Arabia

What is…
Arabia in the Bible

Hebrew: עֲרָב —transliteration: `Arab

Greek: Ἀραβία —transliteration: Arabia

Ancient Arabia was an extensive region in southwest Asia. Like the Hebrews, its people are Semitic, that is, descended from Noah’s son Shem.

Arabia is mentioned in 7 verses of Scripture.

Ancient Arabia was border on the west by the Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea, on the south by the Indian Ocean, and on the east by the Persian Gulf and the Euphrates River. It extended into the north in barren deserts, meeting those of Syria and Mesopotamia.

The whole land appears to have been inhabited by a variety of tribes of different lineage, Ishmaelites, Arabians, Idumeans, Horites, and Edomites (Genesis 10). They eventually became amalgamated and came to be known by the general designation of “Arabs”.

The modern Arabs are predominantly Ishmaelite. Their language is the most developed and the richest of all the Semitic languages, and is of great value to the student of Hebrew.

In ancient times, Arabia was divided into three parts:

  1. Arabia Felix (Happy Arabia)—so called from its fertility, between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf

  2. Arabia Deserta—the el-Badieh or “Great Wilderness” of the Arabs

    From this name is derived the name by which the nomadic tribes who wandered this region are still known, the “Bedaween,” or, more generally, “Bedouin.”

  3. Arabia Petraea, i.e., the Rocky Arabia—so called due to its rocky mountains and stony plains

    It consisted of all the northwest portion of the country.

Bible facts about Arabia

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Article Version: January 28, 2025