Is Alexander the Great mentioned in the Bible?

TL;DR:

Alexander the Great is not mentioned by name in the Bible, but Daniel and Zechariah’s prophecies were fulfilled in Alexander the Great. These prophecies reveal that God holds the future and that His Word is trustworthy.

what does the bible say?

While Alexander the Great is not mentioned by name in the Bible, it is clear that God gave visions of the future to Daniel and Zechariah that included Alexander the Great. Daniel wrote in the sixth century BC, hundreds of years before Alexander lived. Zechariah wrote between 520 and 470 BC. Alexander was born more than one hundred years later, in 356 BC. Both Daniel and Zechariah recorded details about Alexander the Great that came to pass, including his early death and the breaking down of the kingdom. Alexander the Great lived only thirty-two years, but in that time he led armies throughout the known world—from his home in Macedon (Greece), through Persia, Asia Minor, Egypt, and throughout the Mediterranean Sea region. He had no heirs, but his legacy lived on through the establishment of Hellenism—the Greek culture. Greek became the official language in all his conquered areas, and Greek culture was required or encouraged in those areas and surrounding regions. For three hundred years the Greek influence reigned. In 63 BC the Romans conquered Jerusalem. Daniel foretold of these four empires in Daniel 2. The prophecy of Alexander the Great in the Bible reveals that earthly kingdoms come to power and are overtaken, but it is God who holds the future in His hands and His Word stands.

from the old testament

In Daniel 2, Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, saying there would be four empires to rule the known world: Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman.
The Medo-Persian empire overtook the Babylonian empire in 539 BC. In visions that Daniel received, God named the Medo-Persian and Greek empires (Daniel 8:20–21; 10:20—11:4) and foretold the empires' destruction.
In Daniel 8, a ram with two horns represented the Medes and Persians. The Greeks were represented by the goat with one horn (one king, Alexander) that came from the west. The goat killed the two-horned ram, but its single horn was broken off at his greatest time. The goat's horn was replaced with four horns. Daniel prophesied that the great king's kingdom would be broken into four parts (also Daniel 11:4). This is precisely what happened to Alexander's kingdom.
Zechariah 9:1–7 shows the path Alexander would take through Syria. Zechariah prophesies that Alexander would not harm Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:8), and history tells us that Alexander recalled a dream as he marched to Jerusalem. He stopped his army and went with the priests to the temple to offer gifts. He treated the Jews with kindness.

from the new testament

Alexander the Great is not mentioned in the New Testament.

implications for today

The Bible foretelling of Alexander the Great hundreds of years before his time reveals God’s sovereignty over history and over our lives. Isaiah 46:10 tells us that God declares “the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’” The meticulous details provided by both Daniel and Zechariah regarding Alexander's conquests and his cultural impact through Hellenism serve as compelling evidence of the divine inspiration inherent in the Bible. They also reveal God’s sovereignty. God, who created all things, is still very much at work in humanity and has been throughout all of human history. Since the fall of humanity, God has been at work to restore and redeem His creation. Kings and kingdoms come and go, but God is on the throne forever. With this certainty, we can trust God with our lives, knowing that His plans are truly good and in His control. We do not have to worry about tomorrow and who is in political office because we know who has allowed them to come to power and because He knows their end as well (Romans 13:1). In seeing Alexander the Great prophesied, we gain historical insight and deepen our trust in the overarching narrative of God's sovereignty and the unwavering reliability of His Word.

understand

Alexander the Great is not mentioned by name in the Bible.
Daniel prophesied about the rise and fall of four nations.
Daniel and Zechariah prophesied details that were fulfilled in Alexander the Great.

reflect

How does the fulfillment of ancient prophecies, such as those regarding Alexander the Great, impact your understanding of God's sovereignty over history?
In what ways do the prophecies fulfilled in Alexander the Great reveal the reliability of the Bible?
How does the fulfillment of biblical prophecies impact your trust in God?

engage

Seeing the accuracy of Daniel’s prophecies regarding Alexander the Great hundreds of years before he even existed, some have challenged the dating of the book of Daniel, arguing for a much later date. However, God, who knows all things, gave Daniel this insight, even though Alexander the Great is not mentioned by name.
How do you reconcile the concept of divine sovereignty, as evidenced in the prophecies about Alexander the Great, with the idea of human free will and agency?
What truths can we learn and apply to modern day geopolitical events by seeing the rise and fall of ancient empires, as seen in biblical prophecies?