Bible Dictionary
SYRIANS
The Syrians, or Arameans, were a Semitic people associated especially with Syria, Damascus, and regions east and north of Israel. They were related to the Hebrews but frequently opposed them in war; in the New Testament, “Syria” may refer more broadly to the inhabitants of the region.
Biblical Usage
The Syrians were closely related to the Hebrews through the patriarchal family but were often hostile to Israel and fought against it from David’s time onward. Damascus was their principal power, and the Arameans also appear in wider regional and political settings.