A Tennessee bill that overwhelmingly passed the State House and Senate is sure to draw strong criticism from activists and progressives. An angry Democrat Party is often the result when states pass legislation fortifying their acknowledgment of Biblical truth.

In this instance, the outrage surrounds official government terminology. The “Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act” will prohibit all state agencies and documents from using the term “West Bank,” which the bill states has been “deliberately” used to erase the Jewish “historical, religious and legal connections” to their ancient and Biblical homeland.

As noted by the Family Research Council: “The terms Judea and Samaria date back to the ancient Israeli kingdoms of Judah and Samaria. In 1967, after the Six-Day War, Israel reclaimed Judea and Samaria from Jordan. Because the Palestinian Authority disputes Israeli sovereignty in those territories, the international community calls Judea and Samaria the West Bank instead.”

By rightfully acknowledging Judea and Samaria, lawmakers are not only showcasing their support for America’s greatest ally, but also the authority of Scripture. Last August, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson used the Bible to argue in support of banning the term “West Bank” from federal documents.

“Every corner of this land is important to us,” Johnson stated. “Scripture teaches us that the mountains of Judea and Samaria were promised to the Jewish people, and they belong to them by right. But many people around the world do not see it like this… We stand entirely by [Israel’s] side.”

In Tennessee, the few state lawmakers who opposed the “Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act” insisted that the bill was tantamount to “biblical indoctrination.” In reality, the use of the term “West Bank” by the international community has always been a tool of anti-Israel indoctrination, as the text of the Bill makes clear.

“The ideological and cultural conflict over Judea and Samaria represents a broader civilizational struggle between Judeo-Christian values,” the bill underscored, highlighting that secularization and antisemitism within the United States has propelled the use of the inaccurate term, “West Bank.”

FRC President Tony Perkins has long sought to draw attention to this important distinction.

“The term ‘West Bank’ is itself a deceptive invention, coined by those who reject Israel’s legitimacy,” he stressed. “It is time to recognize that this region — comprising roughly 20% of Israel’s heartland — should be called by its historical names: Judea and Samaria, not the ‘West Bank.’ The United States should lead in accurately describing this territory, where nearly 80% of the biblical record’s events took place.”

Breanna Claussen is the Founder, President, and Editor-in-Chief of Harbinger’s Daily, working with ministries across the globe to educate and equip believers to stand boldly with a Biblical worldview.