3318. Mesopotamia
Lexical Summary
Mesopotamia: Mesopotamia

Original Word: Μεσοποταμία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: Mesopotamia
Pronunciation: meh-so-po-tah-MEE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (mes-op-ot-am-ee'-ah)
KJV: Mesopotamia
NASB: Mesopotamia
Word Origin: [from G3319 (μέσος - midst) and G4215 (ποταμός - river)]

1. Mesopotamia (as lying between the Euphrates and the Tigris), a region of Asia

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Mesopotamia.

From mesos and potamos; Mesopotamia (as lying between the Euphrates and the Tigris; compare 'Aram Naharayim), a region of Asia -- Mesopotamia.

see GREEK mesos

see GREEK potamos

see HEBREW 'Aram Naharayim

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from mesos and potamos
Definition
Mesopotamia, a region through which the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers flow
NASB Translation
Mesopotamia (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3318: Μεσοποταμία

Μεσοποταμία, Μεσοποταμίας, (feminine of μεσοποτάμιος, Μεσοποταμία, μεσοποταμιον, namely, χώρα; from μέσος and ποταμός), Mesopotamia, the name, not so much political as geographical (scarcely in use before the time of Alexander the Great), of a region in Asia, lying between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris (whence it took its name; cf. Arrian. anab. Alex. 7, 7; Tar. ann. 6, 37; נַהֲרַיִם אֲרַם, Aram of the two rivers, Genesis 24:10), bounded on the north by the range of Taurus and on the south by the Persian Gulf; many Jews bad settled in it (Josephus, Antiquities 12, 3, 4): Acts 2:9; Acts 7:2. (Cf. Socin in Encycl. Brit. edition 9, under the word; Rawlinson, Herodotus, vol. i. Essay ix.)

Topical Lexicon
Geographical Scope and Historical Overview

Mesopotamia denotes the stretch of fertile land between the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, encompassing the great alluvial plain that saw the rise of Sumer, Akkad, Assyria, and Babylon. Its location made it a cultural crossroads linking Asia Minor, Persia, and the Levant. The region’s extraordinary agricultural potential, sophisticated urban centers, and advanced legal codes (e.g., Hammurabi) formed the backdrop for many events that intersect with the biblical narrative.

Mesopotamia in Old Testament Foundations

1. The Call of Abraham
• Stephen reminds his listeners that “the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia” (Acts 7:2). Genesis records that Abram’s family left Ur of the Chaldeans, a city in southern Mesopotamia, for Haran before the patriarch journeyed to Canaan (Genesis 11:31–12:5).
• This setting underscores that the covenantal plan began in a land renowned for idolatry (Joshua 24:2), highlighting the grace of divine initiative.
2. The Tower of Babel
• Shinar (Genesis 11:2) corresponds to the southern Mesopotamian plain. The Babel narrative depicts human pride in the very heartland of world civilization, contrasting with Abraham’s obedient faith from the same region.
3. Exile and Return
• Centuries later Judah’s elites were deported to Babylon (2 Kings 24–25), placing God’s people once more in Mesopotamia. The prophets’ promises of restoration (Jeremiah 29:10–14; Isaiah 44:28) demonstrate that the Lord’s sovereignty extended even to the great empires of the Fertile Crescent.

New Testament Contextual Usage

Acts employs the term twice:
Acts 2:9 lists “residents of Mesopotamia” among those hearing the disciples’ Spirit-empowered proclamation at Pentecost. Jewish pilgrims from the distant cradle of civilization received the gospel in their own languages, a sign that redemption reaches the nations that once gathered to build Babel.
Acts 7:2, in Stephen’s defense, anchors Israel’s account in Mesopotamia, showing that God’s redemptive work predates and transcends the geographic boundaries of the Promised Land. By beginning with Abraham’s call, Stephen establishes continuity between patriarchal faith and the gospel he proclaims, countering accusations that he spoke “against this holy place” (Acts 6:13).

Theological Themes and Doctrinal Insights

1. Sovereignty Over Nations

The Lord directs history from Ur to Pentecost, controlling empires and scattering or gathering peoples to fulfill His purposes (Daniel 2:20-21; Acts 17:26-27).
2. Mission to the Diaspora

The presence of Mesopotamian Jews at Jerusalem’s feast illustrates that dispersion served a missionary purpose. When they returned eastward, the gospel was poised to radiate along ancient trade routes back to the heartland of civilization.
3. Grace That Calls Out of Idolatry

Abraham’s summons from a polytheistic milieu exemplifies conversion by grace alone (Romans 4:1-5). His obedience prefigures believers’ own call to leave worldly allegiances (Hebrews 11:8-10).
4. Reversal of Babel

Luke juxtaposes Babel’s confusion (Genesis 11) with Pentecost’s clarity as the Spirit reverses linguistic division and begins gathering one new people in Christ (Ephesians 2:13-18).

Historical Influence on Early Christianity

Early church tradition indicates that apostles such as Thomas, Thaddaeus, and Bartholomew traveled east. Syriac Christianity rapidly took root in Edessa and along the Euphrates. The seed sown at Pentecost likely contributed to these developments, and by the second century vibrant Christian communities dotted northern Mesopotamia, testifying to Scripture’s trajectory from Abraham to the nations.

Ministry Reflections and Contemporary Application

• God still calls believers to leave comfort and familiarity for obedience shaped by faith rather than sight.
• Strategic urban centers—ancient Ur or modern metropolises—remain crucial in disseminating the gospel.
• Diaspora populations provide open doors for cross-cultural evangelism; like the Mesopotamians in Acts 2, immigrants today may carry the message back to lands otherwise closed to missionaries.
• The faithfulness of God from Mesopotamia to Jerusalem assures believers that no cultural stronghold is beyond His reach.

Selected Cross-References for Further Study

Genesis 11:31–12:3; Genesis 24:4; Deuteronomy 23:4; Judges 3:8-10; 2 Kings 25:11; Daniel 1:1-2; Isaiah 43:14; Jeremiah 32:37-41; Romans 11:33-36; Hebrews 11:8-16.

Forms and Transliterations
Μεσοποταμια Μεσοποταμίᾳ Μεσοποταμιαν Μεσοποταμίαν Mesopotamia Mesopotamíāi Mesopotamian Mesopotamían
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Englishman's Concordance
Acts 2:9 N-AFS
GRK: κατοικοῦντες τὴν Μεσοποταμίαν Ἰουδαίαν τε
NAS: and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea
KJV: the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and
INT: inhabit Mesopotamia Judea also

Acts 7:2 N-DFS
GRK: ἐν τῇ Μεσοποταμίᾳ πρὶν ἢ
NAS: Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before
KJV: when he was in Mesopotamia, before he
INT: in Mesopotamia before than

Strong's Greek 3318
2 Occurrences


Μεσοποταμίᾳ — 1 Occ.
Μεσοποταμίαν — 1 Occ.

3317
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