Ἱερουσαλήμ (Hierousalēm)
Hierousalēm
Jerusalem
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 74 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Jerusalem, derived from Hebrew roots meaning "foundation of peace," appears seventy-four times in the New Testament. While it primarily denotes the physical capital of Palestine, its usage extends beyond geography to represent the people living there, as seen when Jesus laments over the city’s rejection of his prophets (Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34). This dual sense of place and population allows the word to carry significant emotional weight in narratives of both conflict and compassion.
Early Christian writers frequently employed Jerusalem symbolically to contrast earthly institutions with heavenly realities. Paul distinguishes between the current city, which he associates with the Mosaic covenant, and a "Jerusalem above" that exists in heaven (Galatians 4:25-26). This theological shift is further developed in Hebrews and Revelation, where believers are described as approaching a spiritual Jerusalem or anticipating a New Jerusalem descending from God (Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 3:12).
Translators generally retain the proper noun "Jerusalem" rather than attempting to translate its meaning, preserving its identity as the central locus of biblical history. The variation in spelling between Hierousalēm and Hierosolyma reflects different manuscript traditions but refers to the same entity. The word serves as a fixed point in the narrative arc, marking the journey from Jesus’ ministry through the spread of the gospel to the ultimate hope of a restored creation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Jerusalem stands as the central stage of biblical history, marking the place where Jesus lived, taught, and offered himself for the world. When we read that he set his face toward this city, knowing what awaited him, it reveals a love that does not shy away from suffering but embraces it to bring peace. This physical location grounds our faith in real history, reminding us that God entered into human geography to redeem it.
Beyond its streets and temples, the name also points to a deeper spiritual reality. Early Christians spoke of a heavenly Jerusalem, a home prepared by God where every tear is wiped away. Whether you are drawn to the historical weight of the city or the hope of that eternal dwelling, this word invites you to look beyond the present moment. It connects the struggles of today with the promise of a restored creation, offering a steady anchor for your soul.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 74 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Jerusalem44×
- Jerusalem,13×
- Jerusalem.7×
- Jerusalem;6×
- to Jerusalem2×
- of Jerusalem,2×
- of Jerusalem.1×
- in Jerusalem?1×
- in Jerusalem,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Ἰερουσαλὴμ45×
- Ἰερουσαλήμ,16×
- Ἰερουσαλήμ·6×
- Ἰερουσαλήμ.6×
- Ἰερουσαλήμ.¶2×
- Ἱερουσαλήμ1×
- Ἰερουσαλήμ;1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 9:51
It came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem
This verse captures Jesus’ deliberate resolve to face his destiny in Jerusalem, showing that his path was chosen with full awareness of the cost.
-
Matthew 23:37
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!
Here the word carries deep emotional weight as Jesus expresses his longing to protect the people despite their rejection of him.
-
Luke 24:18
One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things which have happened there in these days?”
The reference highlights how the events in Jerusalem were so significant that they defined the entire conversation of the disciples after the resurrection.