Places in the Bible Today:

Sepharvaim

Data

Translated NameSepharvaim
Typesettlement
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

3 Possible Identifications

  1. another name for Sibraim (ancient): 40% confidence. It may be:

    1. panorama of cliffs in the region between Damascus and Hamathin the region between Damascus and Hamath

    2. satellite view of the region around HuwwarinHuwwarin

    3. satellite view of the region around Al ZaafaraniyahAl Zaafaraniyah

    4. satellite view of the region around ZifranZifran

  2. Sippar (modern): 15% confidence

    1. artifact from SipparSippar

  3. another name for Saparre (ancient): less than 10% confidence

    1. building at Nippurwithin 50 km of Nippur

Verses (6)

1Sam-Esth (4)
2Kgs 17:24, 17:31, 18:34, 19:13
Job-Mal (2)
Isa 36:19, 37:13

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Logos FactbookSepharvaim
OpenBible.info (2007)Sepharvaim
OpenBible.infoa282c15 (Sepharvaim)
TIPNRSepharvaim@2Ki.17.24
UBS Names Databaseot ID_2087
WikidataQ7451878

Sources

  1. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992): Sepharvaim (place)
  2. Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land (1990): Sepharvaim
  3. Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2013): Sepharvaim
  4. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (1984): Isa 36:19 note
  5. Grollenberg, Atlas of the Bible (1957): Sepharvaim
  6. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  7. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979): Sepharvaim
  8. IVP Old Testament Bible Background Commentary (2000): 2Kgs 17:24
  9. Lexham Bible Dictionary (2016): Sepharvaim
  10. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2014): Sepharvaim
  11. New Bible Dictionary (1996): Sepharvaim
  12. Reader’s Digest Atlas of the Bible (1981): Sepharvaim
  13. Tyndale Bible Dictionary (2001): Sepharvaim, Sepharvites
  14. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)
  15. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (2009): 2Kgs 17:24

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others, for example, then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Thumbnail Image Credits

Frank Kidner, Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019, Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg), Jasmine N. Walthall, U.S. Army

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.