What are the…
Cities of the Bible
names, descriptions, locations and types

The earliest mention of city-building is that of the pre-Flood city of Enoch, which was built by Cain, son of Adam (Genesis 4:17).

After the Flood and the confusion of tongues at Babel, the descendants of Nimrod founded several cities (10:10-12).

Next, we have a record of the cities of the Canaanites, Sidon, Gaza, Sodom, etc. (10:12, 19; 11:3, 9; 36:31-39). The earliest description of a city is that of Sodom (19:1-22).

Damascus is said to be the oldest of the post-Flood cities still inhabited today.

Before the time of Abraham there were cities in Egypt (Numbers 13:22). The Israelites in Egypt were employed in building the “treasure cities” of Pithom and Raamses (Exodus 1:11); but it does not seem that they had any cities of their own in Goshen (Genesis 46:34; 47:1-11).

In the kingdom of Og in Bashan there were sixty “great cities with walls,” and twenty-three cities in Gilead partly rebuilt by the tribes on the east of Jordan (Numbers 21:21, 32,33,35; 32:1-3, 34-42; Deuteronomy 3:4,5, 14; 1 Kings 4:13). On the west of Jordan were thirty-one “royal cities” (Joshua 12), besides many others spoken of in the history of Israel.

Fenced Cities

A fenced city was a city surrounded by fortifications and high walls, with watch-towers upon them (2 Chronicles 11:11; Deuteronomy 3:5). There was also within the city generally a tower to which the citizens might flee when danger threatened them (Judges 9:46-52).

Cities of Refuge

There were 6 cities of refuge, 3 on each side of Jordan, namely, Kadesh, Shechem, Hebron, on the west of Jordan; and on the east, Bezer, Ramoth-gilead, and Golan. The cities on each side of the river were nearly opposite each other. See: CITIES OF REFUGE

City of David

When David destroyed the fortress of the Jebusites which stood on Mount Zion, he built on the site a palace and a city, which he called by his own name (1 Chronicles 11:5), the city of David. Bethlehem is also so called as being David’s native town (Luke 2:4).

Holy City

Jerusalem is called the Holy City, the holiness of the temple being regarded as extending in some measure over the whole city (Neh. 11:1).

Treasure cities

Pithom and Raamses, built by the Israelites as “treasure cities,” were not places where royal treasures were kept, but were fortified towns where merchants might store their goods and transact their business in safety, or cities in which munitions of war were stored. (See PITHOM.)

Levitical cities (list)

These cities in ancient Israel were set aside for the tribe of Levi, who were not allocated their own territorial land when the Israelites entered the Promised Land (Numbers 35:1-8). Each was a walled city with surrounding land for pasture, measured radially as 1000 cubits (about 0.29 miles) in each direction, or as a square measuring 2000 cubits (about 0.57 miles) along each side. The cities and this land were given by each host tribe. The cities were allocated to the Levites to their 4 sub-tribal family groups.

Aaronites: 13 cities
Gershonites: 13 cities
Merarites: 12 cities
Kohathites: 10 cities

Abdon in Asher for the Gershonites
Ain in Judah
Almon in Benjamin
Anathoth in Benjamin
Ayalon Valley (Ajalon, Aijalon , Aij'alon, Ayyalon)
Beeshterah (aka Be Eshterah, Ashtaroth) in Manasseh
Beth-Shemesh in Judah
Bethoron (Beth-Horon) in Ephraim
Bezer in Reuben
Daberath in Issachar
Debir in Judah
Dimnah in Zebulun
Eltekeh in Dan
En Gannim (aka Anem) in Issachar
Eshtemoa in Judah
Gath Rimmon in Dan
Gath Rimmon in Manasseh
Geba in Benjamin
Gezer
Gibbethon in Dan
Gibeon in Benjamin
Golan in Manasseh
Hammoth Dor in Naphtali
Helkath in Asher
Heshbon (aka Hisban) in Gad
Holon in Judah
Jahaz in Reuben
Jarmuth in Issachar
Jattir in Judah
Jazer in Gad (Num. 32:1; 32:3; Josh. 13:25)
Jokneam in Zebulun
Juttah in Judah
Kartah in Zebulun
Kartan in Naphtali
Kedemoth in Reuben
Kedesh in Upper Galilee, in Naphtali
Kibzaim in Ephraim
Kishion in Issachar
Kirjath Arba (Hebron) in Judah
Libnah in Judah
Mahanaim in Gad
Mephaath in Reuben
Mishal in Asher
Nahalal (Nahalal) in Zebulun
Ramoth-Gilead in Gad
Rehob in Asher
Shechem in Ephraim
Taanach (Tanach, Ta'anakh, Ti'inik, or Ti’innik) in Manasseh
Jokneam (aka Jokneam Illit, Yokneam Illit, and Yokneam

Q & A

List of Biblical cities

Also see: List of cities in the Tribe of Judah

Abel-beth-maachah
Abdon
Accad (Akkad)
Accho
Acco
Achmetha
Achzib (Achziv)
Achshaph
Adam —miracle here
Adamah —destroyed by God
Adramyttium
Adullam
Aeolis
Ai
Aid-el-ma
Aijalon
Ajalon
Akkad
Alemeth
Alexandria
Almon
Amphipolis
Anab
Ananiah
Anathoth
Anem
Aner
Anim
Antioch
Antipatris
Aphek
Aphik
Apollonia
Ar
Arab
Arad
Archi
Arimathea
Aroer
Arpad
Arphad
Arvad
Ascalon
Ashdod
Ashkelon
Askelon
Ashtaroth
Ashterah
Asshur
Ataroth
Athens
Avith, an Edomite capital (Genesis 36:35; 1 Chronicles 1:46)
Azekah
Azem (Josh. 15:29; 19:3)
Baal
Baalbec
Baal-gad
Baal-hazor
Baal-hermon
Baalah
Baale of Judah
Babel
Babylon—miracle here
Baghdad
Bajith
Balah
Bashan havoth jair
Beeroth
Beersheba (Be'er Sheva)
Bela
Berea
Betah
Beth-anath
Beth-anoth
Beth-arabah
Beth-dagon
Beth-diblathaim
Beth-gamul
Beth-hoglah, a city of the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:20-24)
Bethshan
Beth-Omri
Beth-shean
Beth-shemesh
Bethel
Bethsaida
Bethuel
Bethlehem—miracles here, birthplace of David and Jesus Christ
Betonim
Bezer
Bozrah
Cabul
Caesarea
Caesarea Philippi
Calah
Calneh
Camon
Capernaum—miracles here
Carchemish
Cenchrea
Chepharhaammonai (Joshua 18:24 KJV), same as Chephar-Ammoni (Joshua 18:24 NASB)
Chephirah
Chesulloth
Chinnereth
Chisloth-Tabor
Chor-ashan
Chorazin
Chun
Cinnereth
The City of Salt
The City of Palm Trees
Colossae
Corinth
Cuthah
Cyrene
Damascus
Dannah
Debir
Diblathaim
Dibon
Dimnah
Dinhabah
Diospolis
Dor
Dothan
Ecbatana
Eder
Edrei
Eglon
Egyptian cities
Ekron
Elath
Eleph (Joshua 18:28 KJV), same as Haeleph (Joshua 18:28 NASB)
Emek-keziz, a city of the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:20-24)
Elon
Eltekeh
Eltolad (Joshua 15:30; 19:4)
En-gannim
Enoch—first city (antediluvian)
Ephah
Ephesus
Ephratah
Ephrath
Ephron
Erech
Eshtemoa
Etam
Ezion-geber
Gaba (Joshua 18:24 KJV), same city as Geba (Joshua 18:24 NASB)
Gadara
Gath
Gath-rimmon
Gaulanitis—refuge
Gaza
Geba
Gebal
Gedor
Gennesaret
Gezer
Gibbethon
Gibeah of Judah
Gibeah of Phinehas
Gibeon
Giloh
Gimzo
Gittite
Golan—refuge
Gomorrah—destroyed by God
Hadashah
Haeleph (Joshua 18:28 NASB), same as Eleph (Joshua 18:28 KJV), in Tribe of Benjamin
Hammath
Hammon
Hammoth-dor
Haran
Harosheth of the Gentiles
Hazar-gaddah
Hazar-shual
Hazar-susah
Hazor
Hazor-hadattah
Hebron
Heleph
Heliopolis of Egypt
Heliopolis of Syria
Hena
Hepher
Heshbon
Hierapolis
Horem
Horonaim
Ibleam
Iconium
Idalah
Iim
Ijon
Iksal
Irha-heres
Irpeel (Joshua 18:27)
Ivah
Jekabzeel
Jaazer
Jabesh-Gilead
Jabneel
Jagur
Janoah
Jano’hah
Jarmuth
Jattir
Jazer (Numbers 32:1; 32:3; Joshua 13:25)
Jebus
Jericho—miracle here
Jerusalem—miracles here
Jeshanah
Jeshua
Jethlah
Jokdeam
Jokmeam
Jokneam
Joktheel
Joppa
Juttah—birthplace of John the Baptist
Kabzeel
Kadesh
Kartah
Kartan
Kedemoth
Kedesh
Keilah
Kenath
Kerioth
Keziz
Kibzaim
Kinah
Kir-haraseth
Kir
Kirjath-arba
Kirjath-huzoth
Kirjath-jearim
Kirjath-sannah
Kirjath-sepher
Kirjath
Kirjathaim—refuge
Kishion
Kitron
Laban
Lachish
Laish
Laodicea
Lasaea
Lebaoth (Josh. 15:32)
Lebo-hamath = modern Labweh, Lebanon (Numbers 13:21; Numbers 34:8; Joshua 13:5; Judges 3:3; 1 Kings 8:65; 2 Kings 14:25; 1 Chronicles 13:5; 2 Chronicles 7:8; Ezekiel 47:20; 48:1; Amos 6:14)
Libnah
Lod
Ludd
Luz
Lydda
Lystra
Madmen
Madon
Magdala
Mahanaim
Makkedah
Maktesh
Mareshah
Medeba
Megiddo
Memphis
Mephaath—Levitical
Michmas (Michmash)
Middin
Migdal-el
Mishal
Mitylene
Mizpah
Moladah
Mozah
Naamah
Nahallal
Naim
Nain, a town in Galilee
Nazareth
Neapolis
Nein
Nibshan
Nicopolis
Nimrah
Nin
Nineveh
No
Nob—Levitical
Nobah
Noph
Nophah
On
Open place
Ophni (Joshua 18:24)
Ophrah
Pai
Palestinae
Parah (aka Pharah) (Joshua 18:23 NASB)
Patara
Pau
Pelusium
Penuel—miracle here
Pergamos
Pethor
Petra
Pharah (Joshua 18:23 KJV); same as Parah)
Philadelphia
Philippi
Pithom
Ptolemais
Puteoli
Raamses
Rabbah
Rakkath
Rama (Ramah)
Ramoth —Levitical
Ramoth-gilead —a cities of refuge
Rehob
Rehoboth
Rehov
Rekem (Joshua 18:27)
Resen
Rimmon
Rome
Saida
Salamis
Salcah
Sardis
Secacah
Seleucia
Sepharvaim
Shaaraim
Shalem
Shalem
Shechem
Shiloh
Shimron-meron
Shimron
Sichem
Sidon
Sin
Sippara
Smyrna
Socho
Sodom—destroyed by God
Succoth
Taanach
Tadmor
Tahapanes
Tanis)
Tappuah
Taralah (Joshua 18:27)
Tarsus
Thebez
Tekoa
Thessalonica
Thyatira
Tiberias
Tibhath, same as Betah
Timna
Timnath-serah
Tirzah (Tizra)
Troas
Tyre
Ur
Uzal
Xaloth
Zareah
Zarethan (a.k.a. Zaretan, Zartanah, Zarthan and Zeredathah, Zeredah) (see: Joshua 3:16; 1 Kings 4:12; 7:46; 2 Chronicles 4:17)
Zareth-shahar
Zeboim—destroyed by God
Zeboim
Zidon
Zior
Ziph
Ziphron
Zoan
Zorah
Zoreah

Suburbs

A city with suburbs was a city surrounded with open pasture-grounds, such as the 48 cities which were given to the Levites (Numbers 35:2-7).

Port cities

Ancient seaport. Author: Paul S. Taylor.

Adramyttium (Acts 27)
Alexandria, Egypt (major Mediterranean port; Acts 27:6; 28:11; active in New Testament era for grain trade to Rome)
Antipatris (aka Tel Aphek / minor coastal functions, but at strategic location / 2 miles inland at a major spring)
Arqa (aka Arca or Orthosia or Caesarea-ad-Libanum, northern Phoenician port / 14 miles or 22 kilometers northeast of Tripoli, aka Cyrene)
Arvad (aka Arwad, Aradus or Arados, etc. / northern Phoenician island port-city)
Ashdod (key Philistine Mediterranean coastal city with harbor)
Ashkelon (key Philistine coastal city with harbor)
Assos (Aegean port; Acts 20:13)
Attalia (modern Antalya / serves as a port in Acts 14:25 during Paul's journeys)
Beirut (aka Berytos or Berytus / major Phoenician and Roman harbor port)
Byblos (aka Gebal / key Phoenician timber export and trading port, supplied Solomon indirectly)
Caesarea Maritima (New Testament Roman port, Acts 10, 21, 23–27)
Cenchrea (Acts 18, a Christian woman named Phoebe served the church here, Romans 16:1)
Chios (island port; Acts 20:15)
Cnidus (Asia Minor port; Acts 27:7)
Cos (aka Coos, Kos, Coo, Meropis, Cea, or Nymphaea / Aegean island port; Acts 21:1)
Dor (south of Carmel; significant ancient anchorage harbor, Canaan/Phoenician/Israelite control)
Elath (Red Sea port near Ezion-geber)
Ephesus (major Aegean port city at mouth of Cayster River, aka Kaystros/Küçükmenderes / key trade/commercial hub / Paul likely sailed from/through it in Acts 19–20 a riot aftermath)
Ezion-geber (Red Sea port, near Elath in the land of Edom; 1 Kings 9:26; Solomon's fleet)
Fair Havens (Crete harbor; Acts 27:8)
Gaza (coastal trade hub with sea access)
Joppa (aka Jaffa or Japho / Jonah 1:3; Acts 9–11; etc. / Solomon's timber imports)
Kittim (aka Chittim / modern Larnaca, Cyprus)
Lechaion (aka Lechaeum, Lecheae or Lecheum / Corinth's Aegean port / located near modern Lechaio, Greece)
Miletus (near Ephesus; implied port in Paul's travels, Acts 20:15)
Myra in Lycia (Acts 27 / located near modern Demre, Turkey)
Neapolis of Thrace (Macedonian port; Acts 16:11)
Ostia (closest port to city of Rome at Tiber mouth / key Roman imperial port from Claudius/Trajan era onward; handled eastern trade / located at modern Lido di Ostia, Italy)
Paphos (on southwest Cyprus; Acts 13 / modern Pahos, Cyprus)
Patara (Lycian; Acts 21 embarkation implied port role)
Pelusium, Egypt (aka Peremoun and Tell el-Farama / Egyptian and Roman / Nile Delta port about 2.5 miles from the Mediterranean Sea in ancient times / Pelusium was 19 miles (30 km) southeast of modern Port Said).
Perga, Pamphylia (aka Perge or Attaleia; Acts 13–14 implied coastal access / modern Antalya, Turkey)
Phoenix (aka Phoinix; Crete harbor; Acts 27:12 / modern location)
Portus, Italy (ancient artificial port on the Tiber River, close to city of Rome)
Ptolemais (aka Accho or Acco / major harbor north of Carmel, used in Hellenistic/Roman periods; Acts 21:7)
Puteoli, Italy (aka Pozzuoli / main hub for large ships, especially grain from Alexandria until mid-1st century AD / Paul's landing port, Acts 28:13)
Ras el-Bassit (aka Posidium , Posideium , or Posideion; northern Syria, Hellenistic era Mediterranean Sea anchorage / now a popular Syrian beach resort destination)
Rhegium (Italian port; Acts 28:13)
Rhegium (Italian Strait port / Acts 28:13 stop)
Rhodes (island port; Acts 21:1)
Salamis (Cyprus port; Acts 13:5)
Samos (island port; Acts 20:15)
Samothrace (aka Samothracia / island port; Acts 16:11)
Sarepta (smaller Phoenician coastal harbor)
Seleucia in Pieria (aka Suedia / Syrian port near Antioch; NT-era access to Antioch, Acts 13:4 / ruins location)
Sidon (aka Saida / major Phoenician port; Judges; 1 Kings; Jesus' references / location)
Syracuse (Sicily; Acts 28 stop)
Tabarja (minor Phoenician coastal site / location in modern Lebanon)
Tarshish is a distant trading destination, not a specific port city in the Bible
Tartessos (Iberian Peninsula, southern Spain; possible Tarshish link, distant trade port)
Thessalonica (modern Thessaloniki, Greece / major port city on the Thermaic Gulf, Aegean Sea / chief harbor of Macedonia in biblical times—Hellenistic-Roman era / key trade hub on Roman Via Egnatia / Acts 17:1, 11, 13; 27:2; Philippians 4:16; 1–2 Thessalonians; 2 Timothy 4:10; Aristarchus boards a ship in Acts 27:2)
Tripoli (aka Cyrene / Phoenician federation coastal port complex / modern location in Lebanon)
Troas (aka Alexandria Troas; coast of Mysia; a Hellenistic and Roman port city in northwest Asia Minor / location of ruins in modern Turkey)
Tyre (major Phoenician port; Ezekiel 27; 1 Kings; Jesus' references)
Ugarit, ports of Minet el Beida and Ra’šu (prominent Late Bronze Age trading Mediterranean Sea hub in what is now northern Syria / close ties to the Hittite Empire / origins in the Neolithic period of the Fertile Crescent)
Ur (aka Urim / In ancient times, this main seaport was directly on the Persian Gulf via the Euphrates river mouth. Its North Port and West Port were two enclosed basin harbors within Ur's walls. Abu Tbeirah was a satellite harbor/port town about 9 miles (~15 km) away, the oldest excavated in Iraq, 3rd millennium BC.)
and many other ports, see: Roman ports, including a map (off-site nonprofit) / Catalog of Ancient Ports by region (off-site)