Cities & towns · Judea

Jerusalem

What was Jerusalem?

Jerusalem is the holy city at the heart of the Bible — David’s capital, home of the temple, and the place where Jesus was crucified and rose again.

TodayThe Old City of Jerusalem, Israel

Also calledSalem, Zion, the City of David

First mentionGenesis 14 (as Salem)

SignificanceTemple, crucifixion, resurrection

Jerusalem first appears as Salem, the city of the priest-king Melchizedek. David captured it from the Jebusites and made it his capital, and his son Solomon built the temple there, making it the center of Israel’s worship.

The prophets wept over Jerusalem’s sins and foretold both its destruction and its glory. The city fell to Babylon in 586 BC, was rebuilt under Ezra and Nehemiah, and in Jesus’ day was crowned by Herod’s magnificent temple.

Here Jesus taught, was crucified outside the walls, rose from the dead, and sent his apostles to the nations. The Bible closes with the vision of a “new Jerusalem” coming down from heaven — God dwelling with his people forever.

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

Psalms 122:6 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you prosper.” Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!” Revelation 21:2 “I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

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Original BibleDawn profile. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy. Scripture quoted from the public-domain Berean Standard Bible.