How do Persia, Cush, and Put relate to modern nations in Ezekiel 38:5? Setting within Ezekiel 38 “Persia, Cush, and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets.” (Ezekiel 38:5) Identifying the Ancient Names • Persia – the name used from the 6th century BC onward for the territory east of Mesopotamia, centered in Elam and Media. • Cush – in the Old Testament, the land south of Egypt along the Nile, associated with Nubia/Ethiopia. • Put – a North African people often linked with the western neighbor of Egypt, appearing beside Libya in extra-biblical records (e.g., Nahum 3:9). Connecting to Modern Geography • Persia → modern-day Iran ‒ The Persian Empire originated where Iran now stands. ‒ The name “Persia” was formally retained in international usage until 1935. • Cush → Sudan and Ethiopia region ‒ Biblical Cush lies along the upper Nile; its heartland matches present-day Sudan, with cultural reach into Ethiopia. ‒ Isaiah 18:1; Jeremiah 46:9 point to a Nile-valley power south of Egypt. • Put → Libya (and surrounding western North Africa) ‒ Ancient inscriptions from Egypt and Assyria locate Put west of Egypt. ‒ Ezekiel 30:5 lists Put with “all Arabia and Libya,” reinforcing a Maghreb setting. Why These Identifications Matter • They ground Ezekiel’s prophecy in real, traceable nations, underscoring Scripture’s historical precision. • They help readers watch developments involving Iran, Sudan/Ethiopia, and Libya when considering end-times alliances foretold in Ezekiel 38–39. • They remind believers that God’s Word accurately spans millennia: “The word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8) Key Takeaways • Persia corresponds to today’s Iran. • Cush aligns with the Sudan-Ethiopia Nile corridor. • Put points to Libya and adjoining North Africa. God accurately named these ancient peoples; their modern counterparts remain on the stage He foretold long ago. |
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