Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5256 city

A large walled centre of population providing security for its inhabitants. The OT often uses the term as a symbol of the security of heaven.

Types of city

Ancient cities

Genesis 4:17; Genesis 10:10-12

Fortified cities

Numbers 32:34-36; Deuteronomy 9:1; Joshua 10:20; Joshua 14:12

Royal cities

Joshua 10:2; 1 Samuel 27:5; 1 Chronicles 11:7

Cities of refuge

Deuteronomy 4:41-43; Deuteronomy 19:1-13

Cities were frequently large

Deuteronomy 1:28; Jonah 3:2-3 See also Deuteronomy 6:10; Deuteronomy 9:1; Nehemiah 7:4; Jonah 4:11

Cities were surrounded by walls

Deuteronomy 3:5; Ezra 4:12; 2 Corinthians 11:32-33 See also Deuteronomy 28:52; Joshua 2:15; 1 Kings 3:1; Kings 4:13; 2 Chronicles 33:14

Cities were places of security

Numbers 32:17 See also Joshua 10:20; 2 Chronicles 11:5-12; 2 C 6; 2 C 2; Jeremiah 4:5

Cities could fall

2 Samuel 5:7; Nehemiah 1:3; Jeremiah 51:58 See also Deuteronomy 20:12,19-20; 1 Kings 16:17-18; 2 Kings 25:1-4; Isaiah 13:19; Jeremiah 32:24-25; Amos 5:9

The holy city

Psalm 48:1-2 See also 1 Kings 11:36; Kings 14:21; 1 Chronicles 11:7; Nehemiah 11:1; Isaiah 52:1; Jeremiah 25:29; Daniel 9:16; Matthew 5:35

City law

Leviticus 25:29-30

The city as a symbol

Of strength

Jeremiah 1:18

Of heaven

Hebrews 11:10 See also Hebrews 11:16; Hebrews 12:22; Hebrews 13:14; Revelation 21:2,20-27; Revelation 22:1-5

See also

4224  cities of the plain
5255  citizenship
5315  fortifications
5529  sieges
5540  society
5586  town
5604  walls
5942  security
7239  Jerusalem
7269  Zion
7338  cities of refuge
9410  heaven