📖 Biblical Definition
Ancient port city on the southern Mediterranean coast of Israel (modern Jaffa, now part of Tel Aviv), one of the few natural harbors on the Israelite coast. Joppa appears in several theologically significant OT and NT narratives. (1) Joppa was the port from which Jonah embarked when he fled from the LORD's commission to preach to Nineveh (Jonah 1:3, But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish). (2) Cedar logs from Lebanon for the construction of Solomon's temple were floated by sea to Joppa, then transported overland to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 2:16, and we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring it to thee in flotes by sea to Joppa). The same arrangement was made for the construction of the second temple under Zerubbabel (Ezra 3:7). (3) In the NT, Peter raised Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead at Joppa (Acts 9:36-43). (4) Peter received the vision of the great sheet let down from heaven with all manner of unclean creatures, accompanied by the LORD's command arise, Peter; kill, and eat... what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common (Acts 10:9-16), on the housetop of Simon the tanner at Joppa — the divine signal of the inclusion of the Gentiles. The patriarchal-Reformed reader notes Joppa's place in the LORD's redemptive-historical trajectory: from Jonah's prophet-flight-to-Tarshish opening, through Solomon's and Zerubbabel's temple-construction logistics, to Peter's Tabitha-raising and the Gentile-inclusion vision — a single port city woven through the OT and NT in unexpected significance.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Ancient port city on southern Mediterranean coast of Israel; Jonah's departure to Tarshish; cedar logs for Solomon's and Zerubbabel's temples; Peter's Tabitha-raising and Gentile-inclusion vision (Acts 9-10).
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JOPPA, proper n. (OT and NT place; Hebrew Yaffo; Greek Ioppe) Ancient port city on southern Mediterranean coast of Israel (modern Jaffa, now part of Tel Aviv). One of few natural harbors. (1) Jonah's port of departure to flee to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3). (2) Cedar logs from Lebanon arrived at Joppa for Solomon's temple (2 Chronicles 2:16) and Zerubbabel's second temple (Ezra 3:7). (3) Peter raised Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead at Joppa (Acts 9:36-43). (4) Peter received the great-sheet vision of unclean creatures at the housetop of Simon the tanner at Joppa (Acts 10:9-16) — the divine signal of Gentile inclusion.
📖 Key Scripture
Jonah 1:3 — "But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD."
2 Chronicles 2:16 — "And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring it to thee in flotes by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem."
Acts 9:36-37 — "Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died."
Acts 10:9-13 — "On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour... And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
No major postmodern redefinition. Joppa's biblical significance is woven through the OT and NT in unexpected ways; the principal recovery is the integration of the OT and NT Joppa-narratives.
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Joppa as a place name does not undergo lexical corruption. The principal contemporary recovery is the appreciation of Joppa's place in the LORD's redemptive-historical trajectory: from Jonah's prophet-flight opening (and the typological resonance Christ Himself draws at Matthew 12:39-41, the sign of the prophet Jonas), through the temple-construction logistics under Solomon and Zerubbabel, to Peter's Tabitha-raising and the Gentile-inclusion vision at the housetop of Simon the tanner. A single port city is woven through both Testaments in unexpected significance. The patriarchal-Reformed reader values this kind of careful redemptive-historical reading.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Yaffo; ancient Mediterranean port; Jonah's departure; cedar logs for both temples; Peter's Tabitha-raising and Gentile-vision.
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['Hebrew', 'H3305', 'Yaffo', 'beautiful']
['Greek', 'G2445', 'Ioppe', 'Joppa (NT transliteration)']
['Hebrew', 'H3290', 'Yafeh', 'beautiful (the root sense)']
Usage
"Joppa: ancient Mediterranean port (modern Jaffa)."
"Jonah's departure for Tarshish; cedar logs for both temples."
"Peter's Tabitha-raising and Gentile-inclusion vision (Acts 9-10)."