Tarpelites
Peopleâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
The Tarpelites are a group mentioned in Ezra 4:9, with various theories proposed to identify them, including the Tuplai tribe on the coast of Pontus and tablet-writers from Assyrian inscriptions.
What is the meaning of Tarpelites in the Bible?
The Tarpelites are a group mentioned in Ezra 4:9, with various theories proposed to identify them, including the Tuplai tribe on the coast of Pontus and tablet-writers from Assyrian inscriptions.
SIGNIFICANCE
Identifying the Tarpelites helps clarify the ethnic composition of the Persian Empire's administrative apparatus and the specific geopolitical tensions described in the biblical narrative of the Judean restoration.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Tarpelites in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Tarpelites clarify?
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.