Lexical Summary Azótos: Azotus Original Word: Ἄζωτος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Azotus. Of Hebrew origin ('Ashdowd); Azotus (i.e. Ashdod), a place in Palestine -- Azotus. see HEBREW 'Ashdowd NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Hebrew origin Ashdod Definition Azotus (i.e. Ashdod), a Philistine city NASB Translation Azotus (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 108: ἌζωτοςἌζωτος, , ἡ, אַשְׁדֹּד, Azotus, Ashdod, one of the five chief cities of the Philistines, lying between Ashkelon and Jamnia (i. e. Jabneel) and near the Mediterranean: Acts 8:40; at present a petty village, Esdud. A succinct history of the city is given by Gesenius, Thesaurus iii; p. 1366; Raumer, Palastina, p. 174; (Alex.'s Kitto or McClintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia, under the word STRONGS NT 108a: ἀηδίαἀηδία, (ας, ἡ (from ἀηδής, and this from the alpha privative and ἦδος pleasure, delight). (from Lysip. down); 1. unpleasantness, annoyance. 2. dislike, hatred: ἐν ἀηδία, manuscript Cantabr. in Luke 23:12 for Rec. ἐν ἔχθρα. Azotus is the Greek rendering of the ancient Philistine city Ashdod. By New Testament times it lay within the Roman province of Judea, roughly halfway between Gaza and Joppa on the Mediterranean coast. Its location along the prominent coastal road (the Via Maris) made it a strategic commercial and military center throughout antiquity. Historical Background in the Old Testament • Joshua 13:3 lists Ashdod among the five principal Philistine cities allotted to Israel’s future possession. Geographical Setting and Cultural Context Situated about five miles from the coast on elevated terrain, Azotus possessed two harbors: one at Ashdod-Yam and another at Joppa further north. Its fertile hinterland supplied grain, olives, and wine for export, while its fortifications guarded the coastal highway. By the first century the city retained a mixed population—Greeks, Romans, Jews, and remnants of the Philistines—making it a natural crossroads for ideas and commerce. Intertestamental and Roman-Era Developments The Maccabean leader Judas captured Azotus and burned its pagan temples (1 Maccabees 5:68; 2 Maccabees 10:34). Pompey later attached the city to the province of Syria, and Augustus granted it to Herod the Great. These shifts created a Hellenized yet religiously diverse climate in which first-generation believers would soon proclaim the gospel. Acts 8:40 and the Ministry of Philip “Philip, however, found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through, he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.” (Acts 8:40) The Spirit’s relocation of Philip from the desert road near Gaza to Azotus marks the sole New Testament mention of the city. Several truths emerge: 1. Divine initiative—Luke presents Philip’s sudden appearance as God-directed, underscoring the sovereign spread of the gospel beyond Jerusalem. Theological and Ministry Significance • From fortress of idolatry to gateway of the gospel: Azotus exemplifies how places once aligned against God can become conduits of salvation. Prophetic and Eschatological Themes Zechariah envisions Philistine territories assimilated into Judah, declaring, “I will cut off the pride of the Philistines… and he too will become a clan in Judah” (Zechariah 9:6-7). Philip’s visit foreshadows that ultimate reconciliation, previewing the day when every hostile power is subdued under Messiah’s reign. Related Biblical Cross-References Joshua 13:3; Judges 1:18; 1 Samuel 5:1–7; 1 Samuel 6:17; 2 Kings 19:35-37 (with Isaiah 37:23-24); Psalms 83:7; Nehemiah 4:7; Nehemiah 13:23-24; Jeremiah 25:20; Amos 3:9; Zephaniah 2:4; Zechariah 9:5-7; Acts 8:26-40. Practical Lessons for Believers 1. Trust the Spirit’s leading even when geography shifts unexpectedly. Summary Strong’s Greek 108 points to Azotus, a city whose biblical trajectory moves from Philistine rebellion to Christian proclamation. Its solitary New Testament appearance anchors Luke’s narrative of the gospel’s unstoppable advance and challenges the Church to follow Philip’s example—Spirit-sent, Scripture-saturated, and strategically engaged with the world’s crossroads. |
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