Ancient Africa in the Bible
Ethiopia (Bible-period Africa) is mentioned so many times in the Bible that one would presume that its extensive political, cultural and economic significance in the Biblical period was common knowledge.
Below, find a few examples of the recognition given to Africa in the ancient times:
Jeremiah 13:23:
Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.
Amos 9:7:
Are you not as children of Ethiopia unto me, O children of Israel. Have I not brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt?
Nahum 3:9:
Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Punt and Lubim were thy helpers.
Zephania 3:10:
From beyond the borders of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed shall bring mine offering.
Genesis 2:13:
Ethiopia is one of the first countries mentioned in the Bible. It is associated with the garden of Eden.
Genesis 10:6-20:
Describes the kingdoms founded by the families of the founders of Ethiopia.
Numbers 12:1:
And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
Later on in his career, Moses was sheltered and counseled by his Ethiopian father-in-law, Jethro (Exodus 3:1, 4:18,18:1-12)
2 Kings 19:9:
And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee: he (king of Babylon) sent messengers again unto Hezekiah…
2 Chronicles 14:9:
Ethiopian general, Zerah, led an army of thousands upon thousands with 300 chariots.
Esther 1:1, 8:9:
Ethiopia is used as a border to measure an empire.
Job 28:19:
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
Psalms 68:31:
Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
Psalm 87:4:
I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
Jeremiah 38:7,10,12:
Ethiopian royal official rescues prophet Jeremiah.
Nahum 3:9:
“Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite.”
Acts 8:27:
Ethiopian government official goes to Jerusalem to worship, accepts Christianity and brings it back to Ethiopia which was ruled by Ethiopian Queen Kandake (Candace).
Edited by:
Jide Uwechia
May 11th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
Aaron, Miriam, and Moses may not have been Ethopian themselves, but they sure weren’t East Europeans from the Caucasoids, nor any other European, as is mistakenly thought today, but so many uninformed.
May 23rd, 2006 at 12:57 am
As an African I draw inspiration from knowing Jesus and Moses set their foot on my continent. How much hope can we have as Africans that two beings who have walked on our soil are now in heaven (Moses and Jesus).
July 1st, 2006 at 6:38 am
Eritrea was considered to be named “Punt”:
Eritrean history is one of the longest of Africa and even the world. Together with Abyssinian (Today most part of Ethiopia) and the southeastern part of the Red Sea coast of Sudan, it is considered the most likely location of the land known to the ancient Egyptians as Punt (or “Ta Netjeru,” meaning land of the Gods), whose first mention dates to the 25th century BC.
-wikipedia.org (look up “eritrea”)
Eritrea is commonly forgotten, maybe in biblical times it was part of ethiopia, i do not know. It is a small country and its ancestry is thought to have been derived from the Yemeni’s. Eritrea is on the coast of Africa and is bordered by Sudan in the west. ethiopia in the south and the RED SEA.
July 10th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
Genesis 2:13 does not refer to Ethiopia in Africa, but rather “Cush” in ancientHavilah, India. This is the site of the “Garden of Eden”.
Gentile Biblical scholars translated Cush (Kush) as Ethiopia. This they did to hide the real location of the Garden’
John Hammurabi: Author of:
‘The Doctrine of Anti-Hamitism’.
November 5th, 2006 at 11:44 pm
Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.PSALM 68:31
I believe the above scriptures is showing that great men of God would out of Africa and that Africa would soon bow to the Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ.This is because Africa was mainly represented in the Bible by Ethiopia and Egypt
December 23rd, 2006 at 2:26 pm
Puntland is actually the northeastern part of Somalia. Here is a citation from Wikipedia:
“The name is derived from the Land of Punt mentioned by ancient Egyptian sources, which is believed by some to have existed in what is now Somalia.”
January 5th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
All of these comments are attempting to reveal that ethiopia is not what it is… despite the fact that.. the Bible, the word clearly states that after being mentioned 33 times.Attempts to divert the meaning and uniqueness of ethiopia is ridiculous.. And for those who are christians You should know…. Long live ETHIOPIA….
January 30th, 2007 at 8:41 am
Ethiopia is not the problem for now. Every where, were there are people there God is amongst them and can always do thing without consulting the past.
February 8th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
The past is crucial to understanding the present. Understanding the history of the Bible and Africa’s roots in this holy book is important to those wanting to have a strong knowledge of the book. For those who are in denial that black people were main characters in this book, and who say that Ethiopia is not of importance are just kidding themselves and pulling the wool over their eyes. The Holy Book was written for a reason..God wants us to practice his teachings, but he also want us to understand our roots, not to dismiss them. Dismissing and denial comes from self hate, racism/prejudice whether you are black or of another race, and guilt over how Jesus was always portrayed as a caucasion man. Yes, the wife of Moses was Ethiopian/a black woman. Get over it and your arrogance.
February 19th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
This is just another one of the devils tricks to consume all mankind, he is cunning and a destroyer, originally just about every person in the middle east had dark skin. To All The Black People whose descends from Africa, Hold Your Heads Up, Just think Why Are We The Ones So Greatly Persecuted, That’s Because The devil and his imps and All The People Who Don’t Want To Accept The Whole Word Of GOD Is On The devil’s mission. The Bible Says that Knowledge Will Increase In The End-Times and GOD Is Revealing His Truths.
February 24th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
i katanah want to learn more about africa and rasatafar,i
March 15th, 2007 at 10:59 am
I am A Jamacian, living in Canada for over thirty years. I am from Jamaican I became a christian here. But as I begon to study the bible I came across the word Ethiopia. So I begon to search the bible for this word Ethiopia, I reliaze that the bible was full of this name. Then I begon to look for the word Africa and I could noe find that in the bible. Then the Lord Reveal this inlighting word to me, that there was no Africa in the bible. That was place there to keep us in darkness of who we are in God words. The bible said we shall know the truth and the truth shall make us free. Ethiopia was change so us as black would not know our roots. And if you dont know where you are from, you will not know wheir you are going. That was the main focous of the name change of the country God had bless this Land that why he had send his two savour Moses and Jesus there and
Call them out of there. What did he made them a citizen of Egypt, then call them out of ther. Ethiopia are the new name that the europaean call it Africa.
April 9th, 2007 at 8:43 am
I’ve been doing research on africa and its mention in the bible. Africa is a magestic continent with the upmost beauty. It is a paradise until The evil of this world trample over Gods country. Every day I find myself closer to God. I also am prosecuted for seeing God’s design an a chosen people to lead the world back To him the Almighty Elihom.
April 21st, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Aithiopia/Ethiopia: was the Greek name for Nubia. Since the people in Nubia were much darker skinned than the Egyptians, the Greeks called them Aithiopes (”Burnt-Faced Ones”), and their land, they called Aithiopia (”Land of the Burnt Faces”). In modern spelling this has become Ethiopia. The Greeks and Romans used this name primarily to refer to what is now northern Sudan and the Upper (southern) Nile Basin rather than the land of modern Ethiopia, which until recently was called “Abyssinia.” In the New Testament, which was written in Greek, Nubia is called “Aithiopia” or “Ethiopia.”. the greeks weren’t talking about the current Ethiopia which was known as abyssinia. So please when one try to run with history, don’t make it up. the current sudan was known as aithiopia and it was the one mentioned on the bible. want more information go to http://www.nubianet.org/about/about_people1.html
May 2nd, 2007 at 4:23 am
Afrika is the most beutiful that anyone can leav it has so much history that we could actually learn from people who study african you can not only study it but you should learn from it as part of who you are & be proud of being a black african
May 2nd, 2007 at 4:31 am
In the case of being a rastafarian people like to mis use rastafarian i m one of the rastafarian community,people will immediately assume that i smoke wed i mean come on how can people be so arrogant i fail to undrstand that being a rastafarian its not about the weed its about explorin who u are stop this criticism about rastafarian I M PROUD TO BE RASTAFARIAN LADY
May 13th, 2007 at 1:31 am
it is a known fact whom the worlds first educators were,Ethiopia,Cush punt Egypt( reffered to in the bible as Ethiopia last daughter),’burnt faces’ all meant what is now called the Black person-has been scattered over all the earth. Anyway most of the bible was translated by caucasoids and Asiatics and as such would not do much favour to Negroids. Ethiopia,punt,Cush,Eden,would mostly have referred to what is now Somali,Kenya Ethiopia&Eritrea(before Italian divide) even Tanzania(you know lands of the mountains),as most of west& central Africa(where king Solomon got his temple building trees & log) was known as Ophir(lands of minerals & Thick forests).So there Whether Rasta or otherwise the truth is out there you only need to look at;Who are the most unpretentiously friendly people(s) on earth?(for those of you who’ve been to places)…..Need one say more?
May 13th, 2007 at 1:36 am
it is a known fact whom the worlds first educators were,Ethiopia,Cush punt Egypt( reffered to in the bible as Ethiopia last daughter),’burnt faces’ all meant what is now called the Black person-has been scattered over all the earth. Anyway most of the bible was translated by caucasoids and Asiatics and as such would not do much favour to Negroids. Ethiopia,punt,Cush,Eden,would mostly have referred to what is now Somali,Kenya Ethiopia&Eritrea(before Italian divide) even Tanzania(you know lands of the mountains& tall people),as most of west& central Africa(where king Solomon got his temple building trees & log) was known as Ophir(lands of minerals & Thick forests).So there Whether Rasta or otherwise the truth is out there you only need to look at;Who are the most unpretentiously friendly people(s) on earth?(for those of you who’ve been to places)…..Need one say more?
July 10th, 2007 at 1:59 am
No matter the color of our skin, God loves us. Although the current versions of the bible cannot give us all the answers be faithful to God’s promise that we are all his children. Another major fact is that black people exist and the climate and demographics of Africa produces humans with high concentrations of melanin. Use the current versions of the bible as references. Have faith in knowing that Jahweh has all the answers. The greatest truth is–what we see in color is actually the absence of all elements associated with the perceived color.
May GOD - EL bless all of you.
July 13th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Could someone inform me of the region in africa where Noah built the ark?
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:32 am
it is written in isaiah 7:6 that the king is born he will be our rulerhis king dom will always be at peace breathrensand sistrens emperor haile selassie is the king of kings,lord of lords ,conquaring lion of the tribe of juda. he is the one that prophet isaiah prophesised about
born july 23 1892, iherited his bloodthrough his paternal grandmother,princestenagneworksahle selassie who was an aunt of emperor menelik 11 hence adirect descendant of makeda who was queen of sheba and king solomon of ancient israel
there for emperor hail selassie wasthe only african president who was chosen by god who ruled under Gods laws he was Gods chosen king
selassie 1
August 3rd, 2007 at 12:34 pm
me gustaria que me enviaran textos en español para informarme mas. gracias
August 11th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
InI consider Iself indianman,but doesn’t matter manskin,either white,black,yellow or red.InI point of view is we,re one under the sun.But one thing InI sore off that in the last days the mountain of the Lord’s Temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations shall stream to it.” - this specifically says “in the last days” and also the “mountain of the Lord’s Temple” must mean St Mary’s Church Axum since there is no other building containing the Ark and none of the previous Temples was on a mountain.Rastafari Live and be aware of that!!
August 11th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
InI think that you have to know your past to stand firm in the future.So let us remember Africa as our past and sound the drums and chant the praises. as our true ancestors did in those time of glory.Times when we were all prins and princesses govern by our own law,the law of the Kings and Queens the law of Jahcreation….Bless mankind foriver and iver.Rastafri!!!
August 11th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
The story of the Ark, how it was used by Moses, how it got to Ethiopia, and many other details are covered in a very readable and inexpensive book by Graham The Ark of the Covenant — considered the most holy of Christian artifacts — has been located in Ethiopia, after having disappeared in the reign of Biblical King Solomon more than 3,000 years ago. According to the Kebre Negast, the Ethiopian “bible”, it was taken to Ethiopia by Menelik I, the son of Solomon’s union with the legendary Queen Makeda of Ethiopia (better known as the Queen of Sheba) and has been in Ethiopia ever since. However, this location has been disputed in modern times, and many individuals and countries have tried to find the Ark.
According to an article in Canada’s “Sunday Sun” newspaper by journalist Kaye Corbett, a three-year search has positively located “the most important archaeological, historical and religious object in man’s history” buried in the bowels of the Ethiopian Orthodox St. Mary of Zion Church in Aksum — a holy city 623 km. north of Addis Ababa.
Corbett promises to reveal his findings in a soon-to-be-published book co-authored with H.R.H. Stephen Mengesha, a great grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie. He writes that the Jewish State of Israel will soon make a claim on this most valued relic, prior to building a new Temple to house the Ark on Temple Mount in Jerusalem — the controversial site presently occupied by the Muslim’s Dome of the Rock shrine. Corbett states that such a claim would have a dramatic effect on the Jewish state and the world.
That is putting it mildly. The effect of any attempt to relocate the Ark of the Covenant may well be the Third World War.
It is believed that the Jews will base their claim on the fact that thousands of Ethiopian Jews, called Falashas, have been resettled in Israel in recent years and therefore would bolster a claim for the Ark to be held by descendants of the original Jews, despite the problem of religious controversy, language and racism which the Falashas have encountered.
On the other hand, Ethiopians, Christians and Africans in the Disapora point to the fact that Ethiopia is the only nation which can produce living descendants of Solomon as heirs to his throne and dynasty. Indeed, Emperor Haile Selassie was the 225th descendant of King Solomon, as well as being a member of Solomon’s Tribe of Judah. Therefore, they claim, the Ark has rightfully rested in Ethiopia all these centuries, and should continue to do so.
Corbett’s article continues: “In Aksum today there seems little doubt it rests in a secret compartment beneath a small chapel next to the new St. Mary of Zion Church, and it is supposedly still guarded by a specially-picked priest who maintains his vigil from the age of seven until he dies.
October 2nd, 2007 at 5:11 am
I am a seventh day adventist from Dominica and i think black people should be proud of there heritage,Black people should walk with there heads high among men because you are a chosen nation.If we look in the bible the wises man ever was a black man ,king solomon said i am black and comly.Jesus a blackman the bible said that he did not standout in Egypt becaus of his complection.Black people we a chosen.
November 10th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
JAH SEE AND KNOW THAT WE HAVE ROBBED OF OUR HISTORY FOR CENTURIES….AND ASTROLOGY IS NOT EVIL….PEOPLE CAN BE THOUGH
December 11th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Memba, wetha ya black,white,asian,o latin,native, InI all suffa from da plannins of da sisthems in place already. Fa sample, tho blacks work hard ta learn Istory, whites need ta do da same. Fa when dey look at history, dey might find dat dey Istory been changed as well. No mention of Vikings,Celts,Saxons,Angles,etc. Nstead, all history start wit Greeks, den Romans, skip Hindu,Chinese,an barely mention Natives like Aztec,Toltec,Mayan,Inca,and da like.
Whys dat?
Tink on it!
December 11th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Lastly, don waste ya time arguin’ bout da past; da present gotta nuff ta deal wit. InI reason we in a big period of change, biga dan we tink, mon! Betta ta prep Iself fa wat commin’. Here in USA, we da “Whore of Babylon” mention in Revelations; every nation sleepin’ wit us, and every nation fin ta fall!! Prepare ya self; by 2012, December, Mayan predict it will come!!! So peace ta all, unite, fight, and prepare Iselfs.
(sorry if In hard to overstand, InI workin’ on mi language/dialect/wordpower)
February 4th, 2008 at 6:51 am
God made the covenant with his black children of Israel, the original Israelites, who are scattered all over the world today and know it not. Esau’s children know more about our history than we do and sadly our history has been staring us in our faces ever since we opened the holy bible. The false teachers and preachers are preaching Jesus died for all of us, but the bible continously tells us that Jesus died for his people. Yes all are entitled to be part takers of our Holy family but they must accept Jesus/Yah as Lord and savior first.
The false white image of Jesus will be no longer, the true Jesus, the One with the dred locks and black skin, FORMED Adam from the dust and therefore he Jesus/Yahshua is our God.
February 10th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I want to learn my history but I am sure that the American history books do not tell me all I need to know. I am half African and I grew up with my caucasian family and so i didnt really learn much about my culture.. I remember when I was little they said I was “tan”. That only lead me to thinking i was someone that i was not. And when i realized what i was i was ashamed because i was the outcast.And some people around me spoke bad about Africans so I began to dislike that I had african blood and pretty much wished i was full caucasian..
But when i got older i finally started to see that I should be Proud of where I come from!
I want to learn all there is about I history! It is crucial that I know the truth..
If anyone knows of any books It would help out alot.&thankyou &
bless
February 23rd, 2008 at 11:57 pm
To loveis,
A few good reads are The Scramble for Africa (M.E. Chamberlain), The Shaping of Black America (Lerone Bennett, Jr.), Black Skin White Masks (Frantz Fanon), and Passageways, An Interpretive History of Black America (Volume II:1863-1965) (Colin A. Palmer). Going forward, after these reads you should check out The Blueprint for Black Power (Amos N. Wilson)
April 4th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I recently read a book that was such an interesting read and different. Reclamation of Africa’s Royalty 323 BC. It’s a change from all the drama very touching story. Thank you all for your knowledge here. Good Stuff.
April 29th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
vert interesting and truthful,I have always believed this for over thirty years that I ahve studied scripture and walked with “GOD”