Lexical Summary Arpad: Arpad Original Word: אַרְפָּד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Arpad, Arphad From raphad; spread out; Arpad, a place in Syria -- Arpad, Arphad. see HEBREW raphad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition a city in Aram (Syria) NASB Translation Arpad (6). Brown-Driver-Briggs אַרְמַּד proper name, of a location city in northern Syria (Assyrian Arpadda DlPa 275) — ׳א Isaiah 10:9 elsewhere אַרְמָּ֑ד; approximately 15 miles north of Aleppo, modern Tel Erfâd; in OT only as conquered by Assyria, always named with Hamath, etc. 2 Kings 18:34; 2 Kings 19:13 = Isaiah 36:19; Isaiah 37:13 (on ᵐ5 Ῥαφέθ = Ἀρφάθ compare LagBN 78), also Isaiah 10:9; Jeremiah 49:23; (compare NöZMG 1871, 258 Kiepib. 655.) Topical Lexicon Overview of ArpadArpad was a fortified city-kingdom of northern Syria, identified with modern Tell Rifaat, roughly twenty-five miles north of Aleppo. In Scripture it is always mentioned alongside other Syrian or northern Levantine centers such as Hamath, Sepharvaim, Damascus, and Gozan. Although politically significant in the eighth century BC, Arpad serves the biblical writers primarily as an emblem—its downfall a testament to the impotence of idols and the sure triumph of the LORD. Biblical References Isaiah 10:9; Isaiah 36:19; Isaiah 37:13 A representative citation is 2 Kings 18:34: “Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand?” Historical Setting By the mid–eighth century BC Arpad stood at the crossroads of Assyrian, Aramean, and Hittite spheres of influence. Tiglath-Pileser III besieged and captured the city around 740 BC, converting it into an Assyrian provincial capital. This conquest was so decisive that later Assyrian kings—Sargon II, Sennacherib, and Esarhaddon—regularly cited Arpad’s fall as proof of their dominance. When the biblical narratives refer to “the gods of Arpad,” they reflect the Assyrian propaganda that touted previous victories to intimidate subsequent targets such as Jerusalem. Arpad in the Assyrian Campaigns In 2 Kings 18–19 and the parallel passages in Isaiah 36–37, Rabshakeh and King Sennacherib invoke Arpad’s defeat to convince Judah that resistance to Assyria is futile. Their argument rests on three assertions: 1. Every city in their path, including Arpad, has fallen. Hezekiah’s prayer and the prophetic response of Isaiah overturn these claims, demonstrating that the living God is unlike the powerless idols of Arpad. Symbol of Human Pride versus Divine Sovereignty Arpad thus becomes a literary and theological foil. Its capture represents the apex of human military achievement; its mention reminds readers that earthly power has limits when set against the LORD of hosts. Isaiah 10:9 rhetorically places Arpad on a continuum of conquered peoples: “Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?”. The prophet exposes the arrogance of Assyria, which assumes that victory over Arpad guarantees victory everywhere. God refutes this presumption by decisively saving Jerusalem. Prophetic Echoes in Jeremiah Jeremiah 49:23 revisits Arpad’s fate a century later: “Concerning Damascus. Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard a bad report; they are disheartened, seized with anxiety like the restless sea that cannot calm down”. Here Arpad functions as a warning to Damascus. What happened to one Syrian fortress can happen to another; the LORD remains in control of international affairs. Ministry and Devotional Applications • God’s past acts authenticate His present promises. Just as He overruled Assyrian boasts, He will vindicate His name today. Key Themes Judgment on Idolatry Sovereignty of God over Nations Reliability of Prophetic Warning Encouragement to Trust in God amid Crisis Related Scriptural Parallels Psalm 115:4-8 – Contrast between lifeless idols and the living God. Daniel 3 – False confidence in idolatrous power versus divine deliverance. Revelation 18 – Fall of Babylon as ultimate demonstration that worldly systems cannot stand against God’s purpose. Arpad’s six fleeting appearances form a cohesive testimony: every stronghold that exalts itself against the knowledge of God will fall, but those who trust in the LORD will be upheld. Forms and Transliterations אַרְפָּ֔ד ארפד וְאַרְפָּ֔ד וְאַרְפָּ֗ד וארפד כְאַרְפַּד֙ כארפד ’ar·pāḏ ’arpāḏ arPad chearPad ḵə’arpaḏ ḵə·’ar·paḏ vearPad wə’arpāḏ wə·’ar·pāḏLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 18:34 HEB: אֱלֹהֵ֨י חֲמָ֜ת וְאַרְפָּ֗ד אַיֵּ֛ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י NAS: of Hamath and Arpad? Where KJV: of Hamath, and of Arpad? where [are] the gods INT: are the gods of Hamath Arpad Where are the gods 2 Kings 19:13 Isaiah 10:9 Isaiah 36:19 Isaiah 37:13 Jeremiah 49:23 6 Occurrences |
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