Places in the Bible Today:

Ulai

Data

Translated NamesRiver Ulai, Ulai, Ulai Canal, Ulai River
Typeriver
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

3 Possible Identifications

  1. Ulai canal (modern): 75% confidence
    1. satellite view of the region around the Ulai canalUlai canal

  2. Karkheh River (modern): less than 10% confidence
    1. panorama of the Karkheh RiverKarkheh River

  3. Karun River (modern): less than 10% confidence
    1. closeup of the Karun RiverKarun River

Verses (2)

Dan 8:2, 8:16

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Logos FactbookUlai
OpenBible.info (2007)Ulai
OpenBible.infoa7a7549 (Ulai)
TIPNRUlai@Dan.8.2
UBS Names Databaseot ID_107
WikidataQ7878692

Sources

  1. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992): Ulai (place)
  2. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000): Ulai
  3. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  4. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979): Ulai
  5. IVP Old Testament Bible Background Commentary (2000): Dan 8:2
  6. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2014): Ulai
  7. New Bible Dictionary (1996): Ulai
  8. New Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary (2009)
  9. Revised Expositor’s Bible Commentary (2012): Dan 8:2
  10. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (1975): Ulai
  11. Zondervan Atlas of the Bible (2010)
  12. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)
  13. Zondervan Pictorial Bible Atlas (1972): page 194

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others (in this case, Ulai canal), then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Thumbnail Image Credits

Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019, Unknown author, matin fattahi

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.