative interactions with Israel and the surrounding nations, reflecting the complex dynamics of the ancient Near East.

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

19 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)

2 Samuel1 mention

2 Samuel 23:35Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

1 Kings1 mention

1 Kings 10:15in addition to that which the traders brought, and the traffic of the merchants, and of all the kings of the mixed people, and of the governors of the country.

2 Chronicles5 mentions

2 Chronicles 9:14in addition to that which the traders and merchants brought. All the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.2 Chronicles 17:11Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute. The Arabians also brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male…2 Chronicles 21:16Yahweh stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and of the Arabians who are beside the Ethiopians;2 Chronicles 22:1The inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his place, because the band of men who came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the oldest. So Ahaziah the son of…2 Chronicles 26:7God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and the Meunim.

Nehemiah3 mentions

Nehemiah 2:19But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite servant, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they ridiculed us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will…Nehemiah 4:7But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be filled, they…Nehemiah 6:1Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though even to that…

Isaiah2 mentions

Isaiah 13:20It will never be inhabited, neither will it be lived in from generation to generation. The Arabian will not pitch a tent there, neither will shepherds make their flocks lie down there.Isaiah 21:13The burden on Arabia. You will lodge in the thickets in Arabia, you caravans of Dedanites.

Jeremiah2 mentions

Jeremiah 3:2“Lift up your eyes to the bare heights, and see! Where have you not been lain with? You have sat waiting for them by the road, as an Arabian in the wilderness. You have polluted the land…Jeremiah 25:24and all the kings of Arabia, all the kings of the mixed people who dwell in the wilderness;

Ezekiel2 mentions

Ezekiel 27:21“‘“Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your favorite dealers in lambs, rams, and goats. In these, they were your merchants.Ezekiel 30:5“‘“Ethiopia, Put, Lud, all the mixed people, Cub, and the children of the land that is allied with them, will fall with them by the sword.”

Acts1 mention

Acts 2:11Cretans and Arabians—we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”

Galatians2 mentions

Galatians 1:17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.Galatians 4:25For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.

What the dictionary says

Arid, an extensive region in the south-west of Asia.

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)

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Sources

STEPBible TIPNR · Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References · CC BY 4.0 · github.com/STEPBible/STEPBible-Data
OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding · CC BY 4.0 · www.openbible.info/geo/
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869) · Public domain