Places in the Bible Today:

Zoar

Data

Translated NamesBela, Zoar
Typesettlement
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

9 Possible Identifications

  1. Al Safi (modern): 35% confidence

    1. panorama of Al SafiAl Safi

  2. in the Valley of Siddim (ancient): 30% confidence

    1. panorama of hills in the region south of the Lisanin the region south of the Lisan

  3. in the region north of the Dead Sea (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. panorama of a region north of the Dead Seain the region north of the Dead Sea

  4. Tell al Sheikh Isa (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Tell al Sheikh IsaTell al Sheikh Isa

  5. mouth of Wadi Mujib (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. canyon at the mouth of Wadi Mujibmouth of Wadi Mujib

  6. Tawahin el Sukkar (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Tawahin el SukkarTawahin el Sukkar

  7. Esh Shaghur (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Esh ShaghurEsh Shaghur

  8. Tall Iktanu (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Tall IktanuTall Iktanu

  9. Bab edh Dhra (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. ruins at Bab edh DhraBab edh Dhra

Verses (9)

Gen-Deut (7)
Gen 13:10, 14:2, 14:8, 19:22, 19:23, 19:30
Deut 34:3
Job-Mal (2)
Isa 15:5
Jer 48:34

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Biblemapper.com1001
Logos FactbookZoar
OpenBible.info (2007)Bela, Zoar
OpenBible.infoaacfcda (Zoar)
Pleiades697768
TIPNRZoar@Gen.13.10
UBS Names Databaseot ID_2527, ot ID_543
WikidataQ218016

Sources

  1. Aharoni, Land of the Bible (1979): page 443
  2. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992): Zoar (place)
  3. Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land (1990): Zoar
  4. Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2013): Zoar
  5. Baly, Atlas of the Biblical World (1971): Zoar
  6. Baly, The Geography of the Bible (1974): page 204
  7. Carta Bible Atlas, 5th Edition (2011)
  8. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary (2008-2012): Gen 14:1-16
  9. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000): Zoar
  10. ESV Bible Atlas (2010)
  11. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (1984): Isa 15:5-9
  12. Grollenberg, Atlas of the Bible (1957): Pentapolis
  13. Hamilton, Genesis (1995): 13:10-11
  14. Hammond Atlas of the Bible Lands (2007): Zoar
  15. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (2011): Zoar
  16. HarperCollins Concise Atlas of the Bible (1991)
  17. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  18. Holman Illustrated Guide to Bible Geography (2020): page 282
  19. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979): Zoar
  20. IVP Atlas of Bible History (2006): Zoar
  21. IVP Old Testament Bible Background Commentary (2000): Gen 13:10
  22. Lexham Bible Dictionary (2016): Zoar
  23. Monson, Regions on the Run (2009): map 2
  24. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2014): Zoar
  25. New Bible Atlas (1985): page 28
  26. New Bible Dictionary (1996): Admah
  27. New Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary (2009)
  28. New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (1988): Gomorrah
  29. Oxford Bible Atlas, Fourth Edition (2007)
  30. Reader’s Digest Atlas of the Bible (1981): Zoar
  31. Schlegel, Satellite Bible Atlas (2016): page 22
  32. Tyndale Bible Dictionary (2001): Cities of the Plain
  33. Waltke and Fredricks, Genesis (2001): 13:10
  34. Wenham, Genesis (1987, 1994): 14:2
  35. Westminster Historical Atlas to the Bible (1956): Zoar
  36. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (1975): Zoar
  37. Zondervan Atlas of the Bible (2010)
  38. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)
  39. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (2009): Gen 13:10
  40. Zondervan Pictorial Bible Atlas (1972): page 52

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

Ana al’ain, Adeeb Atwan, Вячеслав Ребров, Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019, hikinginjordan, Ana al’ain

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.