The BibleGospel Companion

Elam

עֵילָם · e.lam · H5867AἘλαμίτης · Elamitēs · G16391 other spelling“a young man; a virgin; a secret” Hitchcock's 186916 mentions in 7 books, most in Jeremiah (7)
Illustration — not a likeness; generated for Gospel Companion in the app's painting style — Elam
Illustration — not a likeness; generated for Gospel Companion in the app's painting style

Where it is

ChaldeaChaldeaErechErechCalnehCalnehEcbatanaEcbatanaCuthahCuthahBabylonBabylonElamabout 942 km across

32.19° N, 48.26° E · Located through Susa · region

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

Mentioned most in

Jeremiah · 7Isaiah · 3Genesis · 2Ezra · 1Ezekiel · 1Daniel · 1+ 1 books
Counted from 16 references · STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

About this place

Elam was an ancient kingdom located east of Babylonia in what is now southwestern Iran. The Elamites were descendants of Shem, son of Noah (Genesis 10:22). Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, was an ally of other Mesopotamian kings who fought against Sodom and Gomorrah and took Lot captive before being defeated by Abraham (Genesis 14:1-16).

The Elamites were skilled archers (Isaiah 22:6) and were sometimes allies of Israel's enemies. Elamite kings are mentioned in Assyrian records of campaigns against Judah. The prophets Isaiah (11:11, 21:2, 22:6) and Jeremiah (25:25, 49:34-39) foretold Elam's conquest by the Babylonians and Medes as part of God's judgment.

However, Jeremiah also prophesied Elam's restoration in the latter days (49:39). Some Elamites were present in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Act.2.9). Nehemiah's opponents included a man named Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab (Nehemiah 2:19, 6:1), possibly indicating alliances between Elam and Israel's neighbors. The references to Elam in Dan.8.2 suggest the province maintained some importance during the Persian period.

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

16 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)
GenesisChapter 14: 2 mentions2 mentions
Genesis 14:1In the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar; Arioch, king of Ellasar; Chedorlaomer, king of Elam; and Tidal, king of Goiim,Genesis 14:9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.
EzraChapter 4: 1 mention1 mention
Ezra 4:9Then Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians…
IsaiahChapter 11: 1 mentionChapter 21: 1 mentionChapter 22: 1 mention3 mentions
Isaiah 11:11It will happen in that day that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from…Isaiah 21:2A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam; attack! I have stopped all of Media’s sighing.Isaiah 22:6Elam carried his quiver, with chariots of men and horsemen; and Kir uncovered the shield.
JeremiahChapter 25: 1 mentionChapter 49: 6 mentions7 mentions
Jeremiah 25:25and all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes;Jeremiah 49:34Yahweh’s word that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,Jeremiah 49:35“Yahweh of Armies says: ‘Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might.Jeremiah 49:36I will bring on Elam the four winds from the four quarters of the sky, and will scatter them toward all those winds. There will be no nation where the outcasts of Elam will not come.Jeremiah 49:37I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before those who seek their life. I will bring evil on them, even my fierce anger,’ says Yahweh; ‘and I will send the sword after…Jeremiah 49:38I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from there king and princes,’ says Yahweh.Jeremiah 49:39‘But it will happen in the latter days that I will reverse the captivity of Elam,’ says Yahweh.”
EzekielChapter 32: 1 mention1 mention
Ezekiel 32:24“There is Elam and all her multitude around her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who have gone down uncircumcised into the lower parts of the earth, who caused their terror…
DanielChapter 8: 1 mention1 mention
Daniel 8:2I saw the vision. Now it was so, that when I saw, I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai.
ActsChapter 2: 1 mention1 mention
Acts 2:9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,

What the dictionary says

Highland, the son of Shem (Gen. 10:22), and the name of the country inhabited by his descendants (14:1, 9; Isa. 11:11; 21:2, etc.) lying to the east of…

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
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Sources