Aretas
Peopleâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
Aretas IV was the long-reigning king of the Nabatean Kingdom, ruling from roughly 9 BC to 40 AD, and is recorded in the New Testament and the works of the historian Josephus.
What is the meaning of Aretas in the Bible?
Aretas IV was the long-reigning king of the Nabatean Kingdom, ruling from roughly 9 BC to 40 AD, and is recorded in the New Testament and the works of the historian Josephus.
SIGNIFICANCE
Identifying Aretas clarifies the political backdrop of Paul's ministry in Damascus, specifically the account in 2 Corinthians 11:32 where the governor under King Aretas guarded the city to arrest him.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.