Location
Overview
The Euphrates is the longest and most important river of the ancient Near East. The Bible calls it simply "the great river" (Genesis 15:18), and it frames the story of God's people from creation to prophecy.
A river of Eden
It is the fourth of the rivers that watered the Garden of Eden: "and the fourth river is Euphrates" (Genesis 2:14).
The boundary of the promise
When God made his covenant with Abram, he defined the land "from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates" (Genesis 15:18) — the ideal northern limit of the Promised Land, reached in the days of David and Solomon.
The river of empires
On its banks rose Babylon, the city of Israel's exile, where the captives "sat down... and wept" (Psalm 137:1). The Euphrates appears again in prophecy and in Revelation as a boundary of judgment (Revelation 9:14; 16:12).
Events Here
God promises Abram the land to the river Euphrates
The Euphrates named as the fourth river of Eden
Scripture References
24 versesGenesis2 verses
Genesis 2:14
And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. toward: or, eastward to Assyria
Genesis 15:18
In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
Deuteronomy2 verses
Deuteronomy 1:7
Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates. all: Heb. all his neighbours
Deuteronomy 11:24
Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.
Joshua1 verse
Joshua 1:4
From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
2 Samuel2 verses
2 Samuel 8:3
David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. Hadadezer: or, Hadarezer
2 Samuel 10:16
And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them. the river: that is, Euphrates Shobach: or, Shophach
2 Kings2 verses
2 Kings 23:29
In his days Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.
2 Kings 24:7
And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.
1 Chronicles3 verses
1 Chronicles 5:9
And eastward he inhabited unto the entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates: because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead.
1 Chronicles 18:3
And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates. Hadarezer: or, Hadadezer
1 Chronicles 19:16
And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them. river: i.that is, Euphrates Shophach: or, Shobach.2Sam.10.16
2 Chronicles2 verses
2 Chronicles 9:26
And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. river: that is, Euphrates
2 Chronicles 35:20
After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. temple: Heb. house
Jeremiah8 verses
Jeremiah 13:4
Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.
Jeremiah 13:5
So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.
Jeremiah 13:6
And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.
Jeremiah 13:7
Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.
Jeremiah 46:2
Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.
Jeremiah 46:6
Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.
Jeremiah 46:10
For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
Jeremiah 51:63
And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates:
Revelation2 verses
Revelation 9:14
Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
Revelation 16:12
And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
Archaeology & History
The Euphrates rises in the mountains of eastern Turkey and flows some 2,800 km through Syria and Iraq, joining the Tigris before reaching the Persian Gulf. The great cities of Mesopotamia — Babylon, Mari, Ur — grew along its course, and its waters made the "fertile crescent" the cradle of early civilisation.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Euphrates River
Where is Euphrates River today?
Today, Euphrates River corresponds to Euphrates (Firat / Al-Furat).
What happened at Euphrates River in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Euphrates River include god promises abram the land to the river euphrates; the euphrates named as the fourth river of eden.
Where is Euphrates River first mentioned in the Bible?
Euphrates River is first mentioned in Genesis 2:14.
How often is Euphrates River mentioned in the Bible?
Euphrates River is mentioned in 24 verses across 9 books: Genesis, Deuteronomy, Joshua, 2 Samuel, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Jeremiah, Revelation.
Why is the Euphrates important in the Bible?
It is one of the four rivers of Eden, the promised northern boundary of the land given to Abraham, and the river of Babylon where Israel was later exiled.
Where is the Euphrates River?
It rises in eastern Turkey and flows through Syria and Iraq to the Persian Gulf — the longest river in western Asia.