How many times does the word "Palestine" appear in the Bible?

The word "Palestine" is a term that has been used throughout history to refer to the region that is now Israel and the Palestinian territories. It is often associated with the ancient land of Canaan, which is mentioned frequently in the Bible. But how many times does the word "Palestine" actually appear in the Bible?

The answer is somewhat complicated. While the word "Palestine" does not appear in the Bible in its current form, there are several passages that refer to a region known as "Philistia." Philistia was a coastal region located in what is now southern Israel and the Gaza Strip, and was home to a people known as the Philistines.

The word "Philistia" appears several times in the Old Testament, primarily in the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. In these passages, Philistia is often portrayed as an enemy of the Israelites, and is associated with violence and destruction.

While the word "Palestine" does not appear in the Bible, it is worth noting that the name "Palestine" itself has a long and complicated history. The name is derived from the Greek word "Palaestina," which was used by the ancient Greeks to refer to the region that is now Israel and the Palestinian territories.

The name "Palestine" was later adopted by the Romans, who used it to refer to the region after they conquered it in the 2nd century AD. However, the name was not widely used until the 20th century, when it became associated with the Zionist movement and the conflict between Jews and Arabs in the region.

Subscribe to Bible Analysis

Sign up now to get access to the library of members-only issues.
Jamie Larson
Subscribe