Place Old Testament
Paddan
Also known as Paddan =ESV, NIV; Padan =KJV, -aram =ESV, NIV; Padan, -aram =KJV, Aram, Aramean
Paddan, also known as Paddan-aram or Aram, was the homeland of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, located in Mesopotamia. Mentioned in 16 verses across 4 books, first at Genesis 25:20.
Why it matters. The homeland of the patriarchs in Mesopotamia
- Primary passages
- Location
- 36.864, 39.032 (approximate, within about 2 km)
Coordinates from STEPBible TIPNR (palopenmaps.org link). Approximate; not independently verified.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
About Paddan
Paddan, also referred to as Paddan-aram or Aram, was a region in Mesopotamia that played a significant role in the lives of the biblical patriarchs. It was the homeland of Abraham's family, and the place where Isaac and Israel (or 'Jacob') found their wives (Gen. 25:20; 28:2, 5-7). The name "Paddan-aram" means "the plain of Aram" or "the field of Aram," referring to the area's geographical characteristics and its association with the Arameans.
Rebekah, Isaac's wife, was from Paddan-aram (Gen. 25:20). Later, Jacob fled to Paddan-aram to escape his brother Esau's anger and to find a wife from among his relatives (Gen. 28:2, 5-7). During his time there, Jacob married Leah and Rachel and fathered eleven of his twelve sons (Gen. 35:23-26). Jacob eventually left Paddan-aram to return to Canaan with his family and possessions (Gen. 31:18; 33:18).
The Arameans, who inhabited Paddan-aram, are mentioned as the ancestors of the Israelites in the context of God's deliverance and blessing (Deut. 26:5). The prophet Hosea also refers to Jacob's flight to Paddan-aram and his service for a wife (Hos. 12:12).
Description from STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0, lightly reformatted. This is background reference material, not Scripture and not a FaithGraph editorial claim.
Connections
No reviewed connections yet.
Appears in Scripture
Named in 16 verses across 4 books. Occurrence data from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0); references only, no translation text.