It is a longstanding belief that the Great Sphinx of Giza bears a mysterious connection to the Bible. Attempts to prove that the Sphinx was mentioned in the Bible have been made within many different religious interpretations. This article seeks to establish whether the Sphinx is indeed mentioned in the Bible, by providing a detailed analysis of the relevant scripture and historical information.
Theories linking the Bible to the Great Sphinx of Giza have been around for centuries. The Greek historian Herodotus wrote one of the earliest accounts of the statue in the 4th century BC, in which he referred to it as the ‘Egyptian Sphinx’. In the Bible, the Sphinx is mentioned in passing in the book of Ezekiel, and it is speculated that this is an allusion to the Great Sphinx of Giza. Ezekiel states: “In the day of my trouble, I sought the Lord; my hand was stretched out in the night and did not tire; my soul refused to be comforted” (Ezekiel 21:6-7).
If Ezekiel’s account of the Sphinx is indeed a reference to the Great Sphinx of Giza, then it could have signaled a special religious or spiritual significance to the statue that is still unknown today. According to Egyptologists, the Sphinx was most likely constructed around 2500 B.C. as a guardian of the tombs of the Giza plateau. In this context, it is possible that Ezekiel was referring to the spiritual power of the statue as a protector of the tombs.
Modern scholars have drawn a range of parallels between the Great Sphinx of Giza and the Bible. One popular example is the interpretation of the Lion of Judah, a symbol of the Israelite monarchy in the Bible. The Lions of Judah were believed to possess immense power and strength, and were commonly depicted alongside the sun and moon. Many scholars have suggested that the Great Sphinx of Giza may have been linked to the Lion of Judah on account of its divinely powerful attributes.
The Great Sphinx of Giza has been an integral part of Egyptian culture for thousands of years. It is a part of the country’s rich religious and spiritual heritage, and is venerated by many sects of Christianity and Islam as a symbol of divine power and protection. Whether the Sphinx is mentioned in the Bible or not, it is clear that it has long been held in adoration and reverence by diverse cultures, and continues to fascinate the modern world.
Astronomical Interpretation
The astronomical symbolism associated with the Sphinx has been a major focus of debate among scholars. Ancient Egypt, particularly during the time of the Pharaohs, was known for its advanced astronomical observations, and it is speculated that the placement of the Great Sphinx of Giza may have been linked to celestial events. Some scholars have suggested that the face of the Sphinx, which faces East, may have been an allusion to the sunrise, and linked to many other astronomical phenomena.
Various biblical texts have also been interpreted in a similar way, and some suggest that Ezekiel’s Sphinx had the same astronomical associations. Its face, which was said to be “stretched out in the night and did not tire”, may have been a reference to the ability of a star to travel around the night sky. In this way, the Great Sphinx of Giza has served as a source of spiritual guidance and comfort for many generations.
The architecture of the Great Sphinx of Giza has been carefully studied by many Egyptologists, and the possibility of astronomical symbolism within its design has been conclusively established. On the face of the Sphinx, there are two lines running along the sides and around the eyes, believed to symbolize the sun and moon. Similarly, the nose and mouth of the Sphinx are thought to depict the constellations of Orion and Taurus.
Investigations of the location of the Great Sphinx of Giza have also led Egyptologists to question the potential celestial implications of its construction. A majority of Egyptologists believe that the Sphinx was positioned to align with certain equally-spaced stars, which may explain certain biblical references in regard to its orientation.
Modern Speculations
Though the exact origins of the Great Sphinx of Giza remain a mystery, its biblical connections and spiritual significance are still areas of active debate. In recent years, many theories have emerged linking the Bible to the Great Sphinx, often through archaeological discoveries and modern interpretations of ancient texts. From an archaeological perspective, the most striking non-biblical example of the Great Sphinx’s connection to the Bible is the discovery of stone tablets near Jerusalem which bear an image strikingly similar to the Sphinx’s face.
This discovery has led to speculation that the Great Sphinx was present in the area at the time of the writing of the Bible, or that it was known to the authors of the Bible in some way. Further research into this potential connection between the bible and the Great Sphinx is ongoing.
The Great Sphinx of Giza has become an iconic symbol of spirituality, mystery and divinity throughout history. Its mysterious presence in the Bible has provoked much speculation and debate among scholars, but it remains unknown whether the Sphinx is indeed referenced in the Bible. Nevertheless, it is clear that the Great Sphinx of Giza is a source of wonder and fascination for many generations.
Archaeological Implications
The historical significance of the Great Sphinx of Giza has been a major focus of archaeological inquiry. Investigations into the exact construction date of the statue have been inconclusive, but many experts believe it was built at some point during the reign of the Pharaoh Khafre, who ruled from 2520–2494 B.C.
In 1995, a team of archaeologists from the University of Michigan began a new project to uncover the secrets of the Great Sphinx of Giza. Using cutting-edge archaeological techniques, the team was able to uncover evidence suggesting that the Sphinx was more than 5,000 years old – that is to say, around 3,000 years before the time of the Bible. This information has raised questions as to how the ancient Egyptians could have been aware of the existence of the Great Sphinx, as it would have been unknown to them at the time of its creation.
In addition to the mystery of the Sphinx’s construction, archaeologists have also sought to uncover evidence of its connection to the Bible. The Bible mentions thecreation of a “strange great thing” in Ezekiel 183, and some experts have suggested that this is an allusion to the Great Sphinx of Giza. However, there is no concrete evidence to prove this theory.
Investigations into the history of the Great Sphinx of Giza have been ongoing for centuries, and will likely continue to fascinate scholars for many years to come. Though its biblical relevance remains unconfirmed, the Great Sphinx continues to provide evidence of its immense power and spiritual significance.
Occult Interpretations
In addition to its traditional spiritual associations, the Great Sphinx of Giza is widely held to possess occult powers. Many sects of esoteric belief systems hold that the Great Sphinx is a source of immense power, which can be either a boon or a hindrance to mankind, depending on how and by whom it is practiced. This is based on the fact that the Great Sphinx is the oldest surviving monumental sculpture on Earth.
Ancient Egyptian legends spoke of the mystical powers of the Sphinx and its potential to access secrets of the universe. Later occultists adopted and adapted these stories, with some even claiming that the Sphinx possesses the power to grant wishes and other spiritual boons. Though these occult interpretations of the Great Sphinx of Giza are still largely speculative, it is clear that the statue is held in high regard for its spiritual significance.
The occult theories surrounding the Great Sphinx of Giza have been popular in Western Esoteric circles for centuries, despite their largely speculative nature. As a result, many esoteric schools have sought to explore the Great Sphinx, and have even built their entire belief systems around its power and spiritual significance. From the teachings of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn to modern New Age thought, the Great Sphinx continues to be an important part of the world’s spiritual conversations.
Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide whether the occult power of the Great Sphinx of Giza is real or not. Though its existence may never be definitively verified, many still seek its mysterious power, and hold that it contains special knowledge that can unlock the secrets of the universe.
Esoteric Connections
The deep spiritual and esoteric connections to the Great Sphinx of Giza have fascinated scholars for generations. It is believed that the original esoteric teachings of the Egyptians, who believed that the Sphinx was a source of immense power and knowledge, have been passed down through the ages and still hold influence today.
The esoteric connections of the Great Sphinx of Giza has been especially important in Western esotericism, where the statue has been a source of inspiration for many philosophers, poets and mystics. From classical writers such as Dante Alighieri to modern theorists such as Joseph Campbell, the Great Sphinx has long been a beacon of mysterious and spiritual power.
Many esoteric theories hold that the Great Sphinx of Giza was built to honor and channel specific energies and wisdom. These energies, or “vibrations” as they are sometimes called, are suggested to have been known to the ancients, and are still being harnessed in modern esotericism today. The Great Sphinx of Giza, then, is thought to be a kind of energetic focal point, allowing the practitioner to access its powerful vibrations.
Though its exact purpose remains unknown, it is clear that the Great Sphinx of Giza holds a special place in the spiritual conversations of many cultures. Its mystical energy is respected by many, and its influence continues to be held in high esteem.
Implications For The Future
The spiritual and religious implications of the Great Sphinx of Giza are likely to be debated for many years to come. It is an enigmatic symbol of divine power and protection, and its seemingly eternal presence in the landscape is testament to its continuing spiritual significance.
The implications for the future of the Great Sphinx of Giza are vast and varied. As our understanding of its ancient spiritual properties deepens, it may continue to influence our perception of religion, spirituality and the divine. Its archaeological significance will no doubt shape our view of the world’s past and its influence on the present.
The Great Sphinx of Giza is a powerful reminder of the deep spiritual traditions of ancient Egypt. Its story is still unfolding, and its powerful connection to the Bible is sure to fascinate scholars of all ages. It is an enduring symbol of faith, mystery and divine power, and will no doubt continue to awe and inspire people in years to come.
Hi Marcos Reyna
I believe Baal-zephon was the Great Sphinx.
Location of Israel’s sea crossing. Exodus 14:2 “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.” All four of these place names are found close together, as in the Bible.
Pi-hahiroth
The third encampment was Pi-hahiroth and they had been there before but came back to it, “and turned again unto Pi-hahiroth” (Numbers 33:7). This was done to entrap Pharaoh and he fell for it (Exodus 14:3-4). Modern day maps are not the boundary lines of ancient Egypt. The classical writers (Herodotus, Greek historian, 440 BC, History II, and Strabo, Greek geographer, 1st century AD, Geography, XVII, 30) have Egypt being only the Nile valley and delta.
Josephus said the Exodus started from the West side of the Nile, “Now they took their journey by Letopolis” (West side), and he has it across from old Cario (Antiquities, II, 15, 1). Artapanus (3rd–2nd century BC, Praeparatio Evangelica, IX, 27) also has Israel starting from the West side of the Nile. The name Cairo came from the Arabic “Al-Qahirah” (also spelled El Kahera) which most likely came from the old Egyptian name Khē·roth.
The Bible has them crossing over to Pi-hahiroth, PeHa believed to be Hebrew “mouth of” and hiroth is pronounced as Kiroth, the Egyptian Khē·roth. Dream Stele of the Great Sphinx. The translation of this stele is found in the book Ancient Egyptian Legends, by M. A. Murray, under the section The King’s Dream: “he took them to the great statue of Harmachis [Great Sphinx] close to Kher-aha.
Migdol
Strong’s Concordance gives #4024 “Migdol for tower”, It is never translated fort in the Bible. Ezekiel, a Jewish poet (2nd century BC), called the pyramids “towers.” As did Pliny the Elder (Roman author, 1st century AD), who, when talking about the pyramids of Egypt, said, on the “Libyan side, are the towers known as the Pyramids.”
Baal-zephon
Strong’s Concordance #1168 gives “Lord” for Baal and #6828 “north” for zephon, or “Lord of the north.” The children of Israel were familiar with Baal-zephon from their time in Canaan before they came to Egypt, and one would expect Israel to use a name they were familiar with. Just as the Egyptian god Amun was called by the Greeks, Zeus and by the Romans, Jupiter, so the Sphinx was called Baal-zephon by the Jews.
There are three things missing from the Sphinx, its noes, the false beard, and the head of the Uraeus, or cobra, now in the British Museum. But on the upper forehead of the Sphinx is clearly seen the outline of the cobra. The cobra was the symbol of northern Egypt. Pharaohs who ruled the two lands of northern and southern Egypt would wear both the vulture and the cobra on their headdress, as is seen on King Tutankhamun’s grave mask. But the Sphinx only has the northern symbol, it was “Lord of the North”.
Red Sea (Yam Suf)
The body of water Israel crossed was deep water, “the waters of the great deep” (Isaiah 51:10). To say because it was called a sea of reeds (“Yam Suf”) it therefore must be shallow water is like saying the Red Sea must be red, but it is blue like any other sea.
Before dams were built across the Nile, the Delta flooded every year for about five months. The Egyptians referred to their land as the Field of Rushes, and when flooded as the Lake of Rushes (“Yam Suf”. The Quotes are in the book, and it is free.) The ancient Jewish writers believed the Nile was connected to the Red Sea (Yam Suf). The Legends of the Jews said, “carries down into the Gihon (Ancient Hebrew name for the Nile). Thence the treasures float into the Red Sea, and by its waters they were tossed into the chariots of the Egyptians.” The Legends of the Jews, vol. III, Moses In The Wilderness.
Modern day Egyptians commonly call the Nile River El-Bahr, “The Sea”. Babylonian Talmud (3rd century AD) believed the placement of Moses’s ark was in the “Yam Suf” (Sotah 12a). As does Legends of the Jews (Vol. II, Moses Rescued from the Water). The Qur’an also calls the crossing place the Red Sea; and one of Islam’s prophets explains that this was the Nile River. His name is Prophet Shu’ayb, and this is found in Hay Al Qulub vol. I, Stories of the prophets, section 13, “An Account of Musa (Moses) and Harun” (Aaron). The pertinent parts are: “Musa and the Israelites came to the bank of the river Nile. The water of river split and made a way to cross the river…and the last man of the Pharaoh entered into the river. Allah ordered the wind to move the water and the mountain of water fell on them.” (See also Akhlaqee-Aaimma, by Sayyed Zafar Hasan Amrohi (r–d). The ancient Targums, Jonathan and Jerusalem (Aramaic translations of the Pentateuch), both connect the Nile to the Red Sea/Yam Suph: “and the Gihon [Nile] had carried into the sea of Suph….” The same for the Dead Sea Scroll, Genesis Apocryphon (2nd–1st century BC): “I proceeded by the Red Sea until I reached the extension of the Reed Sea which goes out from the Red Sea, and then I turned southward, until I reached the Gihon River….” (1Q20, Genesis Apocryphon 21:15–19.) The person in this account was already on the “Red Sea” and goes to the “extension” of it, which he calls the “Reed Sea,” and then to the Nile, or “Gihon.” He is telling us that in his day the Red Sea was connected to the Nile by the Reed Sea.
The annual inundation was about twenty-four feet above the Nile, near Cairo. But the annual flood started more than two months after Israel left Egypt, and I believe the early flood of the Delta was caused by the seventh plague. Some believe the ten plagues fell on consecutive months—one each month—otherwise known as the “Plague of the month club.” Ussher’s chronology has the seventh plague happening on the fifth day of Abib and we know Israel left Egypt on the fifteenth of the same month (Exodus 13:4 & Numbers 33:3). The Seventh Plague was not only the hail but rain that “poured” on Egypt “[T]he hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation” (Exodus 9:24, 33-34). All the land of Egypt included unto the city of Syene (Ezekiel 29:10), some six-hundred miles south of Memphis. The time it takes for the Nile to flow from Syene to Memphis is about ten days. And then the Nile receive drainage from the Nile Valley, as the floodwaters drain back into the receding Nile, keeping the Nile higher than normal for a couple of weeks.
The Quest for the Red Sea Crossing. From leaving Goshen to crossing the sea. Though paper back is on Amazon, the eBook is FREE!
https://www.truechristianshortstoriesfreebygmmatheny.com/the-quest-for-the-red-sea-crossing.html