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Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

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EUPHRATES RIVER

Largest river in western Asia, formed by the union of two rivers in Asia Minor, the Kara-Su and the Murat-Suyu. Its source is in central Armenia. The river flows generally in a southeasterly direction for some 1,800 miles (2,896.2 kilometers) until it reaches the Persian Gulf. At Korna, about 100 miles (160.9 kilometers) from the gulf, it joins with the Tigris River. The Euphrates is shallow until it combines with the Tigris and can be navigated for about 1,200 miles (1,930.8 kilometers) by small boats only. After the union of the Tigris and Euphrates, ocean liners can proceed as far as Basra. Melting snows at the source cause the river to rise from about the middle of March until about June. Control and storage of water in flood canals during the overflow of the river made possible abundant harvests that sustained large populations in antiquity.

The Euphrates was one of four branches issuing from the river that watered the Garden of Eden (Gn 2:14 (RV · LV · Read together)). In the promises made to Abraham, the northern boundary of the land of Israel was to be the upper division of the river (Gn 15:18 (RV · LV · Read together); Dt 1:7 (RV · LV · Read together); 11:24 (RV · LV · Read together)). These boundaries were approximately reached during the period of kings David and Solomon (2 Sm 8:3 (RV · LV · Read together); 10:16 (RV · LV · Read together); 1 Kgs 4:24 (RV · LV KI1 5:4 · Read together)). The Euphrates is called “the river” (Nm 22:5 (RV · LV · Read together); Dt 11:24 (RV · LV · Read together); Jos 24:3, 14 (RV JOS 24:3 · RV JOS 24:14 · LV JOS 24:3 · LV JOS 24:14 · Read together JOS 24:3 · Read together JOS 24:14)) or “the great river” (Jos 1:4 (RV · LV · Read together)). People living east of the Euphrates referred to Israel and its surrounding territories to the west as “beyond the river” (Ezr 4:10 (RV · LV · Read together); Neh 2:7-9 (RV · LV · Read together)). It was to this river that Jeremiah sent Seraiah with a book of prophecies relating to the destruction of Babylon. After reading them, Seraiah was told to throw the book into the Euphrates as a symbol of the way Babylon would sink to rise no more (Jer 51:63 (RV · LV · Read together)).

GEN 2:14: RV GEN 2:14 · LV GEN 2:14 · Read together GEN 2:14

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OET-RV GEN 2:14

14 The third river was named Hidekel, and it flowed east of the Ashur (Assyria) region, and then the fourth river was named Perat (Euphrates).

OET-LV GEN 2:14

14 And_name_of the_river the_third is_Tigris it the_(one)_going the_east_of ʼAshshūr and_the_river the_fourth it is_the_Pərāt.

GEN 15:18: RV GEN 15:18 · LV GEN 15:18 · Read together GEN 15:18

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OET-RV GEN 15:18

18 On that day Yahweh made an agreement with Avram, saying, “I’ve given this land to your descendants, from Mitsrayim’s (Egypt) river to the famous Perat (Euphrates) River.

OET-LV GEN 15:18

18 In_the_day (the)_that YHWH he_made with ʼAⱱrām a_covenant to_say to_offspring_of_your I_give DOM the_earth/land (the)_this from_the_river_of Miʦrayim/(Egypt) to the_river the_big/great(sg) the_river_of Pərāt.

DEU 1:7: RV DEU 1:7 · LV DEU 1:7 · Read together DEU 1:7

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OET-RV DEU 1:7

7 Now, pack up and travel to the Amori hill country and the surrounding areas and the river plain, the lowlands and the southern wilderness, the coastal plain, all of Kena’an (Canaan), and Levanon as far north-east as the Perat (Euphrates) river.

OET-LV DEU 1:7

7 Turn and_set_out to/for_you(pl) and_go the_hill_country_of the_ʼAmorī and_near/to all_of neighbours_of_its in_plain in_country and_in_Shephelah and_in_Negeⱱ and_on_the_coast_of the_sea the_land_of the_Kənaˊₐnī/(Canaanite)[s] and_(the)_Ləⱱānōn to the_river the_big/great(sg) the_river_of Pərāt.

DEU 11:24: RV DEU 11:24 · LV DEU 11:24 · Read together DEU 11:24

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OET-RV DEU 11:24

24 Every place that your feet step on will become yours: from the southern desert to Levanon in the north, and from the Perat (Euphrates) in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.

OET-LV DEU 11:24

24 Every_of (the)_place which the_sole_of your_foot_of_your(pl) it_will_tread in/on/over_him/it to/for_you(pl) it_will_belong from the_wilderness and_(the)_Ləⱱānōn from the_river the_river_of Pərāt and_unto the_sea (the)_western territory_of_your(pl) it_will_be.

SA2 8:3: RV SA2 8:3 · LV SA2 8:3 · Read together SA2 8:3

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OET-RV SA2 8:3

3 Then David defeated Tsovah’s King Hadadezer (son of Rehov) who had tried to reestablish his authority over the Perat (Euphrates) River.

OET-LV SA2 8:3

3 And_ Dāvid _he_defeated DOM Hₐdadˊezer the_son_of Rəḩoⱱ the_king_of Tsōⱱāh/(Zobah) when_went_he to_restore his/its_hand at_the_river_of.

SA2 10:16: RV SA2 10:16 · LV SA2 10:16 · Read together SA2 10:16

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OET-RV SA2 10:16

16 King Hadadezer (from Tsovah) called for Aramean warriors from beyond the Perat (Euphrates) River and they came to Heylam. Shovak was Hadadezer’s army commander.

OET-LV SA2 10:16

16 And_ Hₐdadˊezer _he_sent and_he_brought_out DOM ʼArām which was_from_the_other_side_of the_river and_they_came Ḩēylām and_Shōⱱāk the_commander_of the_army_of Hₐdadˊezer was_before_of_them.

KI1 4:24: RV KI1 4:24 · LV KI1 5:4 · Read together KI1 4:24

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OET-RV KI1 4:24

24 He controlled all the kingdoms west of the Perat from Tifsah in the north-east to Azah (Gaza) in the south-west, and there was peace with all his neighbours.

OET-LV KI1 5:4

4  If/because he was_ruling in_all the_other_side_of the_river from_Tiphsah and_unto ˊAzzāh in_all the_kings_of the_other_side_of the_river and_peace it_belonged to_him/it from_all sides_of_his from_round_about.

NUM 22:5: RV NUM 22:5 · LV NUM 22:5 · Read together NUM 22:5

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OET-RV NUM 22:5

5 and he sent messengers to Be’or’s son Bil’am (Balaam) at Petor (which was their tribal land near the Perat (Euphrates) river). He requested help, saying, “Listen, there’s a population here that came out from Mitsrayim (Egypt). Wow, they’ve covered the entire surface in this region and they’re living opposite me.

OET-LV NUM 22:5

5 And_he_sent messengers to Bilˊām the_son_of Bəˊōr to_Pətōr which was_at the_river the_land_of the_sons_of his_people_of_his to_call to_him/it to_say HERE a_people it_has_come_out from_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) HERE it_has_covered DOM the_eye_of the_earth/land and_he is_dwelling from_in_front_of_me.

JOS 24:3; JOS 24:14: RV JOS 24:3 · RV JOS 24:14 · LV JOS 24:3 · LV JOS 24:14 · Read together JOS 24:3 · Read together JOS 24:14

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OET-RV JOS 24:3

3 Then I took your ancestor Avraham from beyond the river and brought him across all the land of Kena’an (Canaan), and I multiplied his descendants, including giving him Yitshak (Isaac).

OET-RV JOS 24:14

14 The Yehoshua (Joshua) continued, “Now you all must respect Yahweh and faithfully serve him with your complete beings. And you all must remove the idols that your ancestors served beyond the Perat (Euphrates) and in Mitsrayim, and only serve Yahweh.

OET-LV JOS 24:3

3 And_I_took DOM ancestor_of_your(pl) DOM ʼAⱱrāhām from_the_other_side_of the_river and_I_led him in_all the_land_of Kənaˊan/(Canaan) and DOM his/its_seed and_I_gave to_him/it DOM Yiʦḩāq/(Isaac).

OET-LV JOS 24:14

14 And_now fear DOM YHWH and_serve DOM_him/it in_integrity and_in_faithfulness and_remove DOM the_gods which ancestors_of_your(pl) they_served on_the_other_side_of the_river and_in_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) and_serve DOM YHWH.

JOS 1:4: RV JOS 1:4 · LV JOS 1:4 · Read together JOS 1:4

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OET-RV JOS 1:4

4 Your territory will extend from the wilderness in the south to the Levanon mountains in the north, and from the large Perat (Euphrates) River in the east, and right to the Mediterranean sea in the west, including all of the Hitim’ land.

OET-LV JOS 1:4

4 From_the_wilderness and_(the)_Ləⱱānōn the_this and_unto the_river (the)_great the_river_of Pərāt all_of the_land_of the_Ḩittiy and_unto the_sea (the)_great the_setting_of the_sun it_will_be territory_of_your(pl).

EZR 4:10: RV EZR 4:10 · LV EZR 4:10 · Read together EZR 4:10

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OET-RV EZR 4:10

10 and the rest of the nations that the famous and powerful King Asenapar exiled from other nations and forced them to live in the cities of Shomron (Samaria), and the province went of the Perat (Euphrates) river.
 ¶ And now

OET-LV EZR 4:10

10 And_the_rest_of the_nations which ʼOşnappar (the)_great and_(the)_honourable he_took_into_exile and_he_caused_to_dwell them in_the_city of Shomrōn and_the_rest_of the_region_beyond the_river and_now.

NEH 2:7–9: RV NEH 2:7–9 · LV NEH 2:7–9 · Read together NEH 2:7–9

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OET-RV NEH 2:7

7 Then I made another request, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the provinces across the Perat (Euphrates) river to ask them to help me in my travel towards Yehudah.

OET-RV NEH 2:8

8 Also a letter to Asaf, the keeper of the king’s forest, so he’ll give me timber for the beams of the gates of the fortress near the temple, and for the city wall, and for the house that I’ll live in.” Then the king granted those requests, thanks to God’s help on what I was doing.

OET-RV NEH 2:9

9 Then I went to the governors of the provinces across the Perat, and I gave them the king’s letters. The king had sent army officers and horsemen with me.

OET-LV NEH 2:7

7 And_I_said to/for_the_king if is_on the_king good letters let_people_give to_me to the_governors_of the_other_side_of the_river that they_will_allow_me_to_pass_through until that I_will_come to Yəhūdāh.

OET-LV NEH 2:8

8 And_a_letter to ʼĀşāf the_one_who_kept_of the_forest which to/for_the_king that he_will_give to_me wood(s) to_make_beams_for DOM the_gates_of the_citadel which belongs_to_house and_for_the_wall_of the_city and_for_house which I_will_go to_him/it and_he_gave_them to_me the_king according_to_the_hand_of my_god_of_my (the)_good on_me.

OET-LV NEH 2:9

9 And_I_went to the_governors_of of_the_other_side_of the_river and_I_gave to/for_them DOM the_letters_of the_king and_he_had_sent with_me the_king commanders_of the_army and_horsemen.

JER 51:63: RV JER 51:63 · LV JER 51:63 · Read together JER 51:63

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OET-RV JER 51:63

63 Then when you’ve finished reading out this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Perat (Euphrates) River.

OET-LV JER 51:63

63 And_it_was just_as_you_have_finished to_call DOM the_scroll the_this you_will_tie on/upon/above_him/it a_stone and_you_will_throw_it into the_middle_of the_Pərāt.

Two NT references to the Euphrates appear in the book of Revelation (Rv 9:14 (RV · LV · Read together); 16:12 (RV · LV · Read together)).

REV 9:14: RV REV 9:14 · LV REV 9:14 · Read together REV 9:14

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OET-RV REV 9:14

14 that was telling the sixth messenger (with the trumpet), “Release the four messengers that are tied up by the large Perat (Euphrates) River.”

OET-LV REV 9:14

14 saying to_the sixth messenger, which having the trumpet:
Release the four messengers, which having_been_bound at the river the great Eufrataʸs.

REV 16:12: RV REV 16:12 · LV REV 16:12 · Read together REV 16:12

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OET-RV REV 16:12

12 The sixth messenger poured out his bowl onto the large River Perat (Euphrates) and its water was dried up in order to prepare the path of the kings from the east.

OET-LV REV 16:12

12 And the sixth poured_out the bowl of_him on the river the great the Eufrataʸs, and was_dried_up the water of_it, in_order_that may_be_prepared the way of_the kings which of the_east sun.

See also Babylon, Babylonia; Mesopotamia.