Pronunciation Guide: ah-kel-dah-MAH

Basic Definition

Strong’s G184: Ἀκελδαμά (Akeldama) is an Aramaic term meaning “Field of Blood.” It refers to the plot of land purchased with the money Judas received for betraying the Messiah Jesus, which he later returned before taking his own life. This name encapsulates both the tragic circumstances of its purchase and its historical significance in the early church’s testimony.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Proper Noun
• Language Origin: Aramaic (חקל דמא, ḥaqêl demā’)
• Usage Context: Historical narrative
• Occurs only once in the New Testament
• Compound word from two Aramaic terms

Ἀκελδαμά Morphology:

• Ἀκελδαμά (nominative singular) – Field of Blood
• No other morphological forms exist as it’s a proper noun used only once

Origin & History

The term Ἀκελδαμά represents a Greek transliteration of the Aramaic phrase חקל דמא (ḥaqêl demā’). The first element חקל (ḥaqêl) means “field” or “plot of land,” while דמא (demā’) means “blood.” This Aramaic name reflects the common language spoken in Jerusalem during the first century CE.

The historical context of this location is deeply connected to the fulfillment of prophecy and the tragic end of Judas Iscariot. The term’s preservation in its Aramaic form, even within the Greek text, suggests its significance as a local landmark that carried deep meaning for the Jerusalem community.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Field of Blood – Primary meaning referring to the specific location
• Blood-Bought Field – Emphasizing its means of acquisition
• Field of Death – Connected to its association with Judas’s demise

Ἀκελδαμά Translation Options:

• “Field of Blood” – Most literal translation preserving the Aramaic meaning
• “Blood Field” – Condensed form maintaining the essential meaning
• “Potter’s Field” – Historical usage designation, though less precise to the Greek
• “Field of the Blood Price” – Interpretive translation emphasizing its purchase circumstances

Biblical Usage

Ἀκελδαμά appears explicitly in Acts 1:19, where Luke records both the Greek and Aramaic names for this notorious location. The field’s purchase fulfilled the prophecy written in Psalms 69:25 and Psalms 109:8, demonstrating divine sovereignty even in tragic circumstances.

The parallel account in Matthew 27:3-10 provides additional details about the field’s purchase and its connection to Jeremiah’s prophecy, though it doesn’t use the Aramaic term.

• “Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Field of Blood [Ἀκελδαμά].” Acts 1:18-19

Cultural Insights

In ancient Jerusalem, the area where Ἀκελδαμά was located was traditionally used by potters due to its rich clay deposits. The field’s transformation from a potter’s workspace to a burial ground for strangers reflects a profound irony – the place where vessels were once formed became a place where broken vessels of humanity were laid to rest.

The location of Ἀκελδαμά has been traditionally identified with a site on the southern hill of the Hinnom Valley, opposite Mount Zion. This area had historical associations with child sacrifice to Molech in Old Testament times, making its new designation as a “Field of Blood” particularly poignant in the religious consciousness of Jerusalem’s inhabitants.

Theological Significance

The name Ἀκελδαμά stands as a powerful testimony to both divine justice and mercy. It marks the location where the betrayal price of the Messiah – thirty pieces of silver – returned to the earth, fulfilling ancient prophecies and demonstrating God’s sovereign control over even the darkest human actions.

This place embodies the intersection of human sin and divine purpose. While it commemorates a terrible act of betrayal, it also demonstrates how God’s redemptive purposes cannot be thwarted. The blood price paid for betraying innocent blood became the means for providing a burial place for strangers, showing how God can bring mercy out of human malice.

Personal Application

Ἀκελδαμά reminds us that God’s purposes prevail even through human betrayal and tragedy. When we face betrayal or witness injustice, we can remember that God’s sovereignty extends even over the darkest moments of human history.

This location serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of betraying truth while simultaneously pointing to God’s ability to bring redemptive purpose out of human evil. It challenges us to remain faithful to truth and to trust in God’s larger purposes even when we cannot see them clearly.

Related Words

• φόνος (phonos) – murder, slaughter – Highlights the violent aspect implicit in Akeldama’s meaning See G5408
• αἷμα (haima) – blood, bloodshed – The Greek equivalent of the Aramaic דמא in Akeldama See G129
• ἀγρός (agros) – field, land – The Greek equivalent of the Aramaic חקל in Akeldama See G68
• μισθός (misthos) – wages, reward – Connected to the blood money that purchased the field See G3408

Did you Know?

• The traditional site of Ἀκελδαμά became a burial place for Christian pilgrims in the Middle Ages, with soil from the field being transported to burial grounds throughout Europe due to its believed special properties for decomposition.
• Archaeological excavations near the traditional site have revealed numerous ancient tombs and ossuaries, confirming its historical use as a burial ground.
• The Greek transliteration of Ἀκελδαμά shows slight variations in different manuscripts, reflecting the challenges of representing Aramaic sounds in Greek letters, but all variations maintain the essential meaning of “Field of Blood.”

Remember This

Ἀκελδαμά stands as an eternal witness that even humanity’s darkest deeds cannot thwart God’s sovereign plan of redemption.