What is Judaea in the Bible?

The region where Jesus is born, where John the Baptist preaches, and where the early church spreads after Pentecost.

Judaea is the region around Jerusalem in the New Testament, the area in which Jesus is born and where much of the early church takes root. It is the Greek and Roman name for the southern part of the land of Israel, the old territory of Judah.

Judaea in the Bible

Jesus is born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king (Matthew 2:1), and Luke calls Herod the king of Judaea (Luke 1:5). After Herod, Archelaus reigns there (Matthew 2:22), and later Pontius Pilate is governor of Judaea (Luke 3:1). John the Baptist preaches in the wilderness of Judaea, and people from all the land go out to be baptized by him (Matthew 3:1; Mark 1:5).

Great crowds from Judaea follow Jesus (Matthew 4:25). Jesus tells his disciples that they will be his witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judaea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). When persecution breaks out, believers scatter through Judaea and Samaria (Acts 8:1).

Disciples elsewhere send relief to the brethren in Judaea (Acts 11:29), and Paul speaks of the churches of God in Judaea (1 Thessalonians 2:14).

Name meaning
Land of Judah
Name origin
Greek form of Hebrew Judah
Role
Region of the land of Israel
First mention
Matthew 2:1
Appearances in the Bible
43 mentions

Questions about Judaea

What is Judaea in the Bible?

Judaea is the region around Jerusalem in the New Testament, the area in which Jesus is born and where much of the early church takes root. It is the Greek and Roman name for the southern part of the land of Israel, the old territory of Judah. Jesus is born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king (Matthew 2:1), and Luke calls Herod the king of Judaea (Luke 1:5). After Herod, Archelaus reigns there (Matthew 2:22), and later Pontius Pilate is governor of Judaea (Luke 3:1). John the Baptist preaches in the wilderness of Judaea, and people from all the land go out to be baptized by him (Matthew 3:1; Mark 1:5). Great crowds from Judaea follow Jesus (Matthew 4:25). Jesus tells his disciples that they will be his witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judaea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). When persecution breaks out, believers scatter through Judaea and Samaria (Acts 8:1). Disciples elsewhere send relief to the brethren in Judaea (Acts 11:29), and Paul speaks of the churches of God in Judaea (1 Thessalonians 2:14).

What does the name Judaea mean?

The name Judaea means “Land of Judah”. Origin: Greek form of Hebrew Judah.

Where is Judaea first mentioned in the Bible?

Judaea is first mentioned in Matthew 2:1.

How many times is Judaea mentioned in the Bible?

Number of mentions in the Bible: 43.