Aram and Syria

Aram is a regional name from the Bible, located in central Syria. Its territory extended from the Lebanon mountains eastward across the Euphrates River, including the northern plains of Mesopotamia. The name “Aram” is derived from Aram, the grandson of Noah and son of Shem, who is traditionally considered the ancestor of the Arameans, a brother nation to the Hebrews.

The Arameans established a kingdom whose capital was Damascus. When the Aramean kingdom was strong, it often invaded the Israelites; when it weakened, it became a vassal or dependency of Israel. Later, Aram was conquered by the Assyrian Empire and became part of Assyria. During the Roman Empire, Aram was designated as the province of Syria. In the New Testament era, it was referred to as Syria, a name it retains to this day.