Places of the Bible

Memphis

Lower Egypt, on the Nile · Old Testament · 8 verses

Memphis, called Noph in the KJV, was one of Egypt's chief cities, located on the Nile south of the delta. It was a longtime capital and cult center. The name appears in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and 1 more in the King James text.

About Memphis

Memphis, called Noph in the KJV, was one of Egypt's chief cities, located on the Nile south of the delta. It was a longtime capital and cult center.

Its place in the story

Hosea and the other prophets referred to Memphis in warnings about Egypt and about Israel's misplaced trust in it. Its temples and tombs made it a symbol of Egyptian religion. It appears among the places touched by God's judgment on Egypt.

Memphis in Scripture (KJV)

“The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.”
Isaiah 19:13 (KJV)
“Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.”
Jeremiah 2:16 (KJV)
“The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwell in the land of Egypt, which dwell at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying,”
Jeremiah 44:1 (KJV)
“Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee.”
Jeremiah 46:14 (KJV)
“O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.”
Jeremiah 46:19 (KJV)
“Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to cease out of Noph; and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt: and I will put a fear in the land of Egypt.”
Ezekiel 30:13 (KJV)
“And I will set fire in Egypt: Sin shall have great pain, and No shall be rent asunder, and Noph shall have distresses daily.”
Ezekiel 30:16 (KJV)
“For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles.”
Hosea 9:6 (KJV)

Where it leads

As a center of Egypt's idolatry brought low by God, Memphis is part of the wider story in which the true King and Deliverer is revealed in Christ.

Who is Jesus? · Places of the Bible

People also ask

Where is Memphis in the Bible?

Memphis, called Noph in the KJV, was one of Egypt's chief cities, located on the Nile south of the delta. It was a longtime capital and cult center. The name appears in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and 1 more in the King James text.

What happened at Memphis?

Hosea and the other prophets referred to Memphis in warnings about Egypt and about Israel's misplaced trust in it. Its temples and tombs made it a symbol of Egyptian religion. It appears among the places touched by God's judgment on Egypt.

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Scripture verbatim KJV. Place facts curated; any coordinates via Wikidata (CC0).

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