The Name War From Judaea to Syria Palaestina to Palestine

This short history breaks down the profound political and symbolic significance of the Roman Empire's decision to rename the province of Judaea to Syria Palaestina around 135 {CE}, following the brutal suppression of the Bar Kokhba Revolt (132–135 {CE}). More than a simple administrative change, the renaming was a calculated act of erasure led by Emperor Hadrian. Rome had already inflamed Jewish identity by destroying the Temple and rebuilding Jerusalem as the pagan city of Aelia Capitolina. By removing the name "Judaea" (meaning "Land of the Jews") and replacing it with "Palaestina" a name derived from the ancient Jewish enemy, the Philistines—Rome aimed to erase the spiritual and national link between the Jewish people and their homeland forever. The renaming was part of a larger, devastating strategy that included mass exile, driving the last independent Jewish state to an end. Crucially, the name didn't stop there. This Roman administrative title, Syria Palaestina, was gradually simplified to just Palestine by Roman citizens and later by the Byzantine Empire during its reorganization of the region. This standardized name was then adopted and locked in place by the subsequent Arab Islamic conquerors in the 7th century {CE} (Jund Filastin), ensuring that Hadrian's punitive choice became the permanent, internationally recognized name for the land. The history further explores how this ancient act of naming serves as the theological "shadow of Psalms 83's ultimate fulfillment," as it represents the most successful effort in history to realize the enemies' goal of ensuring the name of Israel "may be no more in remembrance."