Literally 'Aram between the rivers.' The scope of the region known as Aram Naharaim in the OT is uncertain. Since the term 'Mesopotamia' also means "between the rivers" in Greek, one way of understanding Aram Naharaim is to see it as the Syrian part of Mesopotamia. Seen as such, it is, therefore, the part of Syria embraced by the rivers Euphrates and Tigris where they converge towards one another. Some scholars define it more narrowly as the northern region of Syria around the two tributaries of the Euphrates, the Balikh and the Habor (probably also to be identified with the Gozan mentioned in 2 Ki 17:6). Paddan Aram ('the plains of Aram') may be a more specific location within this general region, perhaps around where Haran was located.
Paddan Aram was the home of Rebekah and her brother Laban, to which Abraham's faithful servant went in order to find Isaac a wife (Gen 24). Later Jacob would flee to escape the wrath of his brother Esau after he had gerrymandered Jacob's blessings meant for his older brother. (Gen 28-33)
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