{
  "id": "dict_003015",
  "term": "Jordan Valley",
  "slug": "jordan-valley",
  "letter": "J",
  "entry_type": "biblical_place",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "The Jordan Valley is the low-lying river corridor formed by the Jordan River. It is a major biblical setting in Israel’s history and in the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus.",
  "simple_one_line": "The Jordan Valley is the low-lying region along the Jordan River, a significant biblical setting.",
  "tooltip_text": "A major biblical geographic region along the Jordan River, associated with Israel’s entrance into the land and the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus.",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Jordan River",
    "Joshua",
    "Jericho",
    "John the Baptist",
    "Baptism",
    "Dead Sea",
    "Sea of Galilee"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "Crossing the Jordan",
    "Wilderness",
    "Promise Land",
    "Bethany beyond the Jordan"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "The Jordan Valley is the low-lying region through which the Jordan River flows, forming one of the Bible’s most important geographic corridors.",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "A biblical geographic region along the Jordan River; an important setting for Israel’s entrance into Canaan and for New Testament ministry.",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "Geographic setting, not a doctrine or office",
    "Linked to Israel’s crossing into the land",
    "Appears in tribal boundary and settlement contexts",
    "Associated with John the Baptist’s ministry and Jesus’ baptism-era activity"
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "The Jordan Valley is the low-lying region through which the Jordan River runs, connecting the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. In Scripture it serves as a significant geographic setting, especially in Israel’s entry into the land, in tribal boundaries, and in New Testament events near the Jordan.",
  "description_academic_full": "The Jordan Valley is the broad lowland corridor associated with the Jordan River, extending through the central biblical landscape from north to south. In the Old Testament it is part of the setting for Israel’s entrance into Canaan and for later territorial descriptions. In the New Testament, the Jordan region is associated with John the Baptist’s ministry and with events in the life and ministry of Jesus. The term is primarily geographic rather than theological, but it is important because so many covenant and redemptive events occurred there.",
  "background_biblical_context": "The Jordan Valley functions as a major stage in the biblical story. Israel crossed the Jordan to enter the land, and the region later appears in descriptions of tribal territories and settlements. In the Gospels, the Jordan area is connected with repentance, baptism, and the public appearance of Jesus.",
  "background_historical_context": "Geographically, the Jordan Valley is part of the deep rift system running from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. Its fertile stretches, river access, and strategic location made it significant in ancient travel, warfare, settlement, and trade.",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "In ancient Jewish memory, the Jordan region was tied to entry into the promised land, covenant transition, and later prophetic hope. By the Second Temple period, the Jordan area also served as a recognizable setting for renewal and wilderness ministry.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "Joshua 3–4",
    "Joshua 13",
    "Matthew 3:1–6",
    "John 1:28"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "2 Kings 2:6–14",
    "2 Kings 5:10–14",
    "Mark 1:4–11",
    "Luke 3:2–3"
  ],
  "original_language_note": "The name Jordan comes from Hebrew Yarden, the name of the river that gives the valley its designation. The entry refers to the geographic corridor surrounding that river.",
  "theological_significance": "The Jordan Valley is not itself a doctrine, but it is a key biblical setting for covenant transition, cleansing imagery, repentance, and the public inauguration of ministry. Its significance lies in the saving events associated with it, not in the geography alone.",
  "philosophical_explanation": "Biblical geography matters because Scripture anchors redemptive history in real places. The Jordan Valley illustrates how physical settings can serve as witnesses to God’s acts without becoming symbolic abstractions detached from history.",
  "interpretive_cautions": "Do not over-spiritualize the Jordan Valley as though the geography itself carried independent theological power. Its importance comes from the biblical events that occurred there.",
  "major_views_note": "There is broad agreement that the Jordan Valley is a geographic term. Some readers use it loosely to mean the Jordan River region, while others distinguish the valley, the river plain, and adjacent settlement areas.",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "This entry should be treated as biblical geography. It should not be used to support claims about sacramental regeneration, mystical geography, or other doctrines not taught by the text.",
  "practical_significance": "The Jordan Valley reminds readers that God works in real places and real history. It also provides a setting for reflection on repentance, transition, obedience, and the public calling of Christ.",
  "meta_description": "Jordan Valley: the biblical river corridor along the Jordan River, significant in Israel’s entry into Canaan and in the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/jordan-valley/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/jordan-valley.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}