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Sivan

Culture & Society

What is the meaning of Sivan in the Bible?

The third month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, corresponding to late May and June, is referenced in Ezra 8:9.

SIGNIFICANCE

Understanding Sivan provides context for the timeline of the return from Babylonian exile and the subsequent celebration of the festival of Shavuot.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Sivan. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
  • Why did the biblical author mention Sivan in this passage?
  • What cultural or historical assumption does Sivan clarify?
Scripture Passages Mentioned: Ezra 8:9

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

"Sivan." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/sivan/
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