Illustration created for this project.
Arioch
The captain of the king's guard sent to execute Babylon's wise men, whom Daniel stayed.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Origin & birthplace
Name & titles
ScholarlyThe name Arioch corresponds well to the form Ariwuk / Arriyuk found in the 18th-century BC Mari letters (borne by a son of Zimri-Lim) and generally traced to a Hurrian background. Scholars cite this as evidence that the name in Genesis 14 belongs to an authentically old Near Eastern onomastic stock, though the parallel does not identify the biblical king with any known ruler.
Onomastic parallel: Ariwuk/Arriyuk attested in the Mari archive tablets; discussed in scholarship on Genesis 14 (e.g. Sarna, Wenham). Not a personal identification.
Where in scripture
DanielIn their own words — 1 recorded saying
“Then Arioch quickly took Daniel in before the king, and said to him, Here is a man from among the prisoners of Judah, who will make clear to the king the sense of the dream.” — Daniel 2:25
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
Places in their life
Photo: David Stanley — CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)