Greek word · G1082

Γεννησαρέτ

gennēsaret

Gennesaret

The name covers (1) a plain on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee and (2) the lake itself, which Luke calls 'the lake of Gennesaret' (Luke 5:1). Other forms are 'Gennesar' and, in rabbinic texts, 'Ginnosar.'

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Γεννησαρέτ (Rec. Γενησ-, Mk, l.with; Targ. גְּנֵיסַר),

[in LXX: Γεννησάρ (as in some MSS. Mt, Mk), 1Ma.11:67 * ;]

Gennesaret, a fertile plain on W. shore of the Sea of Galilee; ἡ γῆ, Matthew 14:34, Mark 6:53; ἡ λίμνη (יָם כִּנֶּרֶת, Numbers 34:11, elsewhere ἡ θάλασσα τ. Γαλιλαίας, Mark 1:16; ἡ θ. τ. Τιβεριάδος, John 6:1), Luke 5:1.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 14:34

Range of meaning

The name covers (1) a plain on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee and (2) the lake itself, which Luke calls 'the lake of Gennesaret' (Luke 5:1). The name is usually connected with Old Testament Kinneret/Chinnereth, the old name of the lake and of a town on its shore (Numbers 34:11; Joshua 19:35). Other forms are 'Gennesar' and, in rabbinic texts, 'Ginnosar.'

Against the English

English versions all simply transliterate the name. There is no real difference between them.

Used elsewhere in the period

1 Maccabees 11:67 mentions 'the water of Gennesar.' Josephus describes the plain at length (Jewish War 3.506–521). He says it ran about 30 stadia along the shore, roughly 5–6 km, and about 20 stadia inland. He praises its soil and climate, which let walnuts, date palms, olives, figs and grapes grow side by side 'as if nature were showing off.' He also says it was watered by a strong spring the locals called Capharnaum. The modern kibbutz Ginosar keeps the name.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 14:34 Γεννησαρέτ. Gennesaret.

    When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.

    Here: The name of the small, very fertile plain on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, between Magdala and Capernaum. The word cannot be declined, so the Greek simply puts the name next to 'land' to mean 'the land of Gennesaret.'

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 6:53 Γεννησαρὲτ Gennesaret

    When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and moored the boat.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 5:1 Γεννησαρὲτ of Gennesaret

    On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God,

    Here: The name of the fertile plain on the north-west shore, used here for the whole lake. It is the same body of water as the Sea of Galilee and the Old Testament 'Kinneret'.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.