Bible Dictionaries
Aretas
Holman Bible Dictionary
(ehr' eh tass) Personal name meaning, “moral excellence, power.” The ruler of Damascus in New Testament times. He sought to arrest Paul after his conversion (2 Corinthians 11:32 ). The name Aretas was born by several Arabian kings centered in Petra and Damascus. Aretas IV ruled from Petra (9 B.C.-A.D. 40) as a subject of Rome. Herod Antipas married, then divorced his daughter to marry Herodias (Mark 6:17-18 ). Aretus joined with a Roman officer to defeat Herod's army in A.D. 36.
Copyright Statement
These dictionary topics are from the Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
Bibliography Information
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Aretas'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hbd/a/aretas.html. 1991.