An ancient seaport, the main port for Jerusalem
Joppa
Named in 14 verses across 5 books, first in Joshua 19:46.
יָפוֹJoppa
ἸόππηJoppa
The name means “beauty; comeliness.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Joppa Written by AI
Joppa, also known as Japho in the Old Testament and modern-day Jaffa, is one of the oldest cities in the world, located on the Mediterranean coast of Israel. It is first mentioned as part of the inheritance of the tribe of Dan (Joshua 19:46). Joppa served as the main seaport for Jerusalem, and it was here that the cedar wood from Lebanon arrived for the construction of Solomon's Temple (2Ch.2.16) and later for the Second Temple (Ezra 3:7). The prophet Jonah set sail from Joppa when he tried to flee from God's command to preach in Nineveh (Jonah 1:3). In the New Testament, Joppa is significant as the place where Peter stayed with Simon the tanner and had a vision that led him to preach to the Gentiles (Act.9.36-43; 10:5-23). It was also the home of Tabitha (Dorcas), whom Peter raised from the dead (Act.9.36-42). Joppa has a long and rich history, and its strategic location made it an important city throughout biblical times.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
Beauty, a town in the portion of Dan (Josh. 19:46; A.V., “Japho”), on a sandy promontory between Caesarea and Gaza, and at a distance of 30 miles north-west from Jerusalem. It is one of the oldest towns in Asia. It was and still is the chief sea-port of Judea. It was never wrested from the Phoenicians. It became a Jewish town only in the second century B.C. It was from this port that Jonah “took ship to flee from the presence of the Lord” (Jonah 1:3). To this place also the wood cut in Lebanon by Hiram’s men for Solomon was brought in floats (2 Chr. 2:16); and here the material for the building of the second temple was also landed (Ezra 3:7). At Joppa, in the house of Simon the tanner, “by the sea-side,” Peter resided “many days,” and here, “on the house-top,” he had his “vision of tolerance” (Acts 9:36-43). It bears the modern name of Jaffa, and exibituds all the decrepitude and squalor of cities ruled over by the Turks. “Scarcely any other town has been so often overthrown, sacked, pillaged, burned, and rebuilt.” Its present population is said to be about 16,000. It was taken by the French under Napoleon in 1799, who gave orders for the massacre here of 4,000 prisoners. It is connected with Jerusalem by the only carriage road that exists in the country, and also by a railway completed in 1892. It is noticed on monuments B.C. 1600-1300, and was attacked by Sannacharib B.C. 702.
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
32.054, 34.750 See it on a map
Where the Bible names it
- Joshua 19:46
Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, including the territory across from Joppa.
- 2 Chronicles 2:16
We will cut logs from Lebanon, as many as you need, and we will float them to you as rafts by sea down to Joppa. Then you can take them up to Jerusalem.”
- Ezra 3:7
They gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food and drink and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to Joppa by sea, as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia.
- Jonah 1:3
Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.
- Acts 9:36
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.
- Acts 9:38
Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.”
- Acts 9:42
This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
- Acts 9:43
And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.
- Acts 10:5
Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter.
- Acts 10:8
He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa.
- Acts 10:23
So Peter invited them in as his guests. And the next day he got ready and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.
- Acts 10:32
Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’
- Acts 11:5
“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision of something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came right down to me.
- Acts 11:13
He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.