Persia, known in the modern era as Iran, holds a significant place in biblical prophecy and history. The ancient empire of Persia is mentioned in several prophetic contexts within the Bible, particularly in the books of Daniel, Isaiah, and Ezekiel. These prophecies often highlight Persia's role in God's divine plan and its interactions with Israel and other nations.

Daniel's Vision of the Ram and the Goat

In the Book of Daniel, Persia is symbolically represented in a vision that Daniel receives. Daniel 8:3-4 describes a ram with two horns, which is identified as the kings of Media and Persia. The vision continues with the appearance of a goat, representing Greece, which defeats the ram. This prophecy foretells the rise and fall of the Persian Empire and its eventual conquest by Alexander the Great. Daniel 8:20 explicitly states, "The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia."

Cyrus the Great and the Return from Exile

The prophet Isaiah speaks of Cyrus the Great, the Persian king, as an instrument of God's will. Isaiah 44:28 declares, "who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he will fulfill all My pleasure,’ saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’" This prophecy was fulfilled when Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, as recorded in Ezra 1:1-4 . Cyrus is further mentioned in Isaiah 45:1 , where the Lord calls him His "anointed," emphasizing his role in the restoration of Israel.

Ezekiel's Prophecy Against Persia

Ezekiel 38-39 contains a prophecy concerning a future coalition of nations, including Persia, that will come against Israel. Ezekiel 38:5 lists Persia among the allies of Gog, a leader from the land of Magog. This prophecy is often interpreted as a depiction of a future eschatological battle, where God will intervene to protect Israel and demonstrate His sovereignty over the nations.

The Role of Persia in the Book of Esther

While not a prophecy, the Book of Esther provides a narrative set in the Persian Empire, highlighting God's providential care for His people. The events occur during the reign of King Xerxes (Ahasuerus), and the account illustrates how God uses individuals and circumstances within the Persian context to deliver the Jewish people from destruction.

Conclusion

The prophecies concerning Persia in the Bible underscore its significant role in the unfolding of biblical history and eschatology. From the rise and fall of empires to the return of the Jewish exiles and the anticipated future conflicts, Persia is depicted as a key player in the divine narrative, fulfilling God's purposes across different eras.Isaiah 13:17
Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.
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Isaiah 21:1-10
The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.
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Jeremiah 49:34-39
The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,
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Jeremiah 51:11-64
Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.
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Ezekiel 32:24,25
There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.
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Ezekiel 38:5
Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
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Daniel 2:31-45
You, O king, saw, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before you; and the form thereof was terrible.
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Daniel 5:28
PERES; Your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
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Daniel 7:1
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head on his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
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Daniel 8:1
In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, even to me Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first.
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Daniel 11:1-4
Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.
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Concerning Nebuchadnezzar and his Successors and How their ...
... he was in Susa, the metropolis of Persia, and went ... very same manner Daniel also wrote
concerning the Roman ... insomuch that such as read his prophecies, and see ...
/.../the antiquities of the jews/chapter 11 concerning nebuchadnezzar and.htm

It is a Ground for Thanksgiving that During the Last Three or Four ...
... have to separate between those prophecies which concern ... first thing revealed in prophecy
concerning the Antichrist's ... breast and arms (Medo-Persia), the brazen ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/it is a ground for.htm

The Prophecies
... Egypt:" (Exodus 12:41.) Ezra speaks thus concerning the liberation ... the spirit of
Cyrus, king of Persia," &c ... ought to be concluded, from this kind of prophecies. ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/3 the prophecies.htm

The Eve of the Restoration
... of his gods; 8. Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by ... There is, however
no improbability in the supposition that the prophecies concerning him in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the eve of the restoration.htm

The Return of the Exiles
... even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath ... was about
to be rebuilt had been the subject of many prophecies concerning the favor ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 45 the return of.htm

The Twelve Minor Prophets.
... Hystaspes, who ascended the throne of Persia BC521 ... the second part belong the prophecies
contained in ... question proposed to the prophet concerning the observance ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxiii the twelve minor.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... in the extent of his writings, and in the fulness of his prophecies concerning the
Messiah ... of water." Even Cyrus is mentioned not as the king of Persia, but as ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

The Prophecies
... out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings ... to accomplish the vision and
the prophecies, and to ... still is), "three kings in Persia," (Cambyses, Smerdis ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section xi the prophecies.htm

Fifthly, as this Revelation, to the Judgment of Right and Sober ...
... can by no way be proved,) yet who, that (Acts 2:30.) knew David himself to be a
prophet, and that had compared the other prophecies concerning the (Isaiah 11:1 ...
/.../xiv proposition xiv fifthly as.htm

The Sibylline Oracles.
... When Persia is at peace, and war shall no longer ... After some other prophecies we come
to the mention ... Still more striking is the parallelism concerning the three ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the sibylline oracles.htm

What is the significance of the Medo-Persian Empire in biblical history? | GotQuestions.org

Why didn't all the Jews want to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:5-6)? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Esther in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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