Dictionary Article

Capital of the non-Semitic people and district of Elam. Susa (modern Shush) is located in southwest Iran, about 150 miles (241.4 kilometers) north of the Persian Gulf and due east of the well-known city of Babylon. French archaeologists began excavating the site in 1884, discovering that it was occupied as long ago as about 4000 BC. Its importance in the OT derives mainly from the fact that it was incorporated into the Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus in 550 BC. It became a royal city along with Ecbatana (the other main city in Elam), Babylon, and Persepolis. This was the great period of importance for Susa, although it had known an earlier golden age in the 12th century BC. (The first copy of the law code of Hammurabi ever found was discovered at Susa, dated in the 12th century BC.)

The center of Persian Susa was an acropolis or citadel that rose above the city as a rectangular platform surrounded by a massive wall. This was the royal quarter within which the palace stood. The palace was the winter residence of the Persian kings.

Nehemiah was a cupbearer at the palace of Susa in the reign of Artaxerxes I (Neh 1:1, 11 OET NEH 1:1 · OET NEH 1:11; 2:1). In Esther 1:2 and 2:8 the young Jewess Esther was introduced to the court of King Ahasuerus, who was evidently the Persian king Xerxes (485–465 BC). Most of the action of the book takes place in Susa (cf. Est 3:15; 8:14-15; 9:6-18).

Show passage in OET: NEH 1:1; NEH 1:11

OET-RV NEH 1:1

1 The account by Hakalyah’s son Nehemyah (Nehemiah).
¶ In the month of Kislev during the twentieth year of the reign of King Artahshashta (Artaxerxes) over the Persian Empire, I was in the capital city of Shushan (Susa).

OET-RV NEH 1:11

11 Oh, my master, please listen carefully to your servant’s prayer, and to the prayer of your other servants who delight to honour your name. Please cause your servant to succeed today, and give me favour in the king’s eyes.”
¶ Now as for me, I was the king’s cupbearer.

OET-LV NEH 1:1

1 The _words/messages _of Nəḩem^yāh the _son _of Ḩₐkal^yāh and_he/it _was in_the _month _of Kişlēv year _of twenty and_I I _was in_Shūshan the_citadel.

OET-LV NEH 1:11

11 Please my_master let _it _be please ear _of_your attentive to the _prayer _of your _servant _of_your and_near/to the _prayer _of your_servants (the)_delighting to_fear DOM your(ms)_name and_grant_success please to_servant _of_your the_day and_give_him (to)_compassion(s) to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before the_man the_this and_I I _was cup _bearer of_king.

Show passage in OET: NEH 2:1

OET-RV NEH 2:1

2 In the spring of the twentieth year of King Artahshashta’s (Artaxerxes) reign, I was serving wine to the king. I’d never looked sad before in his presence,

OET-LV NEH 2:1

2 And_he/it _was in_the _month _of Nisan year _of twenty of_ʼArtaḩshashtāʼ the_king wine was_before _of_him and_I _took DOM the_wine and_I_gave_it to/for_the _king and_not I _had _been sad before_him.

Show passage in OET: EST 1:2

OET-RV EST 1:2

2 In those days, he ruled his empire from Shushan (Susa), city.

OET-LV EST 1:2

2 In _the_days the_those just_as _sat the_king ʼAḩashvērōsh on the _throne _of his/its_kingdom which was_in_Shūshan the_citadel.

Show passage in OET: EST 2:8

OET-RV EST 2:8

8 So when the king’s command and decree became known, many young women were being brought into the capital city of Shushan and placed under Hegay’s charge, and this is what happened to Ester. (Hegay was the overseer of the women.)

OET-LV EST 2:8

8 And_he/it _was when_ the _edict _of the_king and_orders _of_his _were _heard and_when_ young _women many _were _gathered to Shūshan the_citadel into the _hand _of Hegai and_ ʼEştēr _she _was _taken to the _house _of the_king into the _hand _of Hegai the _one _who_kept _of the_women.

Show passage in OET: EST 3:15

OET-RV EST 3:15

15 So couriers hurried off with the letters as the king had commanded. A herald in the capital city of Shushan (Susa) also proclaimed what the letters said. Then the king and Haman relaxed and drank together, but there was total confusion in Shushan about how all of this would work out.

OET-LV EST 3:15

15 The_runners they _went _out hurried at_the _message _of the_king and_the_law it _was _given in_Shūshan the_citadel and_the_king and_Haman they _sat _down to_drink and_the_city of _Shūshan it _was _in _confusion.

Show passage in OET: EST 8:14–15

OET-RV EST 8:14

14 So the couriers on the royal horses rode out quickly under the king’s orders to deliver the letters. The new law was also proclaimed throughout the capital city of Shushan (Susa).

OET-RV EST 8:15

15 The king gave Mordekai royal clothing that was blue and white, with a large gold crown, and a purple robe made from fine linen. The people of Shushan cheered happily when Mordekai exited the palace.

OET-LV EST 8:14

14 The_runners who_rode _of the _steed[s] (the)_royal they _went _out hastened and_hurried at_the _message _of the_king and_the_law it _was _given in_Shūshan the_citadel.

OET-LV EST 8:15

15 And_Mordəkay he _went _out from_to/for_face/front/presence the_king in_clothing _of royalty _of violet _stuff and_white _cloth and_a _crown _of gold great and_a _robe _of fine _linen and_purple and_the_city Shūshan it _cried _aloud and_it _rejoiced.

Jump to OET NEH 1:1 section. · OET NEH 1:11 section.

Jump to OET NEH 2:1 section.

Jump to OET EST 1:2 section.

Jump to OET EST 2:8 section.

Jump to OET EST 3:15 section.

Jump to OET EST 8:14–15 section.

According to Daniel 8:2, the place of Daniel’s vision is Susa. Probably Daniel is not to be regarded as having been there literally, but rather he was spiritually transported there in the vision. Chronologically, Daniel’s vision is set at the end of the Babylonian period, just before the Persian conquest (Dn 8:1; cf. 7:1). At this time Susa controlled the Medians and was not subject to Babylon.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary