Thebes, an ancient Egyptian city, known for its wealth and power, mentioned in prophecies of judgment against Egypt (Jer. 46:25; Ezek. 30:14-16; Nah. 3:8).
Also known as No
Thebes, also known as No-amon (Nah. 3:8), was an ancient Egyptian city located in Upper Egypt, known for its wealth, power, and religious significance. It was the capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom period (1550-1070 BC). The city is mentioned in several prophetic passages in the Bible, primarily in the context of God's judgment against Egypt. Jeremiah prophesied that God would punish Amon, the chief deity of Thebes, along with Pharaoh and the people who trusted in him (Jer. 46:25). Ezekiel foretold the destruction of Thebes, stating that God would execute judgments against the city (Ezek. 30:14-16). Nahum used Thebes as an example of a mighty city that fell despite its strength and allies, comparing it to Nineveh (Nah. 3:8-10). The biblical references to Thebes highlight its prominence and influence in ancient times, as well as its vulnerability to God's judgment.
Approximate location: 25.700, 32.639 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
(Authorized Version No, the multitude of No. populous No), a chief cite of ancient Egypt, long the capital of the upper country, and the seat of the Diospolitan dynasties, that ruled over all Egypt at the era of its highest splendor. It was situated on both sides of the Nile, 400 or 500 miles from its mouth. The sacred name of Thebes was P-amen “the abode of Amon,” which the Greeks reproduced in their Diospolis, especially with the addition the Great . No-amon is the name of Thebes in the Hebrew Scriptures. (Jeremiah 46:25; Nahum 3:8) Ezekiel uses No simply to designate the Egyptian seat of Amon. (Ezekiel 30:14,16) [No-Amon] its origin and early allusions to it.—The origin of the city is lost in antiquity. Niebuhr is of opinion that Thebes was much older than Memphis, and that, “after the centre of Egyptian life was transferred to lower Egypt, Memphis acquired its greatness through the ruin of Thebes.” But both cities date from our earliest authentic knowledge of Egyptian history. The first allusion to Thebes in classical literature is the familiar passage of the Iliad (ix. 381-385): “Egyptian Thebes, were are vast treasures laid up in the houses; where are a hundred gates, and from each two hundred men to forth with horses and chariots.” In the first century before Christ, Diodorus visited Thebes, and he devotes several sections of his general work to its history and appearance. Though he saw the city when it had sunk to quite secondary importance, he confirms the tradition of its early grandeur—its circuit of 140 stadia, the size of its public edifices, the magnificence of its temples, the number of its monuments, the dimensions of its private houses, some of them four or five stories high—all giving it an air of grandeur and beauty surpassing not only all other…
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.
5 verses in 3 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H4996
The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I am about to punish Amon god of Thebes, along with Pharaoh, Egypt with her gods and kings, and those who trust in Pharaoh.
I will lay waste Pathros, set fire to Zoan, and execute judgment on Thebes.
I will pour out My wrath on Pelusium, the stronghold of Egypt, and cut off the crowds of Thebes.
I will set fire to Egypt, Pelusium will writhe in anguish, Thebes will be split open, and Memphis will face daily distress.
Are you better than Thebes, stationed by the Nile with water around her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the water?
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.