After the Captivity this name was applied to the whole of the country west of the Jordan ([Hag. 1:1](/hag#Hag.1.1), [14](/hag#Hag.1.14); 2:2). But under the Romans, in the time of Christ, it denoted the southernmost of the three divisions of Palestine ([Matt. 2:1](/matt#Matt.2.1), [5](/matt#Matt.2.5); 3:1; 4:25), although it was also sometimes used for Palestine generally ([Acts 28:21](/acts#Acts.28.21)).

The province of Judea, as distinguished from Galilee and Samaria, included the territories of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Dan, Simeon, and part of Ephraim. Under the Romans it was a part of the province of Syria, and was governed by a procurator.