AI illustration: Nisan - First month of the Hebrew calendar

What is Nisan in the Bible?

The month in which Haman cast lots against the Jews and in which Nehemiah served wine before Artaxerxes.

Nisan is the name of the first month of the Hebrew calendar, used in the books written during the Persian period. Esther identifies it directly: "the first month, that is, the month Nisan" (Esther 3:7).

Nisan in the Bible

In that month, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, lots (Pur) were cast before Haman from day to day and month to month, falling on the twelfth month, Adar (Esther 3:7). Nehemiah also dates an event to Nisan: in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, Nehemiah served wine to the king, and it was then that his sadness came before the king (Nehemiah 2:1). Nisan corresponds roughly to March–April in the modern calendar.

Name origin
Akkadian (Babylonian month name)
Role
First month of the Hebrew calendar
First mention
Nehemiah 2:1
Appearances in the Bible
2 mentions

Nisan in the Bible

Chapters that mention Nisan

Questions about Nisan

What is Nisan in the Bible?

Nisan is the name of the first month of the Hebrew calendar, used in the books written during the Persian period. Esther identifies it directly: "the first month, that is, the month Nisan" (Esther 3:7). In that month, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, lots (Pur) were cast before Haman from day to day and month to month, falling on the twelfth month, Adar (Esther 3:7). Nehemiah also dates an event to Nisan: in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, Nehemiah served wine to the king, and it was then that his sadness came before the king (Nehemiah 2:1). Nisan corresponds roughly to March–April in the modern calendar.

Where is Nisan first mentioned in the Bible?

Nisan is first mentioned in Nehemiah 2:1.

How many times is Nisan mentioned in the Bible?

Number of mentions in the Bible: 2.