Akeldama
LocationsGeographical Setting
A plot of land in Jerusalem traditionally identified as the burial place for foreigners and executed criminals.
What is the meaning of Akeldama in the Bible?
A field in Jerusalem purchased with the thirty pieces of silver returned by Judas Iscariot, subsequently designated as a cemetery for foreigners and known by the Aramaic name Akeldama, meaning Field of Blood.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Akeldama clarifies the narrative fulfillment of prophecy regarding the betrayal price and provides geographical context for the early Christian community's establishment of communal burial practices in Jerusalem.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Akeldama in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Akeldama clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.