Darius
Darius in the Bible — King of Persia (EZR 4:5). Referenced in 5 scripture passages.
Name meaning: “he that informs himself”
Profile
- Gender
- male
- Scripture References
- 5 references
- Known Names
- 5 names
Biography
Darius was a male king of Persia mentioned in the book of Ezra. He is likely identified as Darius III, the last King of Persia who was conquered by Alexander the Great. His role as a Persian monarch situates him within the broader biblical narrative concerning the nations interacting with Israel.
Names & Titles
The name Darius means 'he who upholds the good,' reflecting a positive attribute though not given by God. He is also referred to by several titles including 'King of Persia,' 'King Darius,' 'King of Assyria,' and 'Darius the Persian,' indicating his royal status and association with Persian and Assyrian domains as recorded in Ezra and Nehemiah.
Family
Scripture does not record family relationships for Darius beyond his identification as king. There are no listed relationships or tribal affiliations connected to him in the biblical text.
Significance
Darius holds significance as a Persian king who appears in the biblical record during the post-exilic period, a time when the Persian Empire exerted influence over Israel. His reign provides historical context for the restoration efforts described in Ezra and Nehemiah. The mention of Darius underscores God's sovereign use of foreign rulers in His providential plan for His people.
Names & Labels (5)
- Hebrew
- דָּרְיָוֶשׁ
- Transliteration
- darəyavas
- Meaning
- he who upholds the good
- Greek
- Δαρείου
- Reference
- EZR 4:5
- Strong's
- H1867
- Hebrew
- מֶלֶךְ פָּרַס
- Transliteration
- melek paras
- Meaning
- king [of] Persia
- Greek
- βασιλέως Περσῶν
- Reference
- EZR 4:5
- Strong's
- H4428, H6539
- Hebrew
- דָּרְיָוֶשׁ מַלְכָּא
- Transliteration
- darəyavas maləkha
- Meaning
- Darius King
- Greek
- Δαρεῖος ὁ βασιλεὺς
- Reference
- EZR 6:1
- Strong's
- H1867,H4427
- Hebrew
- מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙
- Transliteration
- melek asur
- Meaning
- king [of] Assyria
- Greek
- βασιλέως Ασσουρ
- Reference
- EZR 6:22
- Strong's
- H4429, H804
- Hebrew
- דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ הַפָּֽרְסִֽי
- Transliteration
- darəyes haparəsiy
- Meaning
- Darius the Persian
- Greek
- Δαρείου τοῦ Πέρσου
- Reference
- NEH 12:22
- Strong's
- H1867, H6542
Notes
likely Darius III, the last King of Persia, conquered by Alexander the Great
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Darius in the Bible?
Darius was a male king of Persia mentioned in the book of Ezra. He is likely identified as Darius III, the last King of Persia who was conquered by Alexander the Great. His role as a Persian monarch situates him within the broader biblical narrative concerning the nations interacting with Israel.
What does the name Darius mean?
The name Darius means “he that informs himself” according to Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary.