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Akeldama

biblical_place_name theological_term standard

Akeldama is the Aramaic name meaning “Field of Blood,” the place associated in Acts 1:19 with Judas Iscariot and the aftermath of his betrayal of Jesus.

At a Glance

A biblical place-name meaning “Field of Blood,” associated with Judas Iscariot and the money paid for betraying Jesus.

Key Points

Description

Akeldama is the Aramaic term translated “Field of Blood,” the name given to a field in Jerusalem associated with Judas Iscariot after his betrayal of Jesus (Acts 1:19). Scripture connects the field with the betrayal money and with Judas’s death: Matthew 27:3–8 says the chief priests used the returned silver to buy the potter’s field, while Acts 1:18–19 describes Judas’s end and explains how the place received its name. These passages can be read as complementary accounts of the same event rather than as a contradiction. The term is therefore best understood as a biblical place-name tied to the tragic consequences of Judas’s sin and to the fulfillment of God’s word.

Biblical Context

Acts 1:18–19 explicitly names Akeldama and explains that it means “Field of Blood.” The surrounding context is Peter’s account of Judas’s fall and the need to replace him among the apostles. Matthew 27:3–8 gives the related account of the chief priests using Judas’s returned silver to buy the potter’s field.

Historical Context

The name preserves the memory of a place linked to Judas’s betrayal in the Jerusalem area. The exact historical relationship between Matthew’s and Acts’ descriptions has been discussed, but both texts associate the field with the aftermath of Judas’s sin and with bloodguilt.

Jewish and Ancient Context

The use of an Aramaic place-name fits the linguistic world of first-century Judea. Place-names based on significant events or local associations were common, and the term “Field of Blood” would have conveyed strong moral and historical meaning to early readers.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Akeldama reflects an Aramaic expression meaning “Field of Blood.” Acts 1:19 preserves the local name and then translates it for readers.

Theological Significance

Akeldama underscores the seriousness of Judas’s betrayal, the reality of divine judgment, and the providential fulfillment of Scripture. It also shows how the New Testament presents shameful human actions within God’s sovereign purposes without excusing the sin involved.

Philosophical Explanation

The entry is a place-name, not an abstract doctrine. Its significance is interpretive and theological because the place commemorates a historical act of betrayal and its consequences. The biblical narrative treats named places as carriers of memory and moral meaning.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not overstate the exact topography beyond what Scripture says. The two Gospel/Acts accounts should not be forced into simplistic contradiction or into speculative harmonization beyond the text. The entry refers to a real historical memory attached to a place, but Scripture does not require detailed certainty about every later traditional identification.

Major Views

Most interpreters understand Akeldama as the field associated with Judas’s betrayal and death, with Matthew and Acts giving complementary perspectives. A few discussions focus on the literary relationship between the passages, but the basic identification of the name and its meaning is straightforward.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Akeldama is not itself a doctrine and should not be used to build speculative teachings about geography, numerology, or hidden meanings. Its doctrinal significance remains subordinate to the plain sense of the biblical narratives.

Practical Significance

Akeldama reminds readers that betrayal and sin have real consequences, that God’s word stands firm, and that shameful events do not escape divine notice. It also warns against abusing trust and calling good evil or evil good.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Akeldama

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