For many Christians globally, the Bible is primarily known through Greek, Latin, or modern vernacular translations. However, for ancient Christian communities, particularly those belonging to the Syriac tradition, the Aramaic Bible, most notably the Peshitta, holds profound significance. This ancient translation, written in a dialect closely related to the language spoken by Jesus Christ, offers a unique lens through which these believers engage with sacred scripture and the land often referred to today as Palestine.
The Peshitta, meaning "simple" or "straight" in Syriac, is the standard version of the Bible for Syriac Christianity. It includes translations of both the Old Testament (from Hebrew and Aramaic sources) and the New Testament (from Greek). For centuries, it has served as the liturgical and doctrinal foundation for diverse Aramaic-speaking churches, including the Syriac Orthodox, Maronite, Assyrian Church of the East, and Chaldean Catholic Churches. Their devotion to this text is deeply intertwined with their identity as inheritors of an apostolic tradition rooted in the very linguistic and cultural milieu of early Christianity.
When these Christians read the Peshitta, their engagement with the geographical landscape of the Bible—the land that is part of present-day Palestine—is primarily through its ancient biblical names. The scriptures, whether in their original Hebrew and Greek or in the Aramaic Peshitta, predominantly refer to this region as Canaan. For instance, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jerusalem, and Jericho are consistently identified by their historical biblical names, placing the narratives firmly within a sacred geography that predates modern political delineations.
The term "Palestine" itself has ancient origins, deriving from "Philistia," referring to the land of the Philistines. The Roman Empire later adopted "Syria Palaestina" as the name for its province in the region, a nomenclature that became more widespread over time. However, the Aramaic Bible, completed well before the modern political entity of Palestine emerged, reflects the geographical and political realities of the biblical eras. Therefore, direct references to "Palestine" in the Peshitta, that occur (e.g., in the Old Testament when referring specifically to the Philistine territory), denote the ancient Philistine coastal plain, and the broader geopolitical region or modern state.
For these Aramaic-speaking Christians, the land's significance is not bound by contemporary borders or political labels. Instead, its holiness stems from its role as the stage for divine revelation, the birthplace of prophecy, and the setting for the life, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Their reading of the Peshitta imbues every hill, valley, and town mentioned in the text with spiritual meaning, connecting them directly to the historical events that shaped their faith.
Christians who read the Aramaic Bible engage with a sacred text that deeply reveres the land known today as Palestine. Their scriptures, the Peshitta, use the ancient biblical names for the regions and localities within this land, reflecting a historical and theological understanding rather than a modern political one. For these communities, the Aramaic Bible serves as a living bridge to their linguistic heritage and to the profound spiritual significance of the Holy Land.