These days, Iran is on the front “page” of every news story. But I am wondering if you have given any thought to Iran’s place in the Bible. A recent article in The Christian Post highlighted some thoughts. 

The main language in modern day Iran is called Persian or Farsi. That term originates from a region in southwest Iran where the Persian Empire began. And we first meet the Persians in the book of Genesis.

This people group descended from two of Noah’s grandsons. Madai was the third son of Japheth (Gen. 10:2) and is known as the ancestor of the Medes. Elam, the son of Shem (Gen. 10:22) is the ancestor of the Elamites, found east of the River Tigris.

When the Assyrians raided the northern tribes of Israel, they carried men and women away and resettled some of them in the cities of the Medes. When the Babylonians took Judah captive, they resettled many of them in and around Elam. And that’s where the book of Daniel takes place (Dan. 8:2).

King Cyrus defeated the Medes and created a Medo-Persian Empire. The book of Ezra opens with Cyrus making a proclamation allowing the children of Israel to return to Jerusalem. Daniel prospered under the reign of Cyrus’ grandson, Darius, who encouraged the Jews to rebuild the temple. 

The book of Esther is set in Persia where the King is Darius’ son, Xerxes (also known as Ahasuerus). When Xerxes died, he was succeeded by Artaxerxes I who shows up in the fourth chapter of Ezra. Artaxerxes ultimately supported the work in Jerusalem: “Whoever does not obey the law of your God, and the law of the king must be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property or imprisonment” (Ezra 7:26).

Alexander the Great destroyed the empire of the Medes and Persians, so their later history does not show up in the Bible.

But in the New Testament, the Persians appear again. The magi in Matthew 2 come from Persia. And in Acts 2, the Persians are mentioned on the day of Pentecost: “Parthians, Medes and Elamites…we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues” (Acts 2:9-11).

In Iran today, there is a presence of both Jewish and Christian communities and a growing interest in the Bible. Many missionary groups report that Iranians are coming to Christ in large numbers.

This week would be a great time to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ.