Rameses
LocationsGeographical Setting
An ancient Egyptian city in the eastern Nile Delta, identified with the biblical Pithom and serving as a storage city for the Israelites.
What is the meaning of Rameses in the Bible?
Rameses was a major city in the eastern Nile Delta of Egypt, established during the New Kingdom period and frequently associated with the biblical site of Pithom.
SIGNIFICANCE
Identifying Rameses with Pithom clarifies the geographical setting of the Israelites' forced labor and their departure route, providing concrete historical context for the Exodus narrative.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Geopolitical & Terrain Context: Rameses (located near modern Tell el-Maskhuta, Nile Delta, Egypt) held strategic importance. Understanding its position and trade routes explains why key biblical events unfolded here.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Rameses in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Rameses 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.
How to Cite This Entry
"Rameses." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/rameses/