Places in the Bible Today:

River 3

Data

Translated NamesEuphrates, Euphrates River, Rehoboth-by-the-River, Rehoboth-on-the-River, River
Typeriver
Notesthe Hebrew word here for "river" is often used for the Euphrates
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

6 Possible Identifications

  1. another name for the Zered (ancient): 30% confidence
    1. panorama of cliffs along Wadi al HasaWadi al Hasa

  2. not a proper name (common noun for "river"): 20% confidence
  3. Wadi Ghuwayr (modern): less than 10% confidence
    1. panorama of Wadi GhuwayrWadi Ghuwayr

  4. another name for the Brook of Egypt (ancient): less than 10% confidence. It may be:
    1. mouth of Wadi al ArishWadi al Arish

    2. closeup of Nahal HaBesorNahal HaBesor

    3. ruins at Qantir along the Pelusiac branch of the NilePelusiac branch of the Nile

    4. panorama of the Nile RiverNile River

  5. Wadi Rihab (modern): less than 10% confidence
    1. satellite view of the region around Wadi RihabWadi Rihab

  6. another name for the Euphrates (ancient): less than 10% confidence
    1. panorama of the Euphrates RiverEuphrates River

Verses (2)

Gen-Deut (1)
Gen 36:37
1Sam-Esth (1)
1Chr 1:48

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
OpenBible.info (2007)Euphrates
OpenBible.infoa3bb384 (River 3)
TIPNREuphrates@Gen.2.14

Sources

  1. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992)
  2. Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2013)
  3. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)
  4. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (2011)
  5. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  6. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979)
  7. Matthews, Genesis (1996, 2005): 36:36-39
  8. New Bible Dictionary (1996)
  9. New Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary (2009)
  10. Tyndale Bible Dictionary (2001)
  11. Waltke and Fredricks, Genesis (2001): 36:37
  12. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (1975)
  13. Zondervan Atlas of the Bible (2010)
  14. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010): Rehoboth

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.

Places with Similar Names

Thumbnail Image Credits

Adeeb Atwan, Joe Roe, اسماء البيك, Mboesch, Iri-en-achti, René Hourdry, Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019, Ferrus

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.