Calneh (Calno) was an ancient city in Mesopotamia, mentioned as one of Nimrod's cities and later as a trading partner of Tyre.
Also known as Kalneh · Calno · Kalno · Canneh · Kanneh
Calneh, also known as Calno, was an ancient city mentioned in the Bible as one of the cities founded by Nimrod in the land of Shinar (Genesis 10:10). It is also referred to in the prophetic books of Amos (6:2) and Isaiah (10:9) as a city of significance, and in Ezekiel (27:23) as a trading partner of Tyre.
The exact location of Calneh is uncertain, but it is generally believed to have been situated in Mesopotamia, in the region of Babylonia or Assyria. Some scholars identify it with the ancient city of Kullania or Kullanhu, known from Assyrian inscriptions, which was located near the Tigris River.
In the Bible, Calneh is mentioned alongside other notable cities such as Babel, Erech, and Accad, suggesting its importance in the ancient Near Eastern world. The prophet Amos used Calneh as an example of a great city that had fallen, warning Israel of impending judgment (Amo.6.2). Similarly, Isaiah mentioned Calneh in the context of Assyria's conquests and its arrogance against God (Isaiah 10:9).
Ezekiel's reference to Calneh as a trading partner of Tyre (Ezk.27.23) indicates that the city was involved in commercial activities and had established economic ties with other major centers in the region.
Although the biblical references to Calneh are brief, they suggest that it was a city of considerable significance in ancient Mesopotamia, known for its political, economic, and cultural importance. Its association with Nimrod and its mention alongside other prominent cities underscore its place in the early history of human civilization.
Approximate location: 32.127, 45.230 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
Fort, one of the four cities founded by Nimrod (Gen. 10:10). It is the modern Niffer, a lofty mound of earth and rubbish situated in the marshes on the left, i.e., the east, bank of the Euphrates, but 30 miles distant from its present course, and about 60 miles south-south-east from Babylon. It is mentioned as one of the towns with which Tyre carried on trade. It was finally taken and probably destroyed by one of the Assyrian kings (Amos 6:2). It is called Calno (Isa. 10:9) and Canneh (Ezek. 27:23).
CAL'NEH (fortified place?), a city of Chaldaea founded by Nimrod. Gen 10:10; Am 6:2; probably the same as Calno, Isa 10:9, and Canneh, Eze 27:23. Some have proposed to locate Calneh at Ctesiphon, or Kileh-Shenjhat, on the Tigris, 40 miles below Nimroud. Rawlinson and others, however, place ancient Asshur at Kileh-Sherghat, and identify Calneh with Niffer. The ruins at Niffer are 60 miles north-west of Warka, and on the east side of the Euphrates, but 30 miles from the present course of the river. They are conceded to be of very great antiquity, and are divided into nearly equal groups by a deep ravine or channel, 120 feet wide, apparently the dry bed of a river which once ran through the town. Inscriptions found in the mounds indicate that the ancient name of the city was Nijnir, probably the Nojiher of the Talmud, and hence the Calneh of Genesis.
CAL'NEH (fortified place?), a city of Chaldaea founded by Nimrod. Gen 10:10; Am 6:2; probably the same as Calno, Isa 10:9, and Canneh, Eze 27:23. Some have proposed to locate Calneh at Ctesiphon, or Kileh-Shenjhat, on the Tigris, 40 miles below Nimroud. Rawlinson and others, however, place ancient Asshur at Kileh-Sherghat, and identify Calneh with Niffer. The ruins at Niffer are 60 miles north-west of Warka, and on the east side of the Euphrates, but 30 miles from the present course of the river. They are conceded to be of very great antiquity, and are divided into nearly equal groups by a deep ravine or channel, 120 feet wide, apparently the dry bed of a river which once ran through the town. Inscriptions found in the mounds indicate that the ancient name of the city was Nijnir, probably the Nojiher of the Talmud, and hence the Calneh of Genesis.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
4 verses in 4 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H3641
His kingdom began in Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
“Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?
Haran, Canneh, and Eden traded with you, and so did the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad.
Cross over to Calneh and see; go from there to the great Hamath; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Is their territory larger than yours?
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.