Where is Euphrates in the Bible?

What happened at Euphrates?

The Euphrates is one of the most significant rivers mentioned in the Bible, playing a crucial role in the geography, history, and prophecy of the ancient Near East. It is often referred to simply as "the River" or "Shibolet" (meaning "ear of grain") in Hebrew. In the Garden of Eden narrative, the Euphrates is one of the four rivers that flowed from the garden (Genesis 2:14). Later, it is mentioned as part of the boundary of the Promised Land, as God promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates (Genesis 15:18; Deu.1.7; 11:24; Joshua 1:4). The Euphrates served as a natural boundary between the Assyrian and Babylonian empires and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. It was the site of several significant events, such as the battle of Carchemish, where the Babylonians defeated the Egyptians (Jeremiah 46:2), and the place where Jeremiah hid a linen belt as a symbol of God's judgment on Judah (Jeremiah 13:4-7). In the book of Revelation, the Euphrates is mentioned in connection with the sixth trumpet judgment (Revelation 9:14) and the sixth bowl judgment (Revelation 16:12), where the river is dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east. Throughout the Bible, the Euphrates is used as a symbol of the extent of God's promised blessings (Psalm 72:8), the reach of Israel's enemies (Isaiah 7:20; 8:7), and the future restoration of Israel (Isaiah 11:15; 27:12; Micah 7:12; Zechariah 9:10). The Euphrates played a significant role in the history and commerce of the ancient Near East, with many important cities and civilizations situated along its banks, such as Babylon, Ur, and Carchemish. It was a vital source of water for irrigation and transportation, and its fertile floodplains supported agriculture and trade.

Where does Euphrates appear in the Bible?

Euphrates is referenced in 43 verses across 17 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.

• 1 Chronicles 5:9
• 1 Chronicles 19:16
• 1 Kings 4:21
• 1 Kings 4:24
• 1 Kings 14:15
• 2 Chronicles 9:26
• 2 Kings 24:7
• 2 Samuel 10:16
• Deuteronomy 11:24
• Exodus 23:31
• Ezra 4:10
• Ezra 4:11
• Ezra 4:16
• Ezra 4:20
• Ezra 5:3
• Ezra 5:6
• Ezra 6:6
• Ezra 6:8
• Ezra 6:13
• Ezra 7:21
• Ezra 7:25
• Ezra 8:36
• Genesis 2:14
• Genesis 15:18

What else appears in these passages?

These turn up in the same passages as Euphrates.