The Bible does not mention the city of Ramallah by name. However, there are several biblical places that have been identified with Ramallah, including:
- Ramah: Ramah was a common place name in the Bible, referring to several different cities and towns. One Ramah was located in the territory of Benjamin, north of Jerusalem. This Ramah is sometimes identified with Ramallah.
- Ramathaim-zophim: Ramathaim-zophim was the hometown of the prophet Samuel. It was located in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Jerusalem. Some scholars believe that Ramathaim-zophim is the same place as Ramallah.
- Arimathea: Arimathea is mentioned in the Gospels as the hometown of Joseph of Arimathea, the man who buried Jesus' body. Arimathea is often identified with Ramallah, although there is no scholarly consensus on this point.
It is possible that Ramallah was originally called Ramah, and that the name was changed to Ramallah after the Arab conquest of the area. The name Ramallah is composed of the Aramaic word "ram," which means "hill," and the Arabic word "Allah," which means "God." Thus, Ramallah means "the hill of God."
It is also possible that the name Ramallah is derived from the Arabic word "rama," which means "wanted" or "wished." This could be a reference to the fact that Ramallah was a desirable place to live, due to its location in the fertile hills of Ephraim.
Ultimately, we cannot be certain what the name of Ramallah was in the Bible. However, the biblical places of Ramah, Ramathaim-zophim, and Arimathea have all been identified with Ramallah at one time or another.