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What is Gaza in the Bible?

A Philistine city on the southern coast, where Samson was imprisoned and against which the prophets announced judgment.

Gaza is a city on the southern coast of Canaan that belonged to the Philistines. Genesis names it as a point on the border of the Canaanites (Genesis 10:19), and after Joshua's campaigns some of the Anakims still remained there (Joshua 11:22).

Gaza in the Bible

It is listed among the towns of Judah's inheritance, and Judges records that Judah took Gaza with its coast (Joshua 15:47; Judges 1:18). Gaza later appears as a Philistine city. Samson went there, and after the Philistines captured him and put out his eyes, they brought him down to Gaza, bound him with fetters of brass and made him grind in the prison house (Judges 16:1; Judges 16:21).

When the Philistines returned the ark, one golden emerod was sent as a trespass offering for Gaza (1 Samuel 6:17). The prophets announce judgment on the city. Amos condemns Gaza for carrying away a whole captivity to deliver them up to Edom and foretells fire on its wall (Amos 1:6-7), and Jeremiah, Zephaniah and Zechariah also speak of its ruin (Jeremiah 47:5; Zephaniah 2:4; Zechariah 9:5).

In Acts an angel sends Philip to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza (Acts 8:26).

Name meaning
Strong
Name origin
Hebrew
Role
Philistine city
First mention
Genesis 10:19
Appearances in the Bible
18 mentions

Coloring pages with Gaza

Questions about Gaza

What is Gaza in the Bible?

Gaza is a city on the southern coast of Canaan that belonged to the Philistines. Genesis names it as a point on the border of the Canaanites (Genesis 10:19), and after Joshua's campaigns some of the Anakims still remained there (Joshua 11:22). It is listed among the towns of Judah's inheritance, and Judges records that Judah took Gaza with its coast (Joshua 15:47; Judges 1:18). Gaza later appears as a Philistine city. Samson went there, and after the Philistines captured him and put out his eyes, they brought him down to Gaza, bound him with fetters of brass and made him grind in the prison house (Judges 16:1; Judges 16:21). When the Philistines returned the ark, one golden emerod was sent as a trespass offering for Gaza (1 Samuel 6:17). The prophets announce judgment on the city. Amos condemns Gaza for carrying away a whole captivity to deliver them up to Edom and foretells fire on its wall (Amos 1:6-7), and Jeremiah, Zephaniah and Zechariah also speak of its ruin (Jeremiah 47:5; Zephaniah 2:4; Zechariah 9:5). In Acts an angel sends Philip to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza (Acts 8:26).

What does the name Gaza mean?

The name Gaza means “Strong”. Origin: Hebrew.

Where is Gaza first mentioned in the Bible?

Gaza is first mentioned in Genesis 10:19.

How many times is Gaza mentioned in the Bible?

Number of mentions in the Bible: 18.