Abyssinia, known today primarily as Ethiopia, is mentioned several times in the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament. One of the key references is found in the book of Isaiah, where it speaks of Ethiopia as a powerful nation. In Isaiah 18, the text refers to the land of whirring wings, understood to be a metaphor for the region’s diverse wildlife and rivers.
Additionally, the book of Acts in the New Testament narrates the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-39), highlighting the significance of Ethiopia not only as a geographical location but also as a place of faith and conversion.
In the Old Testament, the term ‘Cush’ is often used interchangeably with Abyssinia, which refers to the same region. Genesis 10:6-7 lists Cush among the descendants of Noah, indicating its ancient roots in biblical text. The prominence of Abyssinia/Ethiopia in the Bible underscores its historical and cultural importance in the ancient world.