Lexical Definition
Ἀκελδαμά Akeldamá (ak-el-dam-ah') Akeldama N:N--L
of Chaldee origin (meaning field of blood
Aceldama.
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Ἁκελδαμάχ | Akeldama | Acts.1.19 |
Abbott-Smith
Ακελδαμά, -δαμάχ, v.s. Αχελδαμάχ.
Profile
Field of Blood • Field purchased with Judas' betrayal money; burial place for strangers
Akeldama, also known as the Field of Blood or Potter's Field, was purchased with the money Judas received for betraying Jesus and used as a burial place for foreigners.
- A location near Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם first mentioned at Mat.27.7;
- referred to as Akeldama Ἀκελδαμά, or Field of Blood αἷμα ἀγρός, or Field of Blood αἷμα χωρίον, or Field of Potter κεραμεύς χωρίον.
Akeldama, which means "Field of Blood" in Aramaic, is mentioned in the New Testament as the field purchased with the thirty pieces of silver that Judas Iscariot received for betraying Jesus (Matthew 27:7-8; Acts 1:18-19). It is also known as the Potter's Field.
According to Matthew's account, when Judas realized the consequences of his betrayal, he returned the money to the chief priests and elders. However, they considered it unlawful to put the money into the temple treasury, as it was "blood money." Instead, they used the money to purchase a potter's field as a burial place for foreigners (Matthew 27:7).
In Acts, the field is called Akeldama, and it is stated that Judas bought the field with the reward of his wickedness and fell headlong there, bursting open in the middle, and his intestines gushed out (Acts 1:18). The field was then known as the Field of Blood because of its association with Judas' death and the blood money used to purchase it.
The location of Akeldama is traditionally identified as a site south of Jerusalem, near the junction of the Hinnom and Kidron Valleys. The area has been used as a burial ground for centuries, with numerous tombs and burial caves dating from ancient times to the present day.
The purchase of Akeldama with the money from Judas' betrayal is seen as a fulfillment of prophecy, as stated in Matthew 27:9-10, which quotes from Zechariah 11:12-13 and Jeremiah 32:6-9. The field serves as a reminder of the tragic consequences of Judas' betrayal and the ultimate redemption brought about by Jesus' sacrifice.
All entries for Akeldama or Field of Blood or PottersField: Ἀκελδαμά ☩ αἷμα ☩ κεραμεύς