Ancient Bible Names with Their Current Names

A list of ancient biblical names of people groups and places,
territories or countries with their current names or regions.



Have you ever read the names of people groups or of territories or of places in the Bible and wanted to know where they were located, today?

There are many places mentioned in the Bible that we cannot find on a map, today. The names of these places have changed. Some still look or sound a little like their ancient names while others don't look or sound anything like the original names.

Below is an extensive list of people groups in the ancient middle east with their current names. During the last five thousand years many places have changed names. Connect the Ancient Bible names and territories to Modern names and territories.

Following that is a list of ancient cities and where they are located.

Feel free to print these tables and use as needed. Print Friendly Page:


Ancient Bible Names of People Groups
The Ancient Country or People
The Current Name or Region
Map
Abimael, Obal, Sheleph and Uzal
Yemen
link
Ammon, Moab and Edom
Jordan
link
Amor(ites)
Eastern Israel
link
Arabia
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and some of Iraq and Jordan
link
Aram
Syria
link
Arkites
Lebanon
link
Ashkenaz
Germany
link
Asshur(ites)
Northern Iraq
link
Assyria
Iraq
link
Canaan(ites)
Northern Israel and Southern Lebanon
link
Caphtor(ites)
Crete
link
Cush
Ethiopia and some of Sudan, Somalia and Yemen (and possibly more of northern Africa)
link
Decapolis
Northwestern Jordan and a small part of Israel
link
Dedan, Ophir, Jobab and Sheba
Saudi Arabia
link
Girgashites
Western Jordan
link
Gomer
Ukraine (some suggest Germany)
link
Javan
Greece
link
Magog, Rus and Rosh
Russia
link
Midian
Western Saudi Arabia and Southern Jordan
link
Mizraim
Egypt
link
Philistia
Part of south western Turkey and lower plateau of western Israel by the Mediterannean Sea
link or link2
Phoenicia
Lebanon
link or link2
Persia, Parthia
Iran and some of Iraq
link or link2
Phut/Put (a bow) the third name in the list of the sons of Ham (Ge 10:6; 1Ch 1:8). elsewhere applied to an African country or people. The few mentions of Phut in the Bible clearly indicate a country or people of Africa, and, it must be added, probably not far from Egypt (Isa 66:19; Jer 46:9; Eze 27:10; 30:5; 38:5; Na 3:9). Some identify it with Libya, in the northern part of Africa near the Mediterranean Sea; others with Nubia, south of Egypt.)
Libya and some of Egypt and North Africa
link
Riphath
Europe
link
Scythia
Southern Russia
link
Sinites
China, Mongolia
link
Togarmah
Parts of Turkey, Turkomen, Turkestan and Armenia
link
Tarshish
Carthage (or possibly Great Britain)
link
Tiras
Italy
link
Tubal
Turkey (or possibly Tobolosk)
link
Old City Names - Current location
The Ancient City
The Current Location
Map
Alexandria
Southeastern Turkey (Coastal)
link
Antioch
Northwest Syria (Coastal) - present day "Hatay"
link
Athens, Berea, Corinth, Philippi and Thessalonica
Greece
link
Babylon
Iraq
link
Cyrene
Northwest Libya
link
Damascus
Syria
link
Ephesus, Pergamum and Smyrna
Western Turkey
link
Elishah
Sicily
link
Haran and Padan-aram
Eastern Syria
link
Jebus
Jerusalem
link
Iconium and Lystra
Central Turkey
link
Kittim
Cyprus
link
Meshech
Moscow
link
Shechem
Nablus
link
Shinar
Iraq - Ancient Babel and present day "Babylon"
link
Sidon and Tyre
Western Lebanon (Coastal)
link
Smyrna
Izmir
link
Tarsus
Eastern Turkey
link or link2
Ur
Southeastern Iraq
link
 

Sources: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, "Creation and the Second Coming" by Henry M. Morris, "World Atlas" by Rand McNally, "The Atlas of Bible Lands" by Harry Thomas Frank. "The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia" by Geoffrey W. Bromiley, "The Magog Invasion" by Chuck Missler, "The New Open Bible" by Nelson Publishing, The Strong's Concordance, and www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/world.htm.

(This document may be freely copied in its entirety and used in your Bible studies.)