Bible Encyclopedia: Joppa

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

JOPPA

jop'-a (yapho, yapho'; Ioppe): In Joshua 19:46 the King James Version called "Japho," a city in the territory allotted to Dan; but there is nothing to show that in pre-exilic times it ever passed into Israelite hands.

1. Ancient Notices:

"The gate of Joppa" is mentioned in the Tell el-Amarna Letters (214, 32 f; compare 178, 20), as guarded by an Egyptian officer for Amenhotep IV. It was conquered by Thothmes III, and old Egyptian records speak of the excellence of its gardens and fruit trees. Sennacherib claims to have taken Jonathas after a siege (Keilinschriftliche Bibliothek, 2, 93). To Jonathas, the Chronicler tells us, the cedars of Lebanon were brought in floats for transportation to Jerusalem by the workmen of the king of Tyre (2 Chronicles 2:16).

2. Biblical References:

The city does not appear in the history as Philistine, so we may, perhaps, infer that it was held by the Phoenicians, the great seamen of those days. It was doubtless a Phoenician ship that Jonah found here, bound for Tarshish, when he fled from the presence of the Lord (Jonah 1:3). In Ezra's time, again, cedars were brought here for the buildings in Jerusalem (Ezra 3:7). Having been brought by messengers from Lydda to Jonathas, Peter here raised the dead Dorcas to life (Acts 9:36 f). On the roof of Simon's house by the sea, the famous vision was vouchsafed to this apostle, from which he learned that the gospel was designed for Jew and Gentile alike (Acts 10:1; 11:5).

3. History from Maccabean Times:

The men of Joppa, having treacherously drowned some 200 Jews, Judas Maccabeus fell upon the town "and set the haven on fire by night, and burned the boats, and put to the sword those that had fled thither" (2 Maccabees 12:3;). Jonathan took the city, in which Apollonius had placed a garrison (1 Maccabees 11:47;). It was not easy to hold, and some years later it was captured again by Simon, who garrisoned the place, completed the harbor and raised the fortifications (1 Maccabees 12:36; 13:11; 14:5-34). It is recorded as part of Simon's glory that he took it "for a haven, and made it an entrance for the isles of the sea," the Jews thus possessing for the first time a seaport through which commerce might be fully developed. It was taken by Pompey and joined to the province of Syria (Ant., XIV, iv, 4; BJ, I, vii, 7). Caesar restored it to the Jews under Hyrcanus (Ant., XIV, x, 6). It was among the cities given by Antony to Cleopatra (XV, iv, 1). Caesar added it to the kingdom of Herod (vii. 3; BJ, I, xx, 3), and at his death it passed to Archelaus (Ant., XVII, xi, 4; BJ, II, vi, 3). At his deposition it was attached to the Roman province. The inhabitants were now zealous Jews, and in the Roman wars it suffered heavily. After a massacre by Cestius Gallus, in which 8,400 of the people perished, it was left desolate. Thus it became a resort of the enemies of Rome, who turned pirates, and preyed upon the shipping in the neighboring waters. The place was promptly captured and destroyed by Vespasian. The people took to their boats, but a terrific storm burst upon them, dashing their frail craft to pieces on the rocks, so that vast numbers perished (BJ, III, ix, 2-4). At a later time it was the seat of a bishopric. During the Crusades it had a checkered history, being taken, now by the Christians, now by the Moslems. It was captured by the French under Kleber in 1799. It was fortified by the English, and afterward extended by the Turks (Baedeker, Palestine, 130).

4. Description:

The modern Yafa is built on a rocky mound 116 ft. high, at the edge of the sea. A reef of rocks runs parallel to the shore a short distance out. It may be rounded in calm weather by lighter vessels, and it affords a certain amount of protection. There is a gap in the reef through which the boats pass that meet the steamers calling here. In time of storm the passage is dangerous. On one of these rocks Perseus is said to have rescued the chained Andromeda from the dragon. Yafa is a prosperous town, profiting much by the annual streams of pilgrims who pass through it on their way to visit the holy places in Palestine. A good trade is done with Egypt, Syria and Constantinople. Soap, sesame, wheat and oranges are the chief exports. The famous gardens and orange groves of Jaffa form one of the main sights of interest. The Christians and the Moslems have rival traditions as to the site of the house of Simon the tanner. The remains of the house of Tabitha are also pointed out. From Jaffa to Jerusalem the first railway in Palestine was built.

W. Ewing

SEA OF JOPPA

See MEDITERRANEAN SEA.

Greek

2445. Ioppe -- Joppa, a city of Pal.
... 2444, 2445. Ioppe. 2446 . Joppa, a city of Pal. ... Word Origin of Hebrew origin
Yapho Definition Joppa, a city of Pal. NASB Word Usage Joppa (10). Joppa. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2445.htm - 6k

494. Antipatris -- Antipatris, a city between Joppa and Caesarea ...
... Antipatris, a city between Joppa and Caesarea in Palestine. Part of Speech: Noun,
Feminine Transliteration: Antipatris Phonetic Spelling: (an-tip-at-rece ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/494.htm - 6k

5000. Tabitha -- "gazelle," Tabitha (also called Dorcas), a ...
... Transliteration: Tabitha Phonetic Spelling: (tab-ee-thah') Short Definition: Tabitha,
antelope Definition: antelope; Tabitha, a Christian woman at Joppa. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5000.htm - 6k

3069. Ludda -- Lydda, a city in Palestine
... Phonetic Spelling: (lud'-dah) Short Definition: Lydda, Diospolis, Lod Definition:
Lydda, Diospolis, Lod (modern Ludd), a city on the way to Joppa within a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3069.htm - 6k

4565. Saron -- Sharon, a plain in Palestine
... Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Saron Phonetic Spelling: (sar'-one) Short Definition:
Sharon Definition: Sharon, the maritime plain between Carmel and Joppa. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4565.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

7542. Raqqon -- a city in Dan near Joppa
... 7541, 7542. Raqqon. 7543 . a city in Dan near Joppa. Transliteration: Raqqon
Phonetic Spelling: (rak-kone') Short Definition: Rakkon. ...
/hebrew/7542.htm - 6k

4313. Me Hayyarqon -- a place in Dan near Joppa
... Me Hayyarqon. 4314 . a place in Dan near Joppa. Transliteration: Me Hayyarqon
Phonetic Spelling: (may hah'-ee-yar-kone') Short Definition: Me-jarkon. ...
/hebrew/4313.htm - 6k

3850a. Lod -- a city in Benjamin near Joppa
... 3850, 3850a. Lod. 3850b . a city in Benjamin near Joppa. Transliteration:
Lod Short Definition: Lod. Word Origin of uncertain derivation ...
/hebrew/3850a.htm - 5k

3850. Lod -- a city in Benjamin near Joppa
... 3849, 3850. Lod. 3850a . a city in Benjamin near Joppa. Transliteration:
Lod Phonetic Spelling: (lode) Short Definition: Lod. Lod ...
/hebrew/3850.htm - 5k

3305. Yapho -- a seaport city of Pal.
... a seaport city of Pal. Transliteration: Yapho or Yapho Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-fo')
Short Definition: Joppa. ... NASB Word Usage Joppa (4). Japha, Joppa. ...
/hebrew/3305.htm - 6k

Library

How Joppa was Taken, and Tiberias Delivered Up.
... CHAPTER 9. How Joppa Was Taken, And Tiberias Delivered Up. 1. Now Vespasian
returned to Ptolemais on the fourth day of the month ...
/.../chapter 9 how joppa was.htm

A Description of the Sea-Coast, Out of Pliny and Strabo.
... "After that, Joppa; next which, the shore of Egypt, which before had stretched
out towards sun-rising, does remarkably bend towards the north. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 10 a description of.htm

Peter and the Roman Officer
... OFFICER. While Peter was going through the whole country, he stayed for a long
time at Joppa, in the house of Simon, a tanner. Cornelius ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/peter and the roman officer.htm

A Seeker for Truth
... the Lord.". At Joppa, which was near Lydda, there lived a woman named Dorcas,
whose good deeds had made her greatly beloved. She ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 14 a seeker for.htm

The Foundation of the Church among the Heathen
... Peter's journey, the course of God's good Providence led him to the sea-port town
of Joppa, on the borders of Samaria and Judaea, and there we read that "he ...
/.../blunt/a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter ii the foundation of.htm

How Alexander Honored Jonathan after an Extraordinary Manner; and ...
... was irritated; and choosing himself out ten thousand of his soldiers, he went out
of Jerusalem in haste, with his brother Simon, and came to Joppa, and pitched ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 how alexander honored.htm

Peter's Apologia
... eat with them.4. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded
it by order unto them, saying, 5. I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/peters apologia.htm

What God Hath Cleansed
... And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before
God.5. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/what god hath cleansed.htm

Acts X
... Acts X. X: 1, 2. The scene changes from Joppa to Cæsarea, about thirty miles northward
along the Mediterranean shore; and we are introduced to another case for ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts x.htm

Travelling in Palestine --Roads, Inns, Hospitality, Custom-House ...
... miles. A third road led from Jerusalem, by Beth-horon and Lydda, to Joppa,
whence it continued close by the sea-shore to Caesarea. ...
/.../sketches of jewish social life/chapter 4 travelling in palestineroads.htm

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Joppa

beauty; comeliness

ATS Bible Dictionary

Joppa

Hebrew JAPHO, is one of the most ancient seaports in the world. It was a border town of the tribe of Dan, Joshua 19:46, on the coast of the Mediterranean sea, thirty miles south of Caesarea, and about thirty-five north-west of Jerusalem. Its harbor is shoal and unprotected from the winds; but on account of its convenience to Jerusalem, it became the principal port of Judea, and is still the great landing-place of pilgrims. Here the materials for building both the first and the second temple, sent from Lebanon and Tyre, were landed, 2 Chronicles 3:16 Ezra 3:7. Here Jonah embarked for Tarshish. Here, too, Peter raised Dorcas from the dead; and in the house of Simon the tanner, by the seaside, was taught by a heavenly vision that salvation was for Gentiles as well as Jews, Acts 9:1-11:30. Joppa was twice destroyed by the Romans. It was the seat of a Christian church for some centuries after Constantine. During the crusades it several times changed hands; and in modern times, 1799, it was stormed and sacked by the French, and twelve hundred Turkish prisoners, said to have broken their parole, were put to death.

The present town of Jaffa, or Yafa, is situated on a promontory jutting out into the sea, rising to the height of about one hundred and fifty feet, crowned with a fortress, and offering on all sides picturesque and varied prospects. Towards the west is extended the open sea; towards the south are spread the fertile plains of Philistia, reaching as far as Gaza; towards the north, as far as Carmel, the flowery meads of Sharon present themselves; and to the east, the hills of Ephraim and Judah raise their towering heads. The town is walled round on the south and east, towards the land, and partially so on the north and west, towards the sea. Its environs, away from the sand-hills of the shore, are full of gardens and orchards. From the sea, the town looks like a heap of buildings, crowded as closely as possible into a given space; and from the steepness of its site, they appear in some places to stand one on the other. The streets are very narrow, uneven, and dirty, and might rather be called alleys. The inhabitants are estimated at about fifteen thousand, of whom more than half are Turks and Arabs. There are several mosques; and the Latins, Greeks, and Armenians have each a church, and a small convent for the reception of pilgrims.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Beauty, a town in the portion of Dan (Joshua 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 Chronicles 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.

Thesaurus

Joppa (14 Occurrences)
... for Solomon was brought in floats (2 Chronicles 2:16); and here the material for
the building of the second temple was also landed (Ezra 3:7). At Joppa, in the ...
/j/joppa.htm - 17k

Dorcas (3 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A female antelope, or gazelle, a pious Christian
widow at Joppa whom Peter restored to life (Acts 9:36-41). ...
/d/dorcas.htm - 9k

Ships (46 Occurrences)
... Solomon landed his timber and other materials for the Temple at Joppa, and tradition
has handed down what is called "Solomon's Harbor" there. ...
/s/ships.htm - 53k

Lydda (3 Occurrences)
... It lay about 9 miles east of Joppa, on the road from the sea-port to Jerusalem. ... Hence
he was summoned by messengers from Joppa on the death of Dorcas. ...
/l/lydda.htm - 11k

Tanner (3 Occurrences)
... denied him before. Peter made the way still easier for Simon by choosing
his house as his abode while staying in Joppa. Simon's house ...
/t/tanner.htm - 11k

Surname (11 Occurrences)
... Acts 10:5 Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is surnamed Peter. ... Acts 10:32
Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. ...
/s/surname.htm - 12k

Japho (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Beauty, a sea-port in Dan (Joshua 19:46); called Joppa
(qv) in 2 Chronicles 2:16; Ezra 3:7; Jonah 1:3; and in New Testament. Int. ...
/j/japho.htm - 7k

Judaea (45 Occurrences)
... Its breadth was from Joppa in the West to Jordan in the East. The seacoast
also as far north as Ptolemais (`Akka), except Jamnia ...
/j/judaea.htm - 24k

Lod (4 Occurrences)
... Here the apostle Peter visited the saints and healed the palsied Arenas (Acts
9:32). Hence he was summoned by messengers from Joppa on the death of Dorcas. ...
/l/lod.htm - 11k

Leather-worker (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Leather-worker (3 Occurrences). Acts 9:43 And he was living
in Joppa for some time with Simon, a leather-worker. (BBE). ...
/l/leather-worker.htm - 7k

Bible Concordance

Joppa (14 Occurrences)

Acts 9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated, means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 9:38 As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 9:42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 9:43 It happened, that he stayed many days in Joppa with one Simon, a tanner.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 10:5 Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is surnamed Peter.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 10:8 Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 10:23 So he called them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 10:32 Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He lodges in the house of Simon a tanner, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.'
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 11:5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 11:13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying to him,'Send to Joppa, and get Simon, whose surname is Peter,
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 19:46 Me Jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border over against Joppa.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 2:16 and we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as you shall need; and we will bring it to you in floats by sea to Joppa; and you shall carry it up to Jerusalem."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezra 3:7 They gave money also to the masons, and to the carpenters; and food, and drink, and oil, to them of Sidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid its fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Joppa: Passenger Traffic From

Joppa: Peter Has a Vision of a Sheet Lowered Down from the Sky, At

Joppa: Peter Performs a Miracle At

Related Terms

Dorcas (3 Occurrences)

Ships (46 Occurrences)

Lydda (3 Occurrences)