Lexical Summary Yerushalem: Jerusalem Original Word: יְרוּשֶׁלֵם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Chald (Chald) NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to Yerushalaim Definition the capital city of all Isr. NASB Translation Jerusalem (26). Brown-Driver-Briggs יְרוּשְׁלֵם25 proper name, of a location Jerusalem (Biblical Hebrew יְרוּשָׁלִַם); — Daniel 5:2,3; Daniel 6:11; Ezra 4:8,12 20t. Ezra. Topical Lexicon OverviewJerusalem (יְרוּשֶׁלֵם) designates the ancient capital chosen by God to house His name, embody His covenantal presence, and foreshadow His ultimate redemptive plan. Although a shorter spelling than the more common יְרוּשָׁלִַם, the two forms are interchangeable in Scripture and together frame a unified portrait of the city of David and the city of the great King. Occurrences and Literary Distribution The spelling יְרוּשֶׁלֵם appears about twenty-six times, concentrated in Joshua, Judges, Samuel–Kings, Ezra–Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and Esther. Early historical books employ it in narratives of conquest and monarchy (Joshua 10:1, Judges 1:21, 2 Samuel 5:5). Post-exilic writings use it to highlight covenant restoration (Ezra 7:27, Nehemiah 11:1). Jeremiah employs the variant in prophetic warnings and promises (Jeremiah 26:18; 32:29), demonstrating continuity between judgment and hope. Geographical Context Jerusalem is situated in the hill country of Judah, approximately 760 meters above sea level, flanked by the Kidron and Hinnom valleys. Its elevated position afforded natural defenses, while its location on major north–south and east–west trade routes made it spiritually strategic: “Beautiful in loftiness, the joy of all the earth, like the summit of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the great King” (Psalm 48:2). Historical Development 1. Pre-Israelite Period First noted under its Amorite king Adoni-Zedek (Joshua 10:1-23), the city resisted full Israelite control until David captured the Jebusite stronghold (2 Samuel 5:6-10), renaming it the City of David. 2. Davidic and Solomonic Heights David moved the ark (2 Samuel 6:12-17) and Solomon built the first temple on Mount Moriah (2 Chronicles 3:1), making Jerusalem the liturgical heart of Israel. 3. Divided Kingdom and Decline After Solomon, Jerusalem remained Judah’s capital but fell repeatedly into idolatry, prompting prophetic indictments (Jeremiah 26:18). 4. Exile and Desolation Nebuchadnezzar razed the city and temple in 586 BC (2 Kings 25:8-10). Lamentations mourns, “How lonely lies the city once so full of people!” (Lamentations 1:1). 5. Restoration Era Cyrus’ decree enabled the return (Ezra 1:1-3). Under Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah the altar, temple, and walls were rebuilt (Ezra 3:1-6; Nehemiah 6:15), illustrating God’s faithfulness to His promises. Jerusalem in Worship and Sacrifice The city hosted the three annual pilgrim feasts (Deuteronomy 16:16). The temple sacrifices, Levitical choirs, and later synagogue gatherings made Jerusalem synonymous with worship. Psalm 122:1 captures the pilgrim’s joy: “I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’” Prophetic and Messianic Themes Jerusalem is both the object of divine wrath and the stage for redemptive hope. Jeremiah foresaw devastation (Jeremiah 32:29) yet predicted a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34) centered in Zion. Zechariah envisaged the humble Messianic King entering the city on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9), fulfilled in Jesus’ triumphal entry (Matthew 21:5). Isaiah foretold a redeemed Jerusalem attracting the nations’ worship: “The nations will come to your light” (Isaiah 60:3). Eschatological Destiny Prophets announce a future era when the Lord reigns from Jerusalem in peace and righteousness (Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-3). The New Testament culminates in “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:2), uniting earthly history with eternal glory. Typology and Christ’s Ministry Jesus’ death and resurrection occurred at Jerusalem, completing the typology of temple sacrifice: “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). Pentecost in Jerusalem launched global evangelism (Acts 2:1-41). Thus the earthly city became the springboard for the heavenly gospel. Practical Ministry Implications 1. God’s Commitment to His Promises The rise, fall, and restoration of Jerusalem underscore divine faithfulness, encouraging believers to trust God’s covenant word. 2. Centrality of Worship Jerusalem’s temple typifies Christ’s body (John 2:19-21); therefore Christian worship centers on Him, not a geographic locale, yet anticipates His return to reign from Zion. 3. Mission to the Nations From Jerusalem the gospel spread “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Local churches continue this mandate, confident that the King will one day gather all redeemed peoples to the new Jerusalem. 4. Hope in Suffering Jeremiah’s laments and Nehemiah’s struggles remind believers that God rebuilds ruins. Present trials prepare an eternal weight of glory represented by the city whose architect and builder is God (Hebrews 11:10). Jerusalem, therefore, functions as a living testimony to God’s sovereignty in history, the sufficiency of Christ’s redemption, and the certainty of the believer’s future inheritance. Forms and Transliterations בִּירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֔ם בִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֖ם בִֽירוּשְׁלֶם֙ בִירֽוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בִירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙ בִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בִירוּשְׁלֶ֖ם בִירוּשְׁלֶֽם׃ בירושלם בירושלם׃ וְלִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וּבִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם ובירושלם ולירושלם יְר֣וּשְׁלֶ֔ם יְרוּשְׁלֶ֑ם יְרוּשְׁלֶֽם׃ ירושלם ירושלם׃ לִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֛ם לִירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙ לִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם לירושלם bî·rū·šə·lem ḇî·rū·šə·lem bîrūšəlem ḇîrūšəlem birusheLem lî·rū·šə·lem lîrūšəlem lirusheLem ū·ḇî·rū·šə·lem ūḇîrūšəlem uvirusheLem velirusheLem virusheLem wə·lî·rū·šə·lem wəlîrūšəlem yə·rū·šə·lem yərūšəlem yerusheLemLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 4:8 HEB: חֲדָ֖ה עַל־ יְרוּשְׁלֶ֑ם לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥שְׂתְּא מַלְכָּ֖א NAS: against Jerusalem to King KJV: against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes INT: a against Jerusalem Artaxerxes to King Ezra 4:12 Ezra 4:20 Ezra 4:23 Ezra 4:24 Ezra 5:1 Ezra 5:2 Ezra 5:14 Ezra 5:15 Ezra 5:16 Ezra 5:17 Ezra 6:3 Ezra 6:5 Ezra 6:5 Ezra 6:9 Ezra 6:12 Ezra 6:18 Ezra 7:13 Ezra 7:14 Ezra 7:15 Ezra 7:16 Ezra 7:17 Ezra 7:19 Daniel 5:2 Daniel 5:3 26 Occurrences |
    |