# List of modern names for biblical place names

While a number of biblical place names like Jerusalem, Athens, Damascus, Alexandria, Babylon and Rome have been used for centuries, some have changed over the years. Many place names in the Land of Israel, Holy Land and Palestine are Arabised forms of ancient Hebrew and Canaanite place-names used during biblical times or later Aramaic or Greek formations. Most of these names have been handed down for thousands of years though their meaning was understood by only a few.

## Hebrew Bible or Old Testament

| Biblical name | Original Hebrew | Mentioned in | Present name | Province or Region | Country Name |
| Abel-Beth-Maachah | אָבֵל בֵּית-מַעֲכָה | 1 Kings 15:20 | Tell Abel-beth-maachah (Tell Abil el-Qameḥ) | Northern District | Israel |
| Abel-Shittim (Shittim/Ha-Shittim) | אָבֵל הַשִּׁטִּים | Numbers 33:49, 25:1; Joshua 2:1, 3:1; Micah 6:5 | Tall el-Hammam | Amman Governorate | Jordan |
| Ai | הָעַי | Joshua 7:2 | Khirbet Haiy; or Deir Dibwan (Et-Tell) | Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Almon | עַלְמוֹן | Joshua 21:18 | Khirbet Almit | Judea and Samaria Area | Palestinian territories |
| Anathoth | עֲנָתוֹת | Joshua 21:13-18; Jeremiah 1:1, 29:27, 32:7-9; 1 Chronicles 6:54-60 | 'Anata | Jerusalem Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Ashtaroth (Ashteroth-Karnaim) | עשתרות | Genesis 14:5; Deutronomy 1:4; Joshua 9:10, 12:4, 13:12, 31 | Tell Ashtara | Daraa Governorate | Syria |
| Ataroth | עֲטָר֤וֹת | Numbers 32:3, 32:34 | Khirbat Ataruz | Madaba Governorate | Jordan |
| Azekah | עֲזֵקָה | Joshua 10:10-11; 1 Samuel 17; Jeremiah 34:6-7 | Tel Azeka (Tell Zakariya) | Jerusalem District | Israel |
| Azmaveth | עַזְמָוֶת | Ezra 2:24; Nehemiah 7:28; Nehemiah 12:29 | Hizma | Jerusalem Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Assyria | בָּבֶל | Jeremiah 50:1–46 | Borsippa; others say Hillah | Babil Governorate | Iraq |
| Bahurim | בַּחֻרִים | 2 Samuel 3:16 | Abu Dis | Jerusalem Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Beth-Anath | בֵית-עֲנָת | Joshua 19:38; Judges 1:33 | Bi'ina | Northern District | Israel |
| Beth-Arbel | בֵּית אַרְבֵאל | Hosea 10:14 | Irbid | Irbid Governorate | Jordan |
| Bethel | בֵּית-אֵל | Genesis 28:19; 1 Kings 12:29 | Beitin and Beth El | Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Beth-Jeshimoth | בֵּית הַיְשִׁמוֹת | Numbers 33:49; Joshua 12:3, 13:20; Ezekiel 25:9 | Sweimeh | Balqa Governorate | Jordan |
| Beth-Tappuah | בֵית-תַּפּוּחַ | Joshua 15:53 | Taffuh | Hebron Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Beth-Shemesh | בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ | Joshua 15:10, 21:16; 1 Samuel 6:12-21 | Beit Shemesh | Jerusalem District | Israel |
| Bozrah | בָּצְרָה | Amos 1:12 | Bouseira | Tafilah Governorate | Jordan |
| Chephirah | הַכְּפִירָה | Joshua 9:17, 18:26; Ezra 2:25; Nehemiah 7:29 | Khirbet el-Kafira | Jerusalem Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Chesalon | כְּסָלוֹן | Joshua 15:10 | Ksalon | Jerusalem District | Israel |
| Chesulloth (Chisloth-Tabor) | כִּסְלוֹת תָּבוֹר | Joshua 19:18 | Iksal | Northern District | Israel |
| Chezib (Achzib) | כְזִיב | Genesis 38:5; Joshua 15:44 | Khirbet esh Sheikh Ghazy | Jerusalem District | Israel |
| Chittim | כַּתַּים | Numbers 24:24 | Cyprus | N/A | Cyprus |
| Cuthah | כּוּתָה | 2 Kings 17:24 | Tell Ibrahim | Babil Governorate | Iraq |
| Dan (Leshem/Laish/Laishah) | לַיִשׁ/דָּן | Joshua 19:47; Judges 18:29; Isaiah 10:30 | Tel Dan | Northern District | Israel |
| Dedan | דְּדָן | Ezekiel 38:13 | Al-'Ula | Al Madinah Region | Saudi Arabia |
| Debir (Kiriath-Sepher/Kiriath-Sannah) | דְּבִיר‎ | Judges 1:11; Joshua 15:49 | Khirbet Rabud (mainstream opinion); Tell Beit Mirsim | Hebron Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Dothan | דֹתָן‎ | Genesis 37:13; 2 Kings 6:13 | Tel Dothan (Tel al-Hafireh) | Jenin Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Ecbatana | אַחְמְתָא | Ezra 6:2 | Hamadan | Hamadan Province | Iran |
| Edrei | אֶדְרֶעִי | Numbers 21:33; Deuteronomy 3:1 | Daraa | Daraa Governorate | Syria |
| Eglon | עֶגְלוֹן | Joshua 10:3-5; 10:44-46; 15:20-39 | Tel 'Eton | Southern District | Israel |
| Ekron | עֶקְרֽוֹן | Joshua 15:45; Judges 1:18; 1 Samuel 5:10 | Tel Miqne | Jerusalem District | Israel |
| Elim | אֵילִם | Exodus 16:1 | Wadi Gharandel | South Sinai Governorate | Egypt |
| En-Gannim | עֵין גַּנִּים | Joshua 19:21 | Jenin | Jenin Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Erech | אֶרֶךְ | Genesis 10:10 | Uruk | Al Muthanna Governorate | Iraq |
| Eshtemoa | אֶשְׁתְּמֹעַ | Joshua 21:14 | as-Samu | Hebron Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Etam | עֵיטָם | 2 Chronicles 11:6 | Solomon's Pools | Bethlehem Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Gath | גַּת | Joshua 13:3 | Tell es-Safi (mainstream opinion); Ramla | Central District | Israel |
| Gath-Hepher | גִּתָּה חֵפֶר | Joshua 19:13; 2 Kings 14:25 | Gob'batha of Sepphoris | Northern District | Israel |
| Geba | גֶּבַע | Joshua 18:24-28, 21:17; 1 Samuel 13:3; 1 Kings 15:22; 2 Kings 23:8; Isaiah 10:29; Nehemiah 11:31; 2 | Jaba' | Jerusalem Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Gederah | גְּדֵרָה | Joshua 15:36 | al-Judeira | Jerusalem Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Gerar | גְּרָר | Genesis 10:19 | Haluza | Southern District | Israel |
| Gezer | גֶּזֶר | Joshua 10:33; 1 Kings 9:15-16 | Tel Gezer | Central District | Israel |
| Gibbethon | גִּבְּתוֹן | Joshua 19:44; 1 Kings 15:27; 16:15-17 | Tel Malot | Central District | Israel |
| Gibeah of Benjamin | גִּבְעָה | Joshua 18:28 | Tell el-Ful | Jerusalem District | Israel |
| Gibeon | גִּבְעוֹן | Joshua 10:12 | Al-Jib | Jerusalem Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Giloh | גִּלֹה | Joshua 15:51 | Beit Jala and Giloh | Bethlehem Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Gittaim | גִּתָּיִם | 2 Samuel 4:3; Nehemiah 11:33 | Khirbet el-Burj | Jerusalem Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Gozan | גּוֹזָן | 1 Chronicles 5:26 | Tell Halaf | Al Hasakah Governorate | Syria |
| Hali | חֲלִ֖י | Joshua 19:25 | Adi | Northern District | Israel |
| Hachilah | גִבְעַ֣ת הַחֲכִילָ֗ה | 1 Samuel 23:19, 26:1 | Dhahret el-Kolah | Hebron Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Harosheth Haggoyim | חֲרֹשֶׁת הַגּוֹיִם | Judges 4:13 | El Ahwat (?) | Haifa District | Israel |
| Hamath | חֲמָת | 2 Samuel 8:9 | Hama | Hama Governorate | Syria |
| Hammath | חַמַּת | Joshua 19:35 | Tiberias | Northern District | Israel |
| Hapharaim | חֲפָרַיִם | Joshua 19:19 | eṭ Ṭaiyibeh | Northern District | Israel |
| Hazezon-Tamar (Engedi) | חַצְצוֹן תָּמָר | Genesis 14:7 | Ein Gedi | Southern District | Israel |
| Hazor | חָצוֹר | Nehemiah 11:33 | Khirbet Hazzur | Jerusalem Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Hebron (Kiriath-Arba) | חֶבְרוֹן | Genesis 13:18; 23:2; Numbers 13:22; Joshua 11:21, 21:10-13; Samuel 2:1-3, 15:10 | Tell Rumeida$^{:185}$ | Hebron Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Hukkok | חוּקֹק | Joshua 19:34 | Yaquq | Northern District | Israel |
| Ibleam | יִבְלְעָם | Joshua 17:11 | Khirbet Yebla | Northern District | Israel |
| Ijon | עִיּוֹן | 1 Kings 15:20; 2 Kings 15:29; 2 Chronicles 17:4 | Tell ed-Dibbin | Nabatieh Governorate | Lebanon |
| Jabesh-Gilead | יָבֵשׁ גִּלְעָד | Judges 21:8-15; 1 Samuel 11, 31:8-13 | Tell el-Maqlub, Tell Abu el-Kharaz | Irbid Governorate | Jordan |
| Joppa | יָפוֹ | Joshua 19:46; Jonah 1:3; 2 Chronicles 2:15 | Jaffa | Tel Aviv District | Israel |
| Jarmuth | יַרְמוּת | Joshua 10:3–5 | Tel Jarmuth | Jerusalem District | Israel |
| Jezreel | יִזְרְעֶאל | 1 Kings 18:45 | Zir'in and Jezreel | Northern District | Israel |
| Jiron | יִרְאוֹן | Joshua 19:38 | Yaroun | Nabatieh Governorate | Lebanon |
| Jogbehah | יָגְבְּהָה | Numbers 32:35; Judges 8:11 | Al-Jubeiha | Amman Governorate | Jordan |
| Jokneam | יָקְנְעָם | Joshua 19:11; 21:34 | Tel Yokneam, northern part of Yokneam Illit | Northern District | Israel |
| Juttah | יוּטָּה | Joshua 15:55; 21:16 | Yatta | Hebron Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Kadesh | קָדֵשׁ | Numbers 20:1 | Petra | Ma'an Governorate | Jordan |
| Kadesh-Barnea | קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ | Deuteronomy 1:2 | Tell el-Qudeirat | Sinai Peninsula | Egypt |
| Kedesh | קֶדֶשׁ נַפְתָּלִי | Judges 4:6 | Kedesh | Northern District | Israel |
| Kir-Hareseth | קִיר-מוֹאָב | Isaiah 15:1; 16:11 | Al Karak | Karak Governorate | Jordan |
| Kiriath-Jearim | קִרְיַת יְעָרִים | Joshua 9:17 | Abu Ghosh | Jerusalem District | Israel |
| Kitron | קִטְרוֹן | Judges 1:30 | Sepphoris | Northern District | Israel |
| Lachish | לָכִישׁ | Joshua 12:11; 2 Kings 14:19; Josiah 36:2; Jeremiah 44:7 | Tell Lachish (ed-Duweir) just north of moshav Lachish | Southern District | Israel |
| Lebonah | לְבוֹנָה | Judges 21:19 | Al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya | Nablus Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Mahanaim | מַּחֲנַיִם | Genesis 32:2; Joshua 13:26-30, 21:38; 2 Samuel 2:8, 18:2 | Tulul edh-Dhahab el-Gharbi | Jerash Governorate | Jordan |
| Mareshah | מָרֵשָׁה | Joshua 15:44; 2 Chronicles 11:8 | Tel Maresha | Southern District | Israel |
| Medeba | מֵידְבָא | Numbers 21:30; Joshua 13:9 | Madaba | Madaba Governorate | Jordan |
| Megiddo | מְגִדּוֹ | Joshua 17:11; 1 Chronicles 7:29 | Tel Megiddo just north of kibbutz Megiddo | Northern District | Israel |
| Memphis | נֹף | Isaiah 19:13 | Memphis | Giza Governorate | Egypt |
| Michmash | מִכְמָשׂ | 1 Samuel 13:11-23, 14:5; Isaiah 10:28; Nehemiah 7:31, 11:31; Ezra 2:26-27; | Mukhmas | Jerusalem Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Mozah | מוֹצָה | Joshua 18:26 | Motza | Jerusalem District | Israel |
| Nephtoah | נֶפְתּוֹחַ | Joshua 15:9 | Lifta | Jerusalem District | Israel |
| Netophah | נְטֹפָה | Ezra 2:22 | Umm Tuba | East Jerusalem | |
| On | אֹן | Genesis 46:20 | Ayn Shams | Cairo Governorate | Egypt |
| Ono | אוֹנוֹ | 1 Chronicles 8:12 | Or Yehuda | Central District | Israel |
| Ophrah | עָפְרָה | Joshua 18:23 | Taybeh | Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Penuel | פְּנוּאֵל | Genesis 32:22-32; 1 Kings 12:25 | Tulul edh-Dhahab esh-Sharqi, Tall al-Hamma East | Jerash Governorate | Jordan |
| Pi-Beseth | פִי-בֶסֶת | Ezekiel 30:17 | Tell Basta | Al Sharqia Governorate | Egypt |
| Pirathon | פִּרְעָתוֹן | Judges 12:15 | Fara'ata | Qalqilya Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Rabbah | רַבָּה | Joshua 15:60 | Rebbo | Jerusalem District | Israel |
| Rabbah of the Ammonites | רַבַּת בְּנֵי-עַמּוֹן | Deuteronomy 3:11; 2 Samuel 11:1, 12:26, 17:27; Amos 1:14 | Amman | Amman Governorate | Jordan |
| Ramah | רָמָה | Joshua 19:29 | Rameh | Northern District | Israel |
| Ramah | רָמָה | Joshua 18:24-25; Judges 19:13; 1 Samuel 22:6; 1 Kings 15:17; Jeremiah 40:1; Ezra 2:26 | Er-Ram, Nabi Samwil | Jerusalem Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Rakkath | רַקַּת | Joshua 19:35 | Tiberias | Northern District | Israel |
| Rehob | רְחֹב | Joshua 21:31 | Tel Rehov | Northern District | Israel |
| Sarid | שָׂרִיד | Joshua 19:10 | Tell Shadud just east of kibbutz Sarid | Northern District | Israel |
| Seba | סְבָא | Psalm 72:10 | Meroë | River Nile Governorate | Sudan |
| Shaaraim | שַׁעֲרַ֔יִם | Joshua 15:36; 1 Samuel 17:52; 1 Chronicles 4:31 | Khirbet Qeiyafa | Jerusalem District | Israel |
| Shalishah (Baal-Shalishah) | בַּעַל שָׁלִשָׁה | 1 Samuel 9:4; 2 Kings 4:42 | Kh. Sirisia | Salfit Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Sheba | שְׁבָא | 1 Kings 10:1 | Ma'rib | Ma'rib Governorate | Yemen |
| Shechem | שְׁכֶם | Genesis 12:6 | Tell Balata at Nablus and Shechem | Nablus Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Shiloah | שִּׁלֹחַ | Isaiah 8:6 | Silwan | | Disputed |
| Shiloh | שִׁילֹה, שִׁילוֹ | Joshua 18:1; Judges 21:19 | Khirbet Seilun/Tel Shiloh | Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Shomron (Samaria) | שֹׁמְרוֹן | 1 Kings 16:24 | Sebastia | Nablus Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Shunem | שׁוּנֵם | 2 Kings 4:8; Joshua 19:18 | Sulam | Northern District | Israel |
| Sin | סִין | Ezekiel 30:15 | Tell el Farama | North Sinai Governorate | Egypt |
| Socoh | שׂוֹכֹה | Joshua 15:35 | Tell Socho (Kh. Shuweika) | Jerusalem District | Israel |
| Succoth | סֻכּוֹת | Joshua 13:27; Genesis 33:17 | Deir Alla | Balqa Governorate | Jordan |
| Susa | שׁוּשַׁן | Nehemiah 1:1 | Shush | Khūzestān Province | Iran |
| Syene | סְוֵנֵה | Ezekiel 29:10, 30:6 | Aswan | Aswan Governorate | Egypt |
| Taanath Shiloh | תַּאֲנַת שִׁלֹה | Joshua 16:6–7 | Khirbet Tana el-Foqa or Khirbet Tana et-Tahta | Nablus Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Tadmor | תַּדְמֹר | 2 Chronicles 8:4 | Palmyra | Homs Governorate | Syria |
| Tahpanhes | תַחְפַּנְחֵס | Jeremiah 44:1 | Tell Defenneh | Dakahlia Governorate | Egypt |
| Thebes | נֹּא אָמוֹן הֲמוֹן נֹא | Nahum 3:8 | Luxor | Luxor Governorate | Egypt |
| Timnah | תִּמְנָה | Judges 14:1 | Tell Butashi or Khirbet Tibneh | Jerusalem District | Israel |
| Timnath-Sarah (Timnath-Heres) | תִמְנַת-חֶרֶס | Joshua 19:50 Joshua 19:20; Judges 2:9 | Khirbet Tibnah, others say Kifl Haris | Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Tirzah | תִרְצָה | Song of Songs 6:4; Joshua 12:24 | Tell el-Far'ah (North) Talluza | Nablus Governorate | Palestinian territories |
| Ur (Ur of the Chaldees) | אוּר כַּשְׂדִּים | Genesis 11:31; Nehemiah 9:7 | Tell el Muqayyar | Dhi Qar Governorate | Iraq |
| Zaphon | צָפוֹן | Joshua 13:27 | Amathus | | Jordan |
| Zarephath | צָרְפַתָה | 1 Kings 17:9; Obadiah 20 | Sarafand | Southern Governorate | Lebanon |
| Zephathah | צְפַתָה | 2 Chronicles 14:10 | Zayta | Southern District | Israel |
| Ziddim | מִבְצָר-הַצִּדִּים | Joshua 19:35 | Hittin | Northern District | Israel |
| Zoan | צֹעַן | Numbers 13:22 | Tanis | Al Sharqia Governorate | Egypt |
| Zorah | צָרְעָה | Joshua 15:33 | Sar'a | Jerusalem District | Israel |
| Ziph | זִיף | Joshua 15:55; 1 Samuel 23:19; 2 Chronicles 11:8 | Zif | Hebron Governorate | Palestinian territories |

## New Testament

| Biblical name | Mentioned in | Present name | Province/Region | Country Name |
| Adramyttium | Acts 27:2 | Burhaniye | Balıkesir Province | Turkey |
| Antioch | Acts 11:26 | Antakya | Hatay Province | Turkey |
| Antipatris | Acts 23:31 | Rosh HaAyin | Central District | Israel |
| Assos | Acts 20:13 | Behramkale | Çanakkale Province | Turkey |
| Attalia | Acts 14:25 | Antalya | Antalya Province | Turkey |
| Berea | Acts 17:10–13 | Veria | Imathia | Greece |
| Caesarea | Acts 23:23 | Caesarea | Haifa District | Israel |
| Cauda (Clauda) | Acts 27:16 | Gavdos | Chania | Greece |
| Cenchreae | Romans 16:1 | Kechries | Korinthía | Greece |
| Corinth | Acts 18:1 | Corinth | Peloponnese | Greece |
| Cyrene | Acts 13:1 | Shahhat | Jabal al Akhdar | Libya |
| Gerasa | Mark 5:1, Luke 8:26 | Kursi | Northern District | Israel |
| Iconium | Acts 14:1 | Konya | Konya Province | Turkey |
| Laodicea | Revelation 3:14 | Eskihisar | Denizli Province | Turkey |
| Lydda | Acts 9:32 | Lod | Central District | Israel |
| Lystra | Acts 14:8 | Klistra | Konya Province | Turkey |
| Mitylene | Acts 20:14 | Mytilene | Lesbos | Greece |
| Myra | Acts 27:5 | Demre | Antalya Province | Turkey |
| Neapolis | Acts 16:11 | Kavala | Eastern Macedonia and Thrace | Greece |
| Nicopolis | Titus 3:12 | Preveza | Epirus | Greece |
| Pergamum | Revelation 2:12 | Bergama | İzmir Province | Turkey |
| Philadelphia | Revelation 3:7 | Alaşehir | Manisa Province | Turkey |
| Philippi | Acts 16:12, Philippians | Filippoi | Eastern Macedonia and Thrace | Greece |
| Ptolemais | Acts 21:7 | Acre | Northern District | Israel |
| Puteoli | Acts 28:13 | Pozzuoli | Campania | Italy |
| Rhegium | Acts 28:13 | Reggio Calabria | Calabria | Italy |
| Sardis | Revelation 3:1 | Sartmustafa | Manisa Province | Turkey |
| Smyrna | Revelation 2:8 | İzmir | İzmir Province | Turkey |
| Thessalonica | I & II Thessalonians | Thessaloniki | Central Macedonia | Greece |
| Thyatira | Revelation 2:18 | Akhisar | Manisa Province | Turkey |