Dictionary Article

“Land of the Jews,” particularly after the Captivity. Since most of the Israelites who returned from the exile were from the tribe of Judah, they were called Judeans or Jews and their land, Judea. This part of the Holy Land has always been of great interest to the Bible student because of the location of such places as Jerusalem and Bethlehem within the area and because of the events of Christ’s life and ministry that occurred here.

First used in Ezra 5:8, the term there designates a province of the Persian Empire. It is also spoken of in the literature of the Maccabean period after Greece had taken control of the area from the Persians (1 Macc 5:45; 7:10). In Roman times Judea was annexed to the Roman province of Syria until the time of Herod the Great, who was declared king of Judea in about 37 BC. On occasion, the term Judea seems to mean all the territory occupied by the Jewish nation, that is, all of western Palestine (Lk 23:5; Acts 10:37; 26:20). Secular writers of NT times, including Strabo, Tacitus, and Philo, used the term in the wider sense. But in its ordinary and strict sense it denoted the southern district of Palestine. The other two districts or divisions were Galilee in the north and Samaria in the center.

Show passage in OET: EZR 5:8

OET-RV EZR 5:8

8 Let it be known to the king that we went to the province of Yehudah (Judea), to the temple of the great God, and it is being built with large stones, and timber is being placed in the walls. This work is being done to a high standard and they’re making good progress.

OET-LV EZR 5:8

8 Known let _it _be to_the_king that we _went to_Judea the_province to_the _house _of the_god (the)_great and_he is_being _built stone _of rolling and_timber is_being _set in_the_walls and_the_work this diligently is_being _done and_is_prospering in_hand _of_their.

Show passage in OET: MA1 5:45

OET-RV MA1 5:45

45 Yehudah gathered together all Yisrael (Israel), those who were in the land of Gilead, from the least to the greatest, with their wives, their children, and their stuff, a very great army, that they might come into the land of Yehudah.

OET-LV MA1 5:45

45 and to_assemble Youdas all Israaʸl the/this/who in/on/among the/this/who ⟦Γαλααδίτιδι⟧ away_from small until great, and the/this/who woman he/she/it/self, and the/this/who child he/she/it/self, and the/this/who ⟦ἀποσκευὴν⟧, barracks great very, to_come/go toward earth Youda.

Show passage in OET: MA1 7:10

OET-RV MA1 7:10

10 They marched away and came with a great army into the land of Yehudah (Judah). He sent messengers to Yehudah and his kindred with words of peace deceitfully.

OET-LV MA1 7:10

10 and ⟦ἀπῇραν⟧, and to_come/go with/after power much toward earth Youda; and to_send angel to/with Youdan, and the/this/who brother he/she/it/self/my/your/him-self/there, word ⟦εἰρηνικοῖς⟧ with/after deceit.

Show passage in OET: LUK 23:5

OET-RV LUK 23:5

5 But they kept insisting, “He’s been stirring up the people, teaching throughout all Yehudah (Judea). He started in Galil then worked his way all the way down here.”

OET-LV LUK 23:5

5 But they were _insisting saying, that He _is _stirring _up the people, teaching throughout all the Youdaia, having _begun from the Galilaia/(Gālīl) as _far _as here.

Show passage in OET: ACT 10:37

OET-RV ACT 10:37

37 And you all know the news that started in Galil and spread through all Yehudah (Judea) after the time of Yohan’s (John; Grk. Yoannes) teaching and ministry of immersion—

OET-LV ACT 10:37

37 You _all have _known the message having _become throughout all the Youdaia, having _begun from the Galilaia/(Gālīl), after the immersion that Yōannaʸs proclaimed,

Show passage in OET: ACT 26:20

OET-RV ACT 26:20

20 so I preached first to those in Damesek (Damascus) and then in Yerushalem (Jerusalem) and all of Yehudah (Judea), and then in the towns of the non-Jews. I preached about turning from their sins and turning back to God, and then actually living like people who had repented.

OET-LV ACT 26:20

20 but to _the ones in Damaskos/(Dammeseq) first and both, in _Hierousalaʸm/(Yərūshālayim), and all the region of_ the _Youdaia, and to _the pagans, I _was _reporting to _be _repenting and to _be _turning _back to the god, the worthy of_ works _repentance doing.

Jump to OET EZR 5:8 section.

Jump to OET MA1 5:45 section.

Jump to OET MA1 7:10 section.

Jump to OET LUK 23:5 section.

Jump to OET ACT 10:37 section.

Jump to OET ACT 26:20 section.

While the geographic boundaries of Judea were not always the same in different historical periods, the province did include the territories once belonging to the tribes of Judah, Dan, Benjamin, and Simeon. The northern boundary, separating Judea and Samaria, is less definite than the others since there is no natural geographic barrier—no valley, no body of water, no break in the terrain—to indicate a division. It is thought, however, that the northern boundary line ran from Joppa on the Mediterranean to a point on the Jordan River about 10 to 12 miles (16 to 19 kilometers) north of the Dead Sea.

The southern boundary extended from a point about seven miles (11 kilometers) southwest of Gaza near the coast through Beersheba to the Dead Sea. According to Judges 20:1, Beersheba was the southern boundary of the nation, and it is therefore properly considered the southern limit of Judea. The eastern boundary was the Dead Sea, and the western boundary the Mediterranean Sea. Judea therefore was in shape a square of territory approximately 45 miles (72 kilometers) wide on each side.

Show passage in OET: JDG 20:1

OET-RV JDG 20:1

20 Then all the Israelis from Dan in the north to Be’er -Sheva (Beersheba) in the south, and even from Gilead across the Yarden (Jordan), came and assembled before Yahweh at Mitspah with one single, united purpose.

OET-LV JDG 20:1

20 And_ all _of the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _they _went _out and_ the_congregation _it _was _assembled like_a _man one (to)_from_Dān and_unto Bəʼēr Sheⱱaˊ and_the _land _of (the)_Gilˊād to YHWH (the)_Miʦpāh.

Jump to OET JDG 20:1 section.

The history of Judea begins in the Persian period (539–331 BC), when Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to rebuild their temple and their holy city of Jerusalem. In the Greek period (334–167 BC) the area came under the control of the Seleucids, descendants of one of Alexander’s generals who ruled in Syria. Their attempts to destroy the Jewish religion led to a Jewish revolt under the leadership of the Hasmonean family, and the Jews enjoyed nearly a hundred years of independence (167–63 BC). In 63 BC Pompey conquered Palestine for Rome, and eventually Herod the Great was made king (37–4 BC), being succeeded by his son Herod Archelaus (4 BC–AD 6). The Romans then appointed a series of imperial governors called procurators, and these ruled Judea, Samaria, and Idumea (south of Judea) until the Jewish revolt of 66–70, with the exception of the years 41 to 44, when the grandson of Herod the Great, Herod Agrippa I, ruled all of Palestine.

The fate of Judea has been the fate of all Palestine, and it has continued to know many cruel conquerors since the close of NT times. The country was under the heel of Rome until 330, when it came under Constantinople, or Byzantium, and saw the building of many Christian churches (330–634). The Persians again invaded (607–629), destroying Christian churches and killing many people. The Arab period (634–1099) saw the coming of Muslim control of Judea, which was interrupted by the Crusaders (1099–1263), who were determined to rescue the Holy Land from the Muslims. After the final defeat of the Crusaders, the Muslims regained control until the modern period (1917–present). After World War I, Judea was a part of the British mandate over Palestine. In 1948 it was partitioned between Israel and Jordan, and as a result of Israel’s victories in the Six Day War of June 1967, Judea was reunited and came once again under the control of the Jews.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary