Moab

Moab may refer to several places and historical entities. In ancient Near Eastern history and in biblical texts, Moab denotes a kingdom and the associated people living east of the Jordan River, in what is now southern Jordan. The Moabites spoke Moabite, a Northwest Semitic language related to Hebrew. The kingdom existed during the Iron Age, with its center shifting among sites such as Dibon and Ar on occasion. Moab is featured in various biblical narratives, often in conflict or alliance with Israel, and its independence waned under successive empires such as Assyria and Babylon. Inscriptions such as the Mesha Stele are among the principal archaeological sources for Moabite history and culture.

The term Moab can also refer to the broader historic region east of the Jordan River within present-day Jordan. This regional use encompasses archaeological sites and landscapes associated with the ancient Moabite kingdom and later period administrations that ruled or absorbed the area under empires and local dynasties.

Moab, Utah, is a contemporary city in Grand County, southeastern Utah, United States. Located along the Colorado Plateau near the Colorado River, it serves as a gateway to two major national parks, Arches and Canyonlands. The local economy centers on tourism and outdoor recreation, with visitors drawn to the area’s sandstone arches, canyons, and scenic viewpoints. The town supports services for travelers, outdoor outfitters, and seasonal events, maintaining a climate and infrastructure suited to desert-adjacent recreation.

In broad use, Moab can thus denote the ancient kingdom and its people in the Levant, the historic region in present-day Jordan, or the modern American city known for outdoor tourism.