Atlas Biblica

    place · also Sardis

    Sepharad

    סְפָרַ֑דΣάρδεις

    Sepharad, possibly referring to Sardis, was a destination of exiled Jews (Obad. 1:20) and one of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation (Rev. 1:11; 3:1, 4).

    Where the story of Sepharad happensWhere the gazetteer locates Sepharad, framed to them: Sepharad. Each dot is a coordinate from the gazetteer. The coastline is a modern one, simplified; no border, road or settlement of any period is drawn, and no line joins two points, because the rows state where and not in what order.Sepharad
    Where the gazetteer locates Sepharad
    verses
    4
    first named
    Obadiah 1:20
    last named
    Revelation 3:4
    feature
    settlement
    coordinates
    38.49°N · 28.04°E
    settlement38.49°N · 28.04°E

    Sardis (OpenBible)

    The gazetteer records one identification, and no competing one.

    Description

    Sepharad in the text

    In the words of STEPBible TIPNR:

    Sepharad is mentioned in the Bible as a place where exiled Jews were located (Obad. 1:20). The exact location of Sepharad is uncertain, but many scholars believe it refers to Sardis, an ancient city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Sardis was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia and later became an important city in the Persian and Roman empires.

    In the book of Revelation, Sardis is mentioned as one of the seven churches addressed by Jesus (Rev. 1:11; 3:1, 4). The church in Sardis is rebuked for its spiritual deadness and is called to repent and strengthen what remains (Rev. 3:1-3). However, there were a few faithful believers in Sardis who had not defiled their garments, and they are promised to walk with Jesus in white (Rev. 3:4).

    If Sepharad and Sardis are indeed the same place, the reference in Obadiah suggests that a Jewish community existed there, possibly as a result of the Babylonian exile. The mention of Sardis in Revelation highlights the city's significance in early Christian history and the challenges faced by the church in that location.

    Relations

    Direct connections

    Every relation is authored once and its inverse derived, so both ends of an edge always agree. Neither end of one reaches this entity.

    Not stated

    Nothing stands in a stated relation with this entity.

    Read it

    Where to read it

    Every verse of the text carried here that names this entity — 4, across 2 books.

    1. Obadiah1 verse

      1:20

    2. Revelation3 verses

      1:113:13:4

    Onward

    Where this page goes

    Nothing in the graph stands one hop from this entity yet. These are the best-connected entities of the same type, so the page still ends somewhere. Descriptions by STEPBible TIPNR.

    ElsewhereJerusalemThe capital of Israel, a holy city for three religionsElsewhereEgyptAncient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and ExodusElsewhereJordanA river and region, significant in Israel's history

    Sources

    What this rests on