Place Old Testament
Salt Sea
Also known as Salt (Sea)
The Salt Sea, also known as the Sea of Arabah, is another name for the Dead Sea, located at the lowest point on Earth (Gen. 14:3; Num. 34:3, 12; Deut. 3:17; Josh. 3:16; 12:3; 15:2, 5; 18:19; Deut. 4:49; 2Ki. 14:25). Mentioned in 11 verses across 5 books, first at Genesis 14:3.
Why it matters. Another name for the Dead Sea
- Location
- 31.539, 35.482 (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 Salt Sea
The Salt Sea, also referred to as the Sea of Arabah, is the biblical name for what is now known as the Dead Sea. It is a large, landlocked salt lake located in the Jordan Rift Valley, bordered by Israel and the West Bank to the west and Jordan to the east. The Salt Sea is fed by the Jordan River and is known for its high salt content, which makes it inhospitable to marine life. In the Bible, the Salt Sea is often used as a geographical marker, particularly in relation to the boundaries of the Promised Land (Num. 34:3, 12; Josh. 15:2, 5; 18:19). It is also mentioned in the context of historical events, such as the battle between the kings of the region and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 14:3) and the extent of Jeroboam II's territorial expansion (2Ki. 14:25). The Salt Sea's unique characteristics, including its low elevation and high salinity, have made it a significant feature in the biblical landscape.
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 11 verses across 5 books. Occurrence data from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0); references only, no translation text.