Places in the Bible Today:

Sepharad

Data

Translated NameSepharad
Typesettlement
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

6 Possible Identifications

  1. another name for Sardis (ancient): 55% confidence

    1. ruins at SardisSardis

  2. another name for Saparda (ancient): less than 10% confidence

    1. panorama of a natural area in Asia Minorin Asia Minor

  3. another name for Sparta (ancient): less than 10% confidence

    1. ruins at SpartaSparta

  4. in Media (ancient): less than 10% confidence

    1. ruins at Tell Hagmatanain Media

  5. in Spain (ancient): less than 10% confidence

    1. Roman road in Hispaniain Hispania

  6. within 15 km of the Bosporus (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. panorama of the Bosporuswithin 15 km of the Bosporus

Verses (1)

Obad 20

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Logos FactbookSepharad
OpenBible.info (2007)Sepharad
OpenBible.infoa0a98de (Sepharad)
TIPNRSardis@Oba.1.20
UBS Names Databaseot ID_2085
WikidataQ3305343

Sources

  1. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992): Sepharad (place)
  2. Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land (1990): Sepharad
  3. Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2013): Sepharad
  4. Baly, Atlas of the Biblical World (1971): Sepharad
  5. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000): Sepharad
  6. Grollenberg, Atlas of the Bible (1957): Sepharad
  7. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (2011): Sepharad
  8. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  9. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979): Sepharad
  10. IVP Old Testament Bible Background Commentary (2000): Obad 1:20
  11. Lexham Bible Dictionary (2016): Sepharad
  12. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2014): Sepharad
  13. New Bible Dictionary (1996): Sepharad
  14. New Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary (2009)
  15. Reader’s Digest Atlas of the Bible (1981): Sepharad
  16. Revised Expositor’s Bible Commentary (2012): Obad 19-20
  17. Tyndale Bible Dictionary (2001): Sepharad
  18. Westminster Historical Atlas to the Bible (1956): Sepharad
  19. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (1975): Sepharad
  20. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)
  21. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (2009): Obad 1:20

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others (in this case, another name for Sardis), then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Thumbnail Image Credits

simonjenkins’ photos, Duesentrieb, George E. Koronaios, Philippe Chavin, Basotxerri, Merterm

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.