'City' in the Bible

Daughter Zion is abandonedlike a shelter in a vineyard,like a shack in a cucumber field,like a besieged city.

The faithful city—what an adulteress she has become!She was once full of justice.Righteousness once dwelt in her—but now, murderers!

I will restore your judges to what they once were,and your advisers to their former state.Afterward you will be called the Righteous City,a Faithful City.”

Wail, you gates! Cry out, city!Tremble with fear, all Philistia!For a cloud of dust is coming from the north,and there is no one missing from the invader’s ranks.

An oracle against Damascus:Look, Damascus is no longer a city.It has become a ruined heap.

I will provoke Egypt against Egypt;each will fight against his brotherand each against his friend,city against city, kingdom against kingdom.

On that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear loyalty to the Lord of Hosts. One of the cities will be called the City of the Sun.

The noisy city, the jubilant town,is filled with revelry.Your dead did not die by the sword;they were not killed in battle.

You saw that there were many breaches in the walls of the city of David. You collected water from the lower pool.

Is this your jubilant city,whose origin was in ancient times,whose feet have taken herto settle far away?

Pick up your lyre,stroll through the city,prostitute forgotten by men.Play skillfully,sing many a song,and you will be thought of again.

The city of chaos is shattered;every house is closed to entry.

Only desolation remains in the city;its gate has collapsed in ruins.

For You have turned the city into a pile of rocks,a fortified city, into ruins;the fortress of barbarians is no longer a city;it will never be rebuilt.

Therefore, a strong people will honor You.The cities of violent nations will fear You.

On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:We have a strong city.Salvation is established as walls and ramparts.

For He has humbled those who live in lofty places—an inaccessible city.He brings it down; He brings it down to the ground;He throws it to the dust.

For the fortified city will be deserted,pastures abandoned and forsaken like a wilderness.Calves will graze there,and there they will spread out and strip its branches.

Woe to Ariel, Ariel,the city where David camped!Continue year after year;let the festivals recur.

for the ground of my peoplegrowing thorns and briers,indeed, for every joyous house in the joyful city.

For the palace will be forsaken,the busy city abandoned.The hill and the watchtower will becomebarren places forever,the joy of wild donkeys,and a pasture for flocks,

But hail will level the forest,and the city will sink into the depths.

Look at Zion, the city of our festival times.Your eyes will see Jerusalem,a peaceful pasture, a tent that does not wander;its tent pegs will not be pulled upnor will any of its cords be loosened.

Don’t let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord will certainly deliver us! This city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.’”

Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, or Ivvah?’”

“Therefore, this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria:He will not enter this cityor shoot an arrow thereor come before it with a shieldor build up an assault ramp against it.

I will defend this city and rescue itbecause of Meand because of My servant David.”

And I will deliver you and this city from the power of the king of Assyria; I will defend this city.

I have raised him up in righteousness,and will level all roads for him.He will rebuild My city,and set My exiles free,not for a price or a bribe,”says the Lord of Hosts.

For they are named after the Holy City,and lean on the God of Israel;His name is Yahweh of Hosts.

“Wake up, wake up;put on your strength, Zion!Put on your beautiful garments,Jerusalem, the Holy City!For the uncircumcised and the uncleanwill no longer enter you.

The sons of your oppressorswill come and bow down to you;all who reviled youwill fall facedown at your feet.They will call you the City of the Lord,Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

And they will be called the Holy People,the Lord’s Redeemed;and you will be called Cared For,A City Not Deserted.

A sound of uproar from the city!A voice from the temple—the voice of the Lord,paying back His enemies what they deserve!