What does the word 'Jerusalem' mean?
Hi, I'm curious to know what Jerusalem means and where the city got its name? What does the name symbolize?
Comments (3)
Petal Mashraki
July 24, 2026 at 01:57 AM
Jerusalem – The City of Peace.
There are several theories about how Jerusalem got its name:
Semitic yry (foundation/cornerstone) and Shalem, a Caananite god whose root name means “peace” in Arabic and Hebrew.Book of Joshua-Yireh (the abiding place) and Shalem (Place of Peace). Genesis Rabbah- Yir’eh, (He will see) and Shalem, the city of King Melchizedek.Alanna Christensen
July 24, 2026 at 01:57 AM
The name Jerusalem (Yerushalayim in Hebrew) consists of two names, Yireh (meaning the Lord will provide) and Shalem (meaning peace). Jerusalem was first called Shalem (Genesis 14:18). Abraham (Genesis 22:14) later changed the name to Yireh. These two names were eventually concatenated to form Yerushalayim (The Lord will provide peace).
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Carmen Slabbert
July 24, 2026 at 01:57 AM
Jerusalem’s original name was Salem as we read in Genesis 14. Later Abraham named Mount Moriah Yeru (Genesis 22:14). It is believed that David was the one who gave it the name Jerusalem, Psalms 76:2 talks about Salem and in brackets Jerusalem. The meaning of Jerusalem is the city of peace.