3 December 2024

Palestine vs Israel

Mention of Palestine Across The Different Versions of the Bible:

  • King James Version (KJV): The word "Palestine" appears once in the KJV, in Joel 3:4. The word "Palestina" appears three times (Exodus 15:14; Isaiah 14:29, 31). In these KJV instances, the Hebrew word being translated is "Pelesheth" which usually refers to "Philistia."

  • Other English Versions: Most other modern English Bible translations generally use "Philistia" instead of "Palestine" when translating "Pelesheth" in the Old Testament. This is because "Pelesheth" specifically referred to the land of the Philistines. Therefore, the word "Palestine" is much less common in these versions.

  • Old Testament Context: The word related to "Palestine" originally appeared in the Hebrew Bible in reference to the area occupied by the Philistines. The term evolved over time to refer to a wider geographical region.

  • New Testament Context: The New Testament was written in Greek, and the region was known by various names, including Judea, Galilee, and Syria Palaestina (a term used by the Romans). The specific term "Palestine" is not typically found in most New Testament translations.

While "Palestine" appears a few times in the King James Version, it's not a common term throughout the Bible. Many modern translations avoid it in the Old Testament, preferring "Philistia," and it's generally not used in the New Testament.