Ἀκελδαμά
Akeldama
Definition
Ἀκελδαμά (Akeldama) is the Aramaic name for a field in Jerusalem purchased with the money Judas Iscariot received for betraying Jesus. The name means 'Field of Blood,' which Acts 1:19 explains refers to the bloody death of Judas in that place. This field was used as a burial place for strangers, fulfilling the prophecy in Matthew 27:3-10 concerning the potter's field. It stands as a permanent geographical marker of the consequences of betrayal and the fulfillment of Scripture.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 1:19. It is used in a narrative context where Peter explains the fate of Judas to the other disciples. The usage is explanatory, providing the Aramaic name and its translation ('Field of Blood') for the Greek-speaking readers of Luke's account.
Etymology
Ἀκελδαμά is a direct transliteration of the Aramaic phrase 'חֲקַל דְּמָא' (ḥăqal dəmā), meaning 'field of blood.' It is not derived from Greek roots. The Gospel of Matthew (27:8) references the same place using a Greek translation, 'Ἀγρὸς αἵματος' (Agros haimatos), which also means 'Field of Blood.'
Semantic Range
Akeldama is theologically significant as a symbol of the wages of sin and betrayal, contrasted with the grace available through Christ. It represents the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (Zechariah 11:12-13; Jeremiah 32:6-9) regarding the betrayal money, demonstrating God's sovereign control over even evil events. Understanding this name enriches reading by connecting Judas's tragic end to a specific, named location that served as a sobering memorial for the early church.
In first-century Jerusalem, purchasing a field for burying strangers was a charitable but also a culturally marginal act, as such burial grounds were for those without family tombs or resources. The name 'Field of Blood' would have carried a strong, grim connotation, marking it as a place of violent death and shame, which differed from fields used for agriculture or habitation.
Ἀγρὸς αἵματος (Agros haimatos, no Strong's for the phrase) — The Greek translation for 'Field of Blood' used in Matthew 27:8, referring to the same location.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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