Philistines (Hebrew: פְּלִשְׁתִּים, romanized: Pəlištīm; LXX Koine Greek: Φυλιστιείμ, romanized: Phulistieím; Latin: Philistaei) were ancient people who lived on the south coast of Canaan …

Enemies of the ancient Israelites, they were portrayed in the Bible as a crude and warlike race. This led to the use of Philistine in English to refer, humorously, to an enemy into whose hands …

Dec 5, 2025 · Philistine, one of a people of Aegean origin who settled on the southern coast of Palestine in the 12th century BCE, about the time of the arrival of the Israelites.

Oct 23, 2025 · Philistine culture flourished during the Iron Age (12th through sixth centuries B.C.E.). Similar to the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, the Philistines lost their autonomy toward …

Jan 28, 2022 · The Philistines populated the coastal regions of Canaan from the 12th century BCE to their disappearance in 604 BCE. The word "Philistine" derives from the Hebrew ha …

Apr 20, 2024 · In the modern world, calling someone a “philistine” insinuates that they are uncultured or unrefined. Why did this meaning develop? As we will see, the Philistines, as they …

Aug 7, 2025 · The Philistines were an aggressive, warmongering people who occupied territory southwest of Israel between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. The name …

The historic Philistines (Hebrew: פלשתים, plishtim) were a people who inhabited the southern coast of Canaan around the time of the arrival of the Israelites, their territory being named …

Five principal cities dominated: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron. Biblical references call these cities the “five rulers of the Philistines” (Joshua 13:3). Archaeological excavations have …

During the 1600s, as a result of the negative depiction of the Philistines in the Bible, the word philistine came to be applied figuratively to anyone considered an enemy.