אַרְפַּד (ar.pad)
ar.pad
Arpad
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun Arpad refers to a specific city located in northern Syria, appearing six times in the Hebrew Bible. It is not a theological term but a geographical marker, used primarily in historical narratives and prophetic judgments to identify a target of Assyrian military expansion.
Lexical sources note that the name may mean "I shall be spread out" or "supported," though this etymology does not alter its function in Scripture. The city serves as a concrete example of the power of the Assyrian empire, which conquered it and displaced its inhabitants. This event is recorded in II Kings 18:34 and 19:13, where King Sennacherib boasts of his victories over various nations to intimidate Jerusalem.
In Isaiah and Jeremiah, Arpad appears alongside other conquered cities like Hamath and Carchemish. These references highlight the extent of Assyrian dominance and the helplessness of those under threat. The mention of Arpad underscores the reality that no city was safe from this imperial force, serving as a warning to Judah about the consequences of relying on political alliances rather than divine protection.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Arpad appears in Scripture as a real place, a city in northern Syria that stood in the path of ancient empires. It is not a theological concept but a historical marker, reminding us that geography and politics are part of God's story. When Assyrian kings boasted of conquering Arpad, they were listing their victories to intimidate others.
For believers today, these references ground our faith in history. They show that no power on earth is beyond God’s sovereignty. The fall of strong cities like Arpad reminds us that human strength is temporary. We can trust in God’s protection even when the world feels unstable or threatening.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Arpad3×
- Arpad2×
- like/ Arpad1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/אַרְפָּ֔ד2×
- אַרְפָּ֔ד2×
- כְ/אַרְפַּד֙1×
- וְ/אַרְפָּ֗ד1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 18:34
Where are the gods of Hamath and of Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?
The Assyrian official uses Arpad to mock Judah's God by claiming its gods could not save their own cities.
-
Isaiah 10:9
Isn’t Calno like Carchemish? Isn’t Hamath like Arpad? Isn’t Samaria like Damascus?”
Isaiah compares Samaria to Damascus and Hamath to Arpad to show the certainty of judgment on proud nations.
-
Jeremiah 49:23
Of Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are confounded, for they have heard evil news. They have melted away. There is sorrow on the sea. It can’t be quiet.
Jeremiah mentions Arpad alongside Hamath to illustrate how fear and confusion spread when nations hear of coming disaster.