Καφαρναούμ

English (Thayer)

Καπερναούμ or more correctly (with L T Tr WH (cf. WH s Appendix, p. 160; Scrivener, Introduction, p. 561)) Καφαρναούμ (כָּפָר a village, and נָחוּם consolation; hence 'the village of consolation,' (others, 'village of Nachum' (a proper name)); Καπαρναούμ, Ptolemy, 5,16, 4), ἡ, Capernaum or Capharnaum, a flourishing city of Galilee ( Matthew 11:23; Luke 10:15), situated on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee or Lake of Gennesaret ( John 6:17,24; hence ἡ παραθαλασσια, Matthew 4:13), near the place where the Jordan flows into the lake. Being nowhere mentioned in the O. T. it seems to have been built after the exile (cf. also B. D. under the word ). Josephus mentions (b. j. 3,10, 8) a fountain in Galilee called by the neighboring residents Καφαρναούμ, and (vita 72) 'κώμην Κεφαρνωμην', and it is quite probable that he meant the town we are speaking of. It is mentioned in the N. T. (besides the passage already cited) in Matthew 8:5; Matthew 17:24; Mark 1:21; Mark 2:1; Mark 9:33; Luke 4:23,31; Luke 7:1; John 2:12; John 4:46; John 6:59. Cf. Winer s RWB under the word; Vaihinger in Herzog vii. 369; Furrer in Schenkel iii. 493 f; (the last named writing gives at length (see also Zeitschr. d. Deutsch. Palaest.-Vereins for 1879, p. 63ff) his reasons for preferring (contra Robinson, Sepp, etc.) to identify C. with Tell Hum; so (after earlier writings; cf. Arnaud, p. 414), Winer as above, Dr. Wilson, Lynch, Ritter, Delitzsch, Tristram (Land of Israel, edition 3, p. 428ff) and more recently Capt. Wilson (`Our Work in Palestine,' p. 186f and 'Recovery of Jerusalem,' p. 266f (292ff)). But Conder (Tent Work in Palestine ii. 182ff) argues from Jewish authorities in favor of Khan Minyeh; see B. D. American edition under the word).