Renowned Professor Confirms Existence of 53 Biblical Figures

Greek Reporter ^ | September 5, 2025 | Abdul Moeed

[nickcarraway]

A Purdue University professor has confirmed the historical existence of 53 biblical figures mentioned in the Bible, lending new weight to discussions about the Bible’s connection to real-world history.

Lawrence Mykytiuk, emeritus professor of library science, has spent decades analyzing ancient inscriptions to determine whether they refer to the same biblical figures recorded in Scripture.

His findings include kings, pharaohs, governors, and scribes — names that appear both in archaeological records and biblical accounts.

The confirmed names span multiple ancient empires, including Egypt, Babylon, Persia, and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

Mykytiuk’s list includes well-known rulers such as King David and Nebuchadnezzar II, along with lesser-known officials like Jehucal, a royal aide during the time of King Zedekiah.

A method rooted in evidence, not assumptions

His research was most recently featured in Bible History Daily, where he outlined the method behind these identifications. He does not rely on names alone.

Instead, he matches multiple details — such as title, lineage, era, and geographic location — before accepting a connection.

Mykytiuk refers to himself as a “scorekeeper,” emphasizing that his role is not archaeological digging but verifying evidence already discovered.

The project began in the 1990s, when he encountered a clay seal bearing the name of a king found in the Hebrew Bible. That moment sparked a long-term investigation, during which he examined thousands of inscriptions and cross-referenced them with biblical text.

Among the most compelling findings is the mention of King David in three separate inscriptions — from Egypt, Moab, and Aram — all dated to the 9th century BCE and referring to the dynasty associated with his name.

Mykytiuk also confirmed Nebuchadnezzar II, the Babylonian king noted for destroying Jerusalem, whose name appears on numerous cuneiform tablets believed to have been produced during his reign.

Confirmed names span empires and faith traditions Other confirmed figures include Pharaoh Sheshonq I (also known as Shishak), Persian ruler Cyrus the Great, and King Hezekiah of Judah, whose reign is supported by both inscriptions and the discovery of a water tunnel in Jerusalem.

While his list continues to grow, Mykytiuk acknowledges archaeology has limits. Figures such as Abraham or Moses remain unverified due to a lack of surviving material. Still, he maintains that the evidence available today is enough to support the Bible’s general historical credibility.

He sees his work as a historical effort, not a theological one, and believes these findings matter both to scholars and to people of faith who share this heritage across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

[Paladin2]

NOT really much of a surprise.

[Salvavida]

Ummmm....as soon as Jesus resurrected, ALL of Scripture was validated.

[Boiler Plate]

Go PU!

[rellic]

I was deeply moved when I learned that the bible was NOT written by the men I was taught did so in Sunday school.
It was very common for writers of that period to claim their works were that of another in order to exalt the men
they respected.
Be an atheist if you want, I’ll take my chances with Christ and God.
Nobody gets out of here alive.
But your Soul is eternal somewhere.

[Big Red Badger]

We Stand as Mortals
Between Two Eternities
Past and Present.
One Man Conquered
Death,Hell and the Grave.

[rellic]

Ahmen!

[Inyo-Mono]

Bookmark.

[dwg2]

Got that right. Go Boilers!

[SunkenCiv]

• 53 People in the [Hebrew] Bible Confirmed Archaeologically | Lawrence J. Mykytiuk | Purdue University
• Purdue researcher verifies the existence of 53 people mentioned in Hebrew Bible | Purdue University | June 6, 2017
• 53 People in the Bible Confirmed Archaeologically | Lawrence Mykytiuk | August 31, 2025 | Bible History Daily
• Scholar’s Chair Interview: Dr. Lawrence J. Mykytiuk | Bryan Windle | October 2, 2020 | BAR
• Scholar Identifies 53 Figures from the Bible with Historical Evidence | Abdul Moeed | September 5, 2025 | colombiaone.com
• Lawrence J . Mykytiuk | Academia.edu
• Lawrence Mykytiuk purdue bible history daily [Brave search]

[Hyman Roth]

Has anyone figured out the talking snake?

[foundedonpurpose]

Thank you for sharing!

[nickcarraway]

YW

[nickcarraway]

It was using sign language.

[SunkenCiv]

One of *those* topics.

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• Theses for the Reconstruction of Ancient History | Immanuel Velikovsky
  • 59. Thutmose III is the scriptural Shishak; he lived not during the fifteenth, but during the latter part of the tenth and the beginning of the ninth century.
  • 80. Sosenk, the Pharaoh of the Libyan dynasty, was not Shishak of the Scriptures.
  • 88. Shishak mentioned in the Ras Shamra texts is Thutmose IV.
• The Assyrian Conquest: Haremhab's Contemporaries | Immanuel Velikovsky ("Haremhab and the Crown Prince Sheshonk.")
• Correspondence: Jan Sammer | (to Lynn Rose) | January 10, 1978

[Fai Mao]

“Lawrence Mykytiuk, emeritus professor of library science,”

My man!

[EnderWiggin1970]

In what other context do we deny the existence of a historical personage until we get a 2nd source mentioning them? History books are filled with mentions of historical figures with a single primary source, or no primary sources at all. The Bible has been shown to align with external documentation thousands of times, even against the prevailing opinions of scholars at various times (such as regarding the existence of the Hittites). With its track record it is the attitude that it must be rejected on any point until independently verified that is unreasonable.

[Bob434]

Some folks are just hell-bent on disbelieving no matter how much evidence is present. Abraham told the rich man that if his brothers did not believe in Scripture, neither would they believe a messenger, Even if the messenger was a deceased person, it spirit, testifying as to the truth of eternity.

[bgill]

Really. Did he think people had nothing else to do but carve imaginary people’s name in rocks all day, every day?

[SunkenCiv]

Right, synchronisms, that’s exactly what and how it gets done.

The Oracle chicks at Delphi sat right on top of a crack in the ground and got high as a kite from the gases leaking out of it. That’s remarked on in at least one ancient source (not in the original handwriting or anything). Early in the 20th century a French archaeologist dug and examined the site and proclaimed that there was no sign of any crack, and it was accepted.

In the 1980s a Dutch archaeologist with a geology background did work up there, measured and mapped the whole temple site, and found that not one but two natural fissures crossed right under where the oracle sat and spoke to visitors. He didn’t think anything of it.

Another archaeologist who (like so many others) had accepted the received opinion went up there with the Dutch guy and couldn’t believe how obvious the fissures were. Tests on deposits in the fissures (they no longer out-gas) found the chemistry that confirmed the ancient account.

Mysteries Of The Ancient World — March 13, 2016
(time index to the Delphi segment)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEkvHq98vWA&t=2595

More modern sidebar:

George Washington existed, his burial place is known, loads of his activities are known from a single source — but he didn’t throw a coin across the Delaware River and didn’t chop down the cherry tree.