Capernaum: Difference between revisions
m Isaacp moved page Draft:Capernaum to Capernaum without leaving a redirect |
|
(No difference)
| |
Revision as of 10:26, 11 November 2025
| Capernaum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Northeast Coast of Galilee (32°52′52″N, 35°34′30″E) |
Capernaum (Hebrew: כְּפַרכְּפַר נַחוּם; Greek: Καφαρναούμ) means "Village of Nahum." It was an ancient town located on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Capernaum served as the center of Jesus Christ’s preaching ministry in Galilee. Near its synagogue stood the house of Peter and Andrew.[1][2][3] It was also in Capernaum that Jesus met Matthew, a tax collector, and called him to become one of His disciples.[4][5]
Features
Capernaum is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name Kfar Nahum (כְּפַר נַחוּם). The name combines Kfar (כָּפָר), meaning "village" or "town," with Nahum (נַחוּם), a personal name, and is generally understood to mean "Village of Nahum." It remains uncertain whether the name refers specifically to the prophet Nahum of the Old Testament.
Capernaum was an important city in northern Galilee, situated along a major trade route that crossed the Jordan River from east to west. During the time of Jesus, it was a prosperous town, featuring a customs station,[4][5] a synagogue, and even a Roman garrison under the command of at least one centurion.[6][7] The site of ancient Capernaum is generally identified with the ruins of Tell Hum, located on a hill near the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee.[8]
Capernaum in the Bible
Capernaum is not mentioned in the Old Testament but appears frequently in the Gospels, where it is referred to as Jesus’ own town—the place where He lived during much of His public ministry.[9][10]
The Town Where Jesus Lived
In the early days of His ministry, Jesus left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,[11][12] near the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali. There, He began to preach the gospel of the kingdom of heaven, fulfilling the prophecy spoken by Isaiah.[13]
Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
A Place Where Jesus Performed Miracles
Capernaum is especially known as the place where Jesus performed many miracles of healing. (Refer to Matthew 8-9; Mark 1-2; Luke 4-5, 7)
- When a centurion’s servant was paralyzed, Jesus saw the man’s faith and healed the servant with just a word.
- When Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever, Jesus went to her house and healed her.
- On the Sabbath day, He healed a man possessed by an evil spirit in the synagogue.
- He healed a paralyzed man who was brought to Him by four friends, telling him to get up and walk.
- A royal official from Capernaum came to Jesus because his son was near death, and Jesus healed the boy from a distance.[14]
- He also healed many other sick people.
A Place Where Jesus Taught
_-_James_Tissot.jpg)
Jesus not only performed miracles in Capernaum, but also gave many lessons there, including in the synagogue.[15][16] After the miracle of feeding 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish,[17] He gave a lesson in Capernaum about manna and the “bread of life.”
Jesus answered, “. . . Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, . . . “. . . “Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” . . . “Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. . . . I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, . . .” He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. . . . From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
After witnessing the miracle of the five loaves and two fish, the large crowd that had been fed tried to make Jesus their king, hoping He would continue to provide for their daily needs.[18] They recalled how the Israelites had eaten manna in the desert after the Exodus and asked Jesus to perform similar miracles. However, Jesus taught them not to work for food that spoils, but for the food that endures to eternal life. He explained that although their ancestors ate manna in the wilderness and later died, whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood—the true bread of life—will live forever. Through this, Jesus revealed that the true miracle is not the satisfaction of physical hunger, but the promise of eternal life through faith in Him, the “bread of life.” Many in the crowd, who had been following Him merely for miracles, could not understand this spiritual teaching and eventually turned away. Only the twelve disciples remained with Him, affirming their faith in His words of eternal life.
Although Capernaum was a place where Jesus performed many powerful miracles and taught profound truths, the people there still did not repent. Jesus rebuked the city, saying that on the Day of Judgment, it would be more bearable for Sodom than for Capernaum, because they had seen the works of God yet refused to believe.[19][20]
See also
References
- ↑ "Mark 1:21, 29".
- ↑ "Matthew 8:14-15".
- ↑ "Luke 4:31, 38-39".
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Mark 2:14".
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Matthew 9:1-9".
- ↑ "Matthew 8:5–8".
- ↑ "Luke 7:1–2".
- ↑ Archaeology in Israel: Capernaum, Jewish Virtual Library
- ↑ "Matthew 9:1–2".
- ↑ "Mark 2:1–5".
- ↑ Matthew 4:13
- ↑ Mark 9:33
- ↑ "Isaiah 9:1–2".
- ↑ "John 4:46–54".
- ↑ "Matthew 13:1–3".
- ↑ "Mark 9:33–50".
- ↑ "John 6:1–15".
- ↑ "John 6:15".
- ↑ "Luke 10:15".
- ↑ "Matthew 11:20–24".