Susa
LocationsGeographical Setting
Susa was an ancient Elamite city and later the winter capital of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, located in the Khuzestan province of modern-day Iran.
What is the meaning of Susa in the Bible?
Susa, also known as Shushan, was a major political and administrative center in antiquity, serving as the capital of Elam and later the Achaemenid Empire, and is referenced in biblical texts such as Esther and Ezra.
SIGNIFICANCE
Identifying Susa clarifies the geopolitical setting of the Persian period narratives in the Bible, helping readers visualize the imperial power structure under which the Jewish exiles lived and the specific court dynamics described in books like Esther.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Susa in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Susa clarify?
Related Topics
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.