Dale Pollard
Spoilers! The Bible never mentions the pyramids by name. This seems a little odd since many important events took place in Egypt. Abraham visits, Joseph rose to power, and later the Israelites are enslaved there (Gen. 12, 41). Because of Egypt’s prominence in scripture, I’m sure the author isn’t the only reader that’s wondered about the pyramids and the biblical record.
The foundational Hebrew term for Egypt in the Old Testament is Mizraim, and it’s mentioned 639 times (Strong’s H4714, BLB). According to the old McClintock & Strong, the name Mizraim could be connected to a term meaning “two mounds or fortresses.” The encyclopedia notes that the name is in a dual form and came to signify the two regions—Upper and Lower Egypt.
That reference to the two mounds/fortresses is intriguing as Egypt is famous for its huge pyramids—two of them. The Great Pyramid (481 feet) sits next to the Khafre pyramid (448 feet) and both dwarf the other sand triangles in the area. Amazingly, they also happen to be the oldest.
While McClintock & Strong doesn’t make the claim that Mizraim literally means “pyramids,” the association with Egypt with its great monumental structures has led some to find the wording at least worth noting. Maybe it’s not too much of a stretch to say that the Hebrew name for Egypt was based on the two mound-like fortresses that Egypt is still known for today.
BONUS NUGGET
Pre-Flood Builders & Mizraim
In medieval-Islamic and Near Eastern historical chronicles by writers like al-Tabari and Ibn ‘Abd al-Hakam, a tradition is recorded multiple times. According to ancient legend, the Great Pyramids were built before the Great Flood by an ancient king warned of a coming global cataclysm. Based on those accounts, the pyramids survived the Deluge and Mizraim (or Masar/Mesr) was led to occupy the region once again. He reclaimed the pyramids and used the antediluvian architecture and astronomical knowledge stored inside. Even though none of that can be taken as inspired fact– it gets cool points.
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