Meaning of JUDEA

(from the Latin derived from the Greek "Ioudaia", from the Hebrew "Y'hûdãh").
Geographic term that only appears in the NT in the Bible. This region corresponds approx. with the territory of the ancient kingdom of Judah.

During the exile of Archelaus, Judea was annexed to the Roman province of Syria, and the Roman emperor appointed procurators in charge of governing it.

The reign of Herod Agrippa (41 to 44 AD) interrupted, for a short period of time, the succession of procurators. Caesarea, on the shores of the Mediterranean, was the seat of the procurator of Judea.

Immediately above this magistrate was the proconsul (a type of governor general) of Syria, who resided in Antioch (Lk. 3:1; Ant. 17:13, 5; 18:1, 1).

This was the government of the country during the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus. The NT frequently mentions Judea (Lk. 23:5-7; Jn. 4:3; 7:3; Acts 1:8).

The northern border of Judea probably extended from Joppa, on the shores of the Mediterranean, to a point on the Jordan about 16 km north of the Dead Sea.

The southern boundary can be followed from Wadi Ghuzzeh, located about 11 km southwest of Gaza, through Beersheba, and to the south of the Dead Sea. The length of Judea, from north to south, is around 88 km and its width from east to west is the same.