Egypt
Egypt is a region mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments, located in the region of Egypt in modern-day Egypt. Known today as Ain Shams. It appears across 658 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Egypt occupies an unparalleled place in biblical history, appearing across 658 verses as the land of both bondage and refuge, of judgment and redemption. Abram descended to Egypt during famine (Genesis 12:10), foreshadowing the later sojourn of his descendants. Joseph was sold into Egypt and rose to become Pharaoh's second-in-command, saving both Egyptians and Israelites from starvation (Genesis 37–50). When a later Pharaoh enslaved Jacob's descendants, God raised up Moses to demand their release, unleashing the ten plagues that demonstrated his supremacy over Egypt's gods (Exodus 7–12). The Exodus became Israel's defining national memory — "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery" (Exodus 20:2). Egypt recurs throughout the prophets as a symbol of worldly power and a tempting but unreliable ally (Isaiah 30:1–3). In the New Testament, the holy family fled to Egypt to escape Herod's massacre (Matthew 2:13–15), fulfilling Hosea 11:1 — "Out of Egypt I called my son" — as Jesus recapitulated Israel's story in his own person.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Egypt is one of the most archaeologically documented civilizations in the ancient world, with monuments, texts, and artifacts illuminating millennia of history. Ain Shams marks the area of ancient Heliopolis, a major religious center. While direct Egyptian textual reference to the biblical Exodus remains debated, archaeological evidence for Semitic populations in the eastern Nile Delta — particularly at Tell el-Dab'a (ancient Avaris, later Rameses) — is substantial, with Canaanite-style architecture and material culture attesting a significant West Semitic presence during the Second Intermediate Period. The Merneptah Stele (c. 1208 BC) contains the earliest extrabiblical reference to Israel. Egyptian records, papyri, and monumental inscriptions provide rich context for understanding the biblical narratives set in this land.
Verse Appearances (658)
Gen
Exod
Lev
Num
Deut
Josh
1Kgs
2Kgs
2Chr
Ps
Prov
Isa
Jer
Lam
Ezek
Hos
Joel
Nah
Hag
Acts
Jude
Rev
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →