Jump to: Hitchcock's • ATS • ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia Introduction: Media, an ancient kingdom located in what is now northwestern Iran, plays a significant role in the historical and prophetic narratives of the Bible. The Medes, the inhabitants of Media, are frequently mentioned in conjunction with the Persians, forming the Medo-Persian Empire, which was instrumental in the fulfillment of several biblical prophecies. Historical Background: Media is first mentioned in the Bible in the context of the Table of Nations in Genesis 10:2, where Madai, a son of Japheth, is listed as the ancestor of the Medes. The Medes were an Indo-European people who settled in the region around the 8th century BC. By the 7th century BC, they had established a powerful kingdom that eventually allied with the Babylonians to overthrow the Assyrian Empire. Biblical References: The Medes are mentioned in several key biblical passages. In 2 Kings 17:6, the Assyrian king Shalmaneser V is said to have exiled the Israelites to "Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River, and in the towns of the Medes." This reference highlights the extent of Assyrian control and the geographical reach of Media during this period. In the prophetic literature, Media is often associated with divine judgment against Babylon. Isaiah 13:17-19 prophesies, "Behold, I will stir up against them the Medes, who have no regard for silver and no desire for gold. Their bows will strike down the young men; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; they will not look with pity on the children. And Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah." This prophecy was fulfilled when the Medes, under the leadership of Cyrus the Great, conquered Babylon in 539 BC. Jeremiah also speaks of the Medes in the context of Babylon's fall. In Jeremiah 51:11, the prophet declares, "Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers! The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because His purpose is against Babylon to destroy it, for it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance for His temple." Role in the Medo-Persian Empire: The Medes and Persians formed a dual monarchy under the leadership of Cyrus the Great, who is mentioned in the Bible as a deliverer of the Jewish people. In Daniel 5:28, during the interpretation of the writing on the wall, Daniel tells King Belshazzar, "Your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians." This event marks the end of the Babylonian Empire and the beginning of the Medo-Persian rule. The Medo-Persian Empire is further depicted in the book of Daniel through the vision of the ram with two horns, representing the kings of Media and Persia (Daniel 8:20). This empire played a crucial role in the history of Israel, as it was under Persian rule that the Jewish exiles were allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, as decreed by Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-4). Cultural and Religious Influence: The Medes, like the Persians, practiced Zoroastrianism, a religion that emphasized the duality of good and evil and the importance of moral choice. While the Bible does not delve into the religious practices of the Medes, their influence on the Persian Empire and its policies, including the relatively tolerant approach to the diverse cultures and religions within their realm, is evident in the biblical narrative. Conclusion: The Medes, as part of the Medo-Persian Empire, were instrumental in the fulfillment of biblical prophecies concerning the judgment of Babylon and the restoration of Israel. Their historical and prophetic significance underscores the sovereignty of God in the affairs of nations, as depicted in the biblical narrative. Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary MediaATS Bible Dictionary MediaCalled by the Hebrews MADAI, and supposed to have been peopled by the descendants of Madai the son of Japheth, Genesis 10:2; extended itself on the west and south of the Caspian Sea, from Armenia and Assyria on the north and west, to Farsistan or Persia proper on the south; and included the districts now called Shirvan, Adserbijan, Ghilan, Masanderan, and Irak Adjemi. It covered a territory larger than that of Spain, lying between 32 degrees and 40 degrees of north latitude, and was one of the most fertile and earliest cultivated among the kingdoms of Asia. It had two grand divisions, of which the northwestern was called Atropatene, or Lesser Media, and the southern Greater Media. The former corresponds to the modern Abserbijan, now, as formerly, a province of the Persian empire, on the west of the Caspian, surrounded by high mountains of the Tauritic range, except towards the east, where the river Kur, or Byrus, discharges its waters into the Caspian. The Greater Media corresponds principally to the modern Irak Adjemi, or Persian Irak. Ecbatana was the ancient capital. Media is one of the most ancient independent kingdoms of which history makes mention. After several centuries of subjugation under Assyria, the Medes rebelled under Arbaces in the time of Sardanapalus, and again in the time of Sennacherib, about 700 B. C.. They became powerful, cultivated, and wealthy, Isaiah 13:17,18 21:2-3, and continued an independent kingdom until under Cyrus, Media became united with Persia. In this way arose the Medro-Persian kingdom; and the "laws of the Medes and Persians" are always mentioned by the sacred writers together, Esther 1:19, etc.; Daniel 6:8,12, etc. So also the "Chronicles" of the Medes and Persians are mentioned together, Esther 10:2. Indeed, from this time inward, the manners, customs, religion, and civilization of the Medes and Persians seem ever to have become more and more amalgamated. And in general it would seem, as we may gather from the ancient Zend writings, that the Medes, Persians, and Bactraians were originally the same people, having in common one language, the Zend, and one religion, the worship of Ormuzd, the highest being, under the symbol of fire. They also worshipped the stars, particularly the planets; and still more, the sun and moon. The priests of this religion, the Magi, were a Median race, to whom were intrusted the cultivation of the sciences, and the performance of the sacred rites. Among these, and as is supposed before the time of Cyrus, appeared Zerdusht, or Zoroaster, as a reformer, or rather as the restorer of the ancient but degenerated religion of light, whose disciples have maintained themselves even to the present day in Persia and India, under the name of Guebres. Media is first mentioned in the Bible as the part of Assyria to which the ten tribes were transported: at first, those beyond the Jordan, by Tiglath-pileser, 1 Chronicles 5:26; and afterwards, about 721 B. C., the remainder of Israel, by Shalmaneser, 2 Kings 17:6. The subsequent history of Media is involved in that of Persia. Both countries were subdued by Alexander of Macedon, 330 B. C.; and in the next century became tributary to the Parthians on their east, in connection with whom they are mentioned in Acts 2:9. See PERSIA. Easton's Bible Dictionary Hebrews Madai, which is rendered in the Authorized Version (1) "Madai," Genesis 10:2; (2) "Medes," 2 Kings 17:6; 18:11; (3) "Media," Esther 1:3; 10:2; Isaiah 21:2; Dan. 8:20; (4) "Mede," only in Dan. 11:1.We first hear of this people in the Assyrian cuneiform records, under the name of Amada, about B.C. 840. They appear to have been a branch of the Aryans, who came from the east bank of the Indus, and were probably the predominant race for a while in the Mesopotamian valley. They consisted for three or four centuries of a number of tribes, each ruled by its own chief, who at length were brought under the Assyrian yoke (2 Kings 17:6). From this subjection they achieved deliverance, and formed themselves into an empire under Cyaxares (B.C. 633). This monarch entered into an alliance with the king of Babylon, and invaded Assyria, capturing and destroying the city of Nineveh (B.C. 625), thus putting an end to the Assyrian monarchy (Nahum 1:8; 2:5, 6; 3:13, 14). Media now rose to a place of great power, vastly extending its boundaries. But it did not long exist as an independent kingdom. It rose with Cyaxares, its first king, and it passed away with him; for during the reign of his son and successor Astyages, the Persians waged war against the Medes and conquered them, the two nations being united under one monarch, Cyrus the Persian (B.C. 558). The "cities of the Medes" are first mentioned in connection with the deportation of the Israelites on the destruction of Samaria (2 Kings 17:6; 18:11). Soon afterwards Isaiah (13:17; 21:2) speaks of the part taken by the Medes in the destruction of Babylon (Comp. Jeremiah 51:11, 28). Daniel gives an account of the reign of Darius the Mede, who was made viceroy by Cyrus (Dan. 6:1-28). The decree of Cyrus, Ezra informs us (6:2-5), was found in "the palace that is in the province of the Medes," Achmetha or Ecbatana of the Greeks, which is the only Median city mentioned in Scripture. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) pl. of Medium.2. (n.) One of the sonant mutes /, /, / (b, d, g), in Greek, or of their equivalents in other languages, so named as intermediate between the tenues, /, /, / (p, t, k), and the aspiratae (aspirates) /, /, / (ph or f, th, ch). Also called middle mute, or medial, and sometimes soft mute. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia MEDIAme'-di-a (madhay; Achaem. Persian Mada; Media): Lay to the West and Southwest of the Caspian, and extended thence to the Zagrus Mountains on the West On the North in later times it was bounded by the rivers Araxes and Cyrus, which separated it from Armenia. Its eastern boundaries were formed by Hyrcania and the Great Salt Desert (now called the Kavir), and it was bounded on the South by Susiana. In earlier times its limits were somewhat indefinite. It included Atropatene, (Armenian Atrpatakan, the name, "Fire-guarding," showing devotion to the worship of Fire) to the North, and Media Magna to the South, the former being the present A'zarbaijan. Near the Caspian the country is low, damp and unhealthy, but inland most of it is high and mountainous, Mt. Demavand in the Alburz range reaching 18,600 ft. Atropatene was famed for the fertility of its valleys and table-lands, except toward the North. Media Magna is high; it has fruitful tracts along the course of the streams, but suffers much from want of water, though this was doubtless more abundant in antiquity. It contained the Nisaean Plain, famous for its breed of horses. The chief cities of ancient Media were Ecbatana, Gazaea, and Ragae. The Orontes range near Ecbatana is the present Alvand. Lake Spauta is now known as Urmi (Urumiah). Greek 3370. Medos -- a Mede, Median, an inhabitant of Media ... a Mede, Median, an inhabitant of Media. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Medos Phonetic Spelling: (may'-dos) Short Definition: a Mede Definition ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3370.htm - 6k Strong's Hebrew 307. Achmetha -- the capital of Media... 306, 307. Achmetha. 308 . the capital of Media. Transliteration: Achmetha Phonetic Spelling: (akh-me-thaw') Short Definition: Ecbatana. ... /hebrew/307.htm - 6k 133. Admatha -- a prince of Pers. and Media 4462. Memukan -- a prince of Persia and Media 4077. Maday -- an inhabitant of Media 4075. Maday -- an inhabitant of Media 4074. Maday -- a son of Japheth, also his desc. and their land 2024. Hara -- a region of N. Mesopotamia 4076. Maday -- descendant of Japheth, also their land Library The visit to Media. Concerning Nebuchadnezzar and his Successors and How their ... How Shalmaneser Took Samaria by Force and How He Transplanted the ... The Birth of Cyrus. Queen Esther's Love for Her People Accession of Cyrus to the Throne. All Mankind Guilty; Or, Every Man Knows More than He Practises. The Sixth vial. The Consensus of Zurich. AD 1549. How Upon the Death of Jotham, Ahaz Reigned in his Stead; against ... Thesaurus Media (14 Occurrences)... Hebrews Madai, which is rendered in the Authorized Version (1) "Madai," Genesis 10:2; (2) "Medes," 2 Kings 17:6; 18:11; (3) "Media," Esther 1:3; 10:2; Isaiah 21 ... /m/media.htm - 15k Media's (1 Occurrence) Darius (26 Occurrences) Medes (15 Occurrences) Persia (30 Occurrences) Median (3 Occurrences) Magi (4 Occurrences) Achmetha (1 Occurrence) Tobit Anaharath (1 Occurrence) Resources How much of a role should media have in worship services? | GotQuestions.orgShould a Christian use social media/networking tools (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, etc.)? | GotQuestions.org Should Christians post prayers on social media? | GotQuestions.org Media: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Media (14 Occurrences)Acts 2:9 Ezra 6:2 Esther 1:3 Esther 1:14 Esther 1:18 Esther 1:19 Esther 10:2 Isaiah 21:2 Jeremiah 25:25 Jeremiah 51:28 Daniel 6:8 Daniel 6:12 Daniel 6:15 Daniel 8:20 Subtopics Related Terms |
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