A little Bible trivia:

            During our Saturday morning men’s  Bible Study we came to the tern “”holy city” in Nemiah 11:1. It was noted that this is the very first time the term “holy city” is used in the Bible.

            The term “holy city” first occurs in the Bible in Nehemiah after the temple and the wall around Jerusalem had been rebuilt after returning from Babylon. The term “holy city” is used only 10 times in the ASV version of the Bible. In Revelation 21:2, the term referrs to the “New” Jerusalem.

  • Nehemiah 11:1 (ASV) 1 And the princes of the people dwelt in Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the other
  • Nehemiah 11:18 (ASV) 18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.
  • Isaiah 48:2 (ASV) 2 (for they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; Jehovah of hosts is his name):
  • Isaiah 52:1 (ASV) 1 Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
  • Matthew 4:5 (ASV) 5 Then the devil taketh him into the holy city; and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple,
  • Matthew 27:53 (ASV) 53 and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many.
  • Revelation 11:2 (ASV) 2 And the court which is without the temple leave without, and measure it not; for it hath been given unto the nations: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
  • Revelation 21:2 (ASV) 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven of God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
  • Revelation 21:10 (ASV) 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
  • Revelation 22:19 (ASV) 19 and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.

 

 James Rowe is currently a member of the Hikes Point Christian Church in Louisville and serves on the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Christian Education Corp.