Nebuchadnezzar in the Bible

An Exploration of the Babylonian King’s Role in Biblical History

Introduction

Nebuchadnezzar II, the mighty king of Babylon, is one of the most prominent and complex figures in the Bible. He is mentioned by name under two spelling variants (Nebuchadnezzar and Nebuchadrezzar), with his name appearing over ninety times in the Old Testament Hebrew and Aramaic texts. His reign, which lasted from 605 to 562 BCE, was marked by military conquests, architectural grandeur, and significant interactions with the Hebrew people. The Bible narrative presents Nebuchadnezzar as both a conqueror and an instrument of divine will, whose story unfolds across Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, with his name mentioned 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther.