Places of the Bible

Samaria

Central hill country (Ephraim) · both · 115 verses

Samaria was the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel, built on a hill by King Omri. Its name later spread to the surrounding region. The name appears in 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles and 12 more in the King James text.

About Samaria

Samaria was the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel, built on a hill by King Omri. Its name later spread to the surrounding region.

Its place in the story

Omri built Samaria and his son Ahab reigned there, making it a center of Baal worship that the prophets Elijah and Elisha opposed. Samaria was besieged and finally fell to Assyria, ending the northern kingdom.

Samaria in Scripture (KJV)

“For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.”
1 Kings 13:32 (KJV)
“And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.”
1 Kings 16:24 (KJV)
“So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.”
1 Kings 16:28 (KJV)
“And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.”
1 Kings 16:29 (KJV)
“And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.”
1 Kings 16:32 (KJV)
“And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.”
1 Kings 18:2 (KJV)
“And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots; and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.”
1 Kings 20:1 (KJV)
“And Benhadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.”
1 Kings 20:10 (KJV)

Samaria is named 115 times in Scripture; 8 shown above.

Where it leads

The later region of Samaria is where Jesus spoke with the woman at the well and where the gospel spread, joining the old capital to the new story.

Who is Jesus? · Places of the Bible

People also ask

Where is Samaria in the Bible?

Samaria was the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel, built on a hill by King Omri. Its name later spread to the surrounding region. The name appears in 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles and 12 more in the King James text.

What happened at Samaria?

Omri built Samaria and his son Ahab reigned there, making it a center of Baal worship that the prophets Elijah and Elisha opposed. Samaria was besieged and finally fell to Assyria, ending the northern kingdom.

More places of the Bible

All the placesRead the BibleWho is Jesus?

Scripture verbatim KJV. Place facts curated; any coordinates via Wikidata (CC0).

Enter Living Breadprayer, Scripture, a family near you