Joshua 15:60 Meaning: The City with Two Names
Kiriath Baal (also called Kiriath Jearim), and Rabbah; two cities with their villages.
Kirjath–baal, which is Kirjath–jearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages:
Kiriath-baal (the same is Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah; two cities with their villages.
Kirjath-Baal (it is Kirjath-Jearim), and Rabbah; two cities and their villages.
Kirjath-Baal, that is, Kirjath-jearim, and Rabbah: two cities and their hamlets.
Meaning in one sentence
Two cities listed in Judah's inheritance, Kiriath Baal also called Kiriath Jearim, show how old names for holy places can shift while the land remains
Context
Joshua 15 records the land allotted to the tribe of Judah, a long and careful inventory of cities and boundaries. This verse comes near the end of the hill country list, a section that names dozens of towns with their villages. Two cities are grouped together: Kiriath Baal, which the writer immediately tells us is also called Kiriath Jearim, and Rabbah. The double name suggests the place had a history before Israel arrived, it was once associated with the Canaanite god Baal. But by the time Joshua's scribes recorded the inheritance, the city had a new name meaning 'city of forests.' This small notation reminds us that God's people were not starting from scratch; they were entering land with old stories, old names, and old loyalties, all being claimed for a new purpose.
Key Words
Two names for one city appear in this verse. Kiriath Baal, 'city of Baal', carries the name of the Canaanite god who was worshipped on hilltops. The word Baal means 'lord' or 'master,' and it stuck to many places in Canaan. But the same location is also called Kiriath Jearim, meaning 'city of forests.' That name focuses on the thick woodlands that covered the hills, not on the old god. The change of name tells a small story of redemption: what once honored a false lord now simply describes the trees. And Rabbah means 'great', but this Rabbah is not the famous Ammonite capital; it is a modest village in Judah. Together these names whisper that God gives new labels. He takes what was called after other things and calls it part of His own inheritance.
How Christians Read This Verse
Commentators across traditions note the historical layers in this verse. Reformed writers like Matthew Henry see the double name as evidence that Israel took possession of places once devoted to Baal, purifying them for God. Anglican scholars in the Cambridge Bible identify Kiriath Jearim as a site on the western boundary of Judah, later known as the place where the ark of the covenant rested (1 Samuel 7:1). Catholic interpreters have long read these lists as a faithful record of God's specific provision, every town, every village, every name matters because the land was a promise kept. None of these readings conflict; they simply approach the same text from different angles, all agreeing that the details carry meaning.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume Rabbah here is the famous capital of Ammon, the great city east of the Jordan that David conquered. In fact, this Rabbah is a different place entirely, a small town in the hill country of Judah. The name means 'great,' but it is not the same Rabbah mentioned in 2 Samuel 12:26. The translator's note in the verse helps us see that the scribes were careful to distinguish places that shared a name, so that God's people would know exactly what land was theirs.
Living This Out
You may carry a name you did not choose, a label someone else gave you, a failure that stuck, a shame that feels permanent. This verse says that God renames what He claims. The old name, the one that honored something false or hurtful, does not have to be your final name. God can look at that place in your life and call it 'forest' instead of 'Baal.' He can see what it will become, not just what it was. This week, where do you need to let God give you a new name? Trust that He has claimed that territory for Himself.
Main takeaway: God renames what He claims, turning places of false worship into places that belong to Him.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
This verse tells us about a city that had two names. One name meant 'city of a false god,' but God's people called it 'city of forests.' God can change names, and He can change how we see ourselves.
For ages 9, 12
Have you ever been called something you didn't like? In the Bible, places sometimes had names that reminded people of the wrong things. But God gave them new names. Your identity doesn't come from what others call you or from mistakes you've made. God calls you His own, and that is the name that sticks.
Questions People Ask
What does Kiriath Baal mean?
Kiriath Baal means 'city of Baal' in Hebrew. Baal was the name of a Canaanite god worshipped in the land before Israel arrived. The name shows that this place was once a center of idol worship.
Why does the verse say 'also called Kiriath Jearim'?
The same location had two names at different times. Kiriath Jearim means 'city of forests,' describing the wooded hill country. The double name may reflect a shift from a name tied to Baal to a name describing the landscape, likely after Israel took possession.
Is this Rabbah the same as the Ammonite city mentioned elsewhere in the Bible?
No. The Rabbah in Joshua 15:60 is a small town in Judah's hill country. The famous Rabbah of the Ammonites (modern Amman) is east of the Jordan River. They share the same Hebrew word meaning 'great,' but they are different places.
Why are only two cities listed in this verse?
The list of Judah's cities is organized in groups, often with a summary count. Verse 60 concludes a subsection of the hill country towns. These two cities probably formed a small district with their surrounding villages.
What does the double name teach us about the Bible's reliability?
The scribes included both names, showing they preserved older traditions while updating the record. This honesty about changing place names increases confidence that the Bible accurately transmits historical information, even when it is messy or complicated.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study