עַכּוֹ

עַכּוֹ

Akko (from its situation on a bay)

Definition

Akko is the name of a major ancient coastal city in the northern part of the land of Canaan, situated on a natural bay on the Mediterranean Sea. In the Bible, it is mentioned only once as a city that the tribe of Asher failed to drive out from their allotted territory (Judges 1:31). Historically, it was a significant Phoenician port and later became a prominent city in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, known as Ptolemais in the New Testament (Acts 21:7). The name itself likely derives from its geographical setting, 'hemmed in' by the sea and surrounding hills.

Biblical Usage

The word 'Akko' is used only once in the Old Testament, in Judges 1:31. It appears in the context of the Israelite conquest and settlement of Canaan, specifically listing the cities that the tribe of Asher did not dispossess. Its usage is purely geographical, identifying a specific Canaanite city within the tribal inheritance of Asher that remained unconquered.

Etymology

The name 'Akko' (עַכּוֹ) is apparently derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to hem in' or 'to enclose,' which aptly describes its geographical situation on a bay, surrounded by the sea. This is a common pattern for place names in Hebrew, where they describe a physical characteristic of the location. The name has remained remarkably stable; the same site is known in later periods as Ptolemais (Greek) and in modern times as Acre (Arabic: عكّا, ‘Akkā).

Semantic Range

In its biblical context, Akko was a well-established Canaanite and later Phoenician port city, part of the coastal culture that the Israelites were commanded to confront. Its mention as an unconquered city highlights the incomplete nature of the Israelite settlement as recorded in Judges, a key theme of the book explaining subsequent cycles of apostasy. For ancient readers, the name would have immediately conjured the image of a powerful, fortified coastal city, representing the persistent presence of Canaanite culture and resistance within the Promised Land. No direct synonyms as a proper place name. Geographically related terms include: יָם (yam, H3220) — the sea, on which Akko was situated; and עִיר (ʿîr, H5892) — a general term for city or town.

Word Details