The Wailing Wall, also known as the Western Wall, is an important holy site in Jerusalem for the Jewish people. It is the last remaining retaining wall that once enclosed and supported the Second Temple, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Here are some key things the Bible teaches about the Wailing Wall / Western Wall:
Old Testament History
The Wailing Wall is part of the massive retaining wall around the Temple Mount that was originally built by King Solomon when he constructed the First Temple around 960 BC (1 Kings 6:1). This Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC when they conquered Jerusalem. After the Jewish exiles returned from Babylon about 70 years later, they rebuilt the Temple in 516 BC under Zerubbabel, as recorded in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. This Second Temple was renovated and expanded around 20 BC by King Herod the Great. So the huge retaining walls that exist today largely date back to the Temple that Herod renovated.
In the Old Testament, there are several references to the retaining walls around the Temple. 1 Kings 6:36 mentions the “inner court of the house of the Lord” which implies there was also an outer court contained by walls. 2 Chronicles 32:5 refers to “the millo and the wall” that King Hezekiah rebuilt to protect Jerusalem. Nehemiah 3 details how the returned exiles rebuilt the walls around the city of Jerusalem in the 5th century BC. Verses 15 and 25 specifically mention the area of the Temple: “Shallun the son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate…And Palal the son of Uzai made repairs opposite the buttress and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king at the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh”
The prophet Isaiah spoke of the significance of being within the walls of Jerusalem: “upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen” (Isaiah 62:6). So in the Old Testament there are indications of the massive retaining walls around the Temple Mount area that became known later as the Wailing Wall.
Destruction by the Romans
In the New Testament period, we see the Temple standing in Jerusalem during the life of Jesus. He taught daily within its courts and predicted its coming destruction (Matthew 24:1-2). In 70 AD, the Second Temple was completely demolished by Roman armies led by Titus, as Jesus had foretold. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote an eyewitness account of the bloody destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. He described how the Romans tore down the walls around the city so thoroughly that one could not tell Jerusalem had ever been inhabited (Wars of the Jews 7.1.1).
This assault almost totally removed the outer walls around the Temple Mount area. But archaeologists confirm that the lower sections of the massive western retaining wall survived the Roman devastation. Its huge stone blocks were likely too firmly set to be easily dislodged even by Roman legions. So while the Temple itself was utterly destroyed, parts of its massive western retaining wall still stood.
A Place of Jewish Mourning
After the Roman destruction in 70 AD, Jews were banned from Jerusalem until around 130 AD. Once they were allowed to return, Jewish tradition holds that they began gathering to lament before these remnants of the Temple’s retaining wall. Over centuries, it became a place of prayer and mourning over the loss of the Temple. The Talmud records how Jewish pilgrims would come to “pour out their hearts to God” at the surviving wall of the Temple courtyard (Midot 2:2). By the 16th century, Jews referred to the site as the “Wailing Wall” due to the centuries of mourning that occurred there.
Today, millions of Jews from around the world visit the Wailing Wall to pray and lament the destruction of the Temple. They believe the divine presence rests there since it is the closest spot to the former Holy of Holies. Slips of paper containing prayers and petitions are wedged into the cracks between stones. Many observant Jews visit the Wall on a weekly basis, and mass gatherings occur there during Jewish holidays. So the Wailing Wall continues to be the center of Jewish spiritual life in Jerusalem.
Prophetic Significance
The Wailing Wall stands as a constant reminder of the glories of the Temple in Jewish history. But it also points to a prophetic future when the Temple will be restored. Many Jews today eagerly anticipate rebuilding the Temple based on prophecies like Ezekiel 40-48 that describe a glorious future Temple. Some religious Jews have even prepared the sacred garments and articles of Temple worship so that they are ready for the day when the Temple is reconstructed.
The Bible also prophesies that in the end times, the Antichrist will defile a rebuilt Jewish Temple in Jerusalem (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). Jesus highlighted this prophecy when He affirmed to His disciples that the Antichrist would one day stand in the “holy place” (Matthew 24:15). So the Wailing Wall stands today as a reminder that the prophecies about a future Temple to be defiled are still awaiting fulfillment.
The apostle Paul also looked forward to the inclusion of Israel in God’s kingdom in the future. He foresaw a coming day when “all Israel will be saved” as they return to faith in the Messiah (Romans 11:26). The Wailing Wall represents Israel’s exile from God’s blessing due to their rejection of the Messiah. But it also serves as a prophetic sign pointing to Israel’s restoration when Jews and Gentiles alike will worship together around the throne of the King.
Spiritual Lessons
Although the Wailing Wall is not mentioned directly in the New Testament, there are some valuable spiritual lessons Christians can take away regarding the site:
- God cares deeply for places where His name dwells (1 Kings 8:29). Even though Christ’s followers do not need a physical temple (1 Corinthians 3:16), we must still show respect for places associated with God’s presence.
- Prayer should be persistent like the continual petitions offered at the Wailing Wall (Luke 18:1-8). While we pray in Christ’s name, our entreaties should be continual, not casual.
- Worship includes mourning over sin, not just celebration (James 4:8-10). The Jews’ laments at the Wailing Wall remind us that approaching God requires repentance.
- Suffering precedes glory (Romans 8:18). For the Jews, 1500 years of exile preceded the founding of Israel. Their patient hope sets an example for us.
- Outward religion without inward reality is worthless (Romans 2:28-29). Just as Christ rebuked the hypocrisy of the Temple system, the Wall reminds us genuine faith is a matter of the heart.
So Christians can look at this holy site as a visible parable meant to steer us toward greater worship and obedience. While we do not cling to the Wall itself, it points us to truths that instruct and inspire. The Wailing Wall’s endurance inspires our persevering prayers, its sorrow reflects our need for repentance, and its patient hope reminds us that suffering comes before glory.
Controversies Surrounding the Wall
As a site sacred to both Jews and Muslims, the Wailing Wall is at the heart of contentious theological and political debates in the Middle East today. Here are some of the main issues:
- Prayer Rights of Non-Orthodox Jews – The Wailing Wall area is divided into separate sections for men and women. Only Orthodox practices have historically been permitted in these areas, but non-Orthodox Jews have increasingly demanded equal access and rights to worship.
- Women’s Prayer Rights – Some Orthodox leaders forbid women from reading aloud from the Torah at the Wall, wearing prayer shawls, or praying in minyans (quorums) there. Women’s prayer groups like Women of the Wall have pushed back against these restrictions.
- Exclusionary Nature – Critics say managing the Wall as an Orthodox synagogue excludes non-Orthodox Jews and reinforces control of religion by the Israeli chief rabbinate. But supporters argue regulation is necessary to preserve Jewish law.
- Messianic Jewish Access – Messianic Jews, who believe Jesus is the Messiah, are often met with hostility or barred from worshipping at the Wall. This reflects the divide between Christianity and mainstream Judaism.
- Adjacent Palestinian Neighborhood – The Mughrabi Quarter, a centuries-old Palestinian neighborhood beside the Wall, was razed by Israel after the Six-Day War in 1967. This remains a source of Palestinian grievances today.
- Desire for Third Temple – Some activist groups advocate destroying the Dome of the Rock shrine above the Wall to rebuild a Third Temple, alarming Muslims who hold the area sacred. But the Israeli government continues to uphold Muslim access to the Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif area.
These controversies remind us that the Wailing Wall involves complex disputes over theology, social justice, religious freedom, and control of land. Christians should avoid dogmatic or inflammatory stands regarding the Wall. Instead we can pray for peace, justice, and reconciliation around a site sacred to faiths who hold beliefs divergent from our own.
Conclusion
For over 2000 years, the Wailing Wall has stood as a silent witness to the dramatic and often tragic history of Jerusalem. Originally part of Herod’s Temple, the only remains today of Judaism’s holiest site are these massive stones now blackened with age. The Wall reminds us of God’s past blessings on Israel, their long years of exile and persecution, and the prophetic future purposes God still has for His chosen people. While not directly significant to the gospel itself, the Wall challenges us to pray faithfully, repent of sin, persevere in hope, and seek peace in the volatile city God calls His own.