Niger
LocationsGeographical Setting
The Niger River is the principal river of West Africa, flowing approximately 4,180 kilometers from the Guinea Highlands through Mali, Niger, Benin, and Nigeria into the Gulf of Guinea.
What is the meaning of Niger in the Bible?
The 'river of Egypt' mentioned in Ezekiel 38:4 and alluded to in Psalm 68:31 is generally identified by scholars as the Nile or a seasonal wadi in the Sinai/Palestine region, not the Niger River in West Africa.
SIGNIFICANCE
The mention of the Niger River in biblical texts highlights the geographical knowledge and cultural exchange between ancient Israelites and African cultures.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Niger in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Niger clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.