Note 1 at Jn 4:3: "Judaea" is derived from the word "Judah" and is used to refer to a geographical region in the southern portion of the nation of Israel. It is first used in the Bible in Ezra 5:8, which was during the Israelite's captivity and probably came into use during the exile. The term is synonymous with the Old Testament, "land of Judah," which was occupied by the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.