What is…
Juttah

Meaning: extended

This is a Levitical city in the mountains or hill-country of Judah. It is mentioned in Joshua 15:55; 21:16. Joshua places it in the neighborhood of Maon, Carmel, and Ziph.

Its modern name is Yata (aka Yatta, Yattah and Yutta), a place about 5.5 miles south of Hebron.

This ancient Levite hill-country Judean town is likely the place pregnant Mary retreated while awaiting the birth of Jesus—to help, inform and fellowship with her pregnant cousin.

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. —Luke 1:39-41 ESV

Juttah is the most likely residence of Zacharias and Elisabeth, and the birthplace of John the Baptist. On this account, it is annually visited by thousands of Greek Church pilgrims.

Some people believe that the mountain village of Ein Karem (aka Ein Kerem and Ain Karem), whose name means either “Spring of the Vineyard,” “Spring of Carem” or “The Generous Spring” may be the place where Zacharias and Elisabeth lived. Because this is also a “town in the hill country of Judea,” there is a tradition that John the Baptist was born in this place. Its pleasant location between Bethlehem and Jerusalem made it popular for pilgramage, which led to the establishment of many churches and monasteries in the area. However, this does not seem to have been a Levite city.

More information

• What are Levites?
• What is Hebron?
• Who is Zacharias?
• Who is Elisabeth?
• What is a spring and what springs are mentioned in the Bible?
• What are the cities of the Bible? Names, descriptions, locations and types
• Places of the Bible