Bible Location

Joppa

New Testament

Joppa was an ancient Mediterranean port located at modern Jaffa. Its position made it an important maritime gateway for the central hill country and Jerusalem.

In the Old Testament, timber for Solomon's Temple was transported by sea to Joppa, and Jonah boarded a ship there while attempting to flee toward Tarshish.

In Acts, Joppa became the setting for Peter's raising of Tabitha and for the vision that prepared him to visit the Gentile centurion Cornelius.

Biblical Significance

Joppa appears in the territorial description of Dan and later served as an important port for Jerusalem.

During construction of Solomon's Temple, cedar timber from Lebanon was transported by sea to Joppa before being carried inland to Jerusalem. The same route was used for timber during the rebuilding of the Temple after the exile.

Jonah traveled to Joppa and found a ship sailing for Tarshish as he attempted to flee from God's command to preach at Nineveh.

Acts records Peter raising the disciple Tabitha, also called Dorcas, from the dead at Joppa. While staying there with Simon the tanner, Peter received the vision that prepared him to enter the home of Cornelius at Caesarea.

Historical Background

Joppa possessed one of the few usable natural anchorages along this portion of the southern Levantine coast, although its harbor was relatively small and exposed compared with later engineered ports.

The city appears in Egyptian and other ancient Near Eastern sources and changed hands repeatedly under Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman rule.

Its maritime position gave Joppa continuing importance as a point of contact between Mediterranean shipping and inland settlements.

Modern Identification

Ancient Joppa is securely identified with Jaffa, now incorporated into Tel Aviv-Yafo.

Archaeological remains demonstrate settlement extending through numerous ancient periods, although continuous occupation and later construction have altered much of the ancient landscape.

The preservation of the ancient name and extensive historical documentation make the identification certain.

Scripture References

Joshua 19:46 2 Chronicles 2:16 Ezra 3:7 Jonah 1:3 Acts 9:36 Acts 10:5

Related Resources

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Sources

Bible: Joshua 19:46, 2 Chronicles 2:16, Ezra 3:7, Jonah 1:3, Acts 9:36-43, Acts 10:5-23, Acts 11:5; Egyptian and Assyrian records; archaeological excavations and historical studies of Joppa/Jaffa