Bible Dictionary
Scythian
The Scythians were nomadic peoples from regions north of the Black and Caspian Seas and farther into Asia. In the New Testament the name could also represent people regarded by Greeks and Romans as uncivilized, yet all such distinctions were secondary to faith in Christ.
Definition
The Scythians were pastoral and nomadic peoples living north of the Black and Caspian Seas and extending far into inner Asia. Ancient writers regarded them as low in civilization and intelligence, and the name could be used broadly for uncivilized or degraded people.
Biblical Usage
The Scythians are mentioned in the New Testament as an example of a social and cultural distinction that does not determine a person’s standing in Christ. The supplied material also associates them with descendants of Japheth.
Historical Background
Their territory was vast and little known to ancient peoples. In apostolic times, some of these people are said to have embraced Christianity.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The Scythians consisted of “all the pastoral tribes who dwelt to the north of the Black Sea and the Caspian, and were scattered far away toward the east. Of this vast country but little was anciently known. Its modern representative is Russia, which, to a great extent, includes the same territories.” They were the descendants of Japheth (Gen. 9:27). It appears that in apostolic times there were some of this people that embraced Christianity (Col. 3:11).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
occurs in (Colossians 3:11) as a generalized term for rude, ignorant, degraded. The name often included all the nomadic tribes, who dwelt mostly on the north of the Black and the Caspian Sea, stretching thence indefinitely into inner Asia, and were regarded by the ancients as standing extremely low In point of intelligence and civilization.