Greek word · G2446

Ἰορδάνης

iordanēs

Jordan

The Jordan River, which flows from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea and formed the eastern boundary of the promised land.

Appears 15 times in 15 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Ἰορδάνης, -ου, ὁ (Heb. יַרְדֵּן),

the Jordan: Matthew 3:5, Mark 1:5, al

(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 3:6

Range of meaning

The Jordan River, which flows from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea and formed the eastern boundary of the promised land.

Against the English

English readers usually take "the Jordan" as a plain geographical detail. For Jewish hearers it was a charged place.

Used elsewhere in the period

Israel crossed the Jordan to enter the land (Joshua 3–4). Elijah parted it and was taken up from beyond it, and Elisha received his spirit there (2 Kings 2). Naaman was cleansed of skin disease by immersing in it (2 Kings 5:14). Josephus tells of a would-be prophet, Theudas, who promised to part the Jordan (Antiquities 20.97–98), which shows that in this period the river was linked with hopes of a new exodus and renewal.

From the study of Matthew 3:13

Range of meaning

The Jordan River, from Hebrew Yarden (often explained as 'the descender'). It runs from the slopes of Mount Hermon through the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. It formed the eastern boundary of the land of Israel proper.

Against the English

English readers usually take it as just a place name. NLT adds 'River', which helps readers who don't know the geography.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Israel's scriptures it is the crossing point into the land (Joshua 3–4). Elijah and Elisha part it before Elijah is taken up (2 Kings 2:6–14). Naaman the Syrian is cleansed by dipping seven times in it (2 Kings 5:14, where the Septuagint uses ἐβαπτίσατο, 'he dipped himself'). Josephus reports that Theudas, a would-be prophet, later led crowds to the Jordan, promising to part it (Antiquities 20.97–98). This shows the river still carried hopes of a new exodus and a new entry into the land.

Where it appears

Matthew · 6

  1. Matthew 3:5 Ἰορδάνου, Jordan,

    People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan.

    Here: The river Israel crossed to enter the promised land, and the place of Elijah and Elisha. Here it marks both the area people came from and, in the next verse, where they were baptized.

  2. Matthew 3:6 Ἰορδάνῃ Jordan

    Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

    Here: The Jordan River on the eastern edge of the land. This is where Israel crossed in to take the land (Joshua 3–4), where Elijah handed over to Elisha (2 Kings 2), and where Naaman was cleansed (2 Kings 5). For Jewish hearers the place was full of meaning.

  3. Matthew 3:13 Ἰορδάνην Jordan

    At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

    Here: This is the place where John was baptizing (3:6). It was also Israel's historic boundary river, where the people crossed into the land and where Elijah's story ended, so the place carried meaning.

  4. Matthew 4:15 Ἰορδάνου, Jordan,

    “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

    Here: The Jordan River. It is the dividing line of the land, and the place where Jesus has just been baptized (3:13).

  5. Matthew 4:25 Ἰορδάνου.¶ Jordan.

    Large crowds followed Him, having come from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

    Here: The river where John baptized (3:6, 13). The phrase "beyond the Jordan" echoes the Isaiah quotation Matthew has just given in 4:15.

  6. Matthew 19:1 Ἰορδάνου. Jordan.

    When Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

    Here: The Jordan River, the boundary between the west-bank regions (Galilee, Samaria, Judea) and the lands to the east. It carries strong memories of Israel's crossing into the land and of John's baptisms.

Mark · 4

  1. Mark 1:5 Ἰορδάνῃ Jordan

    People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

  2. Mark 1:9 Ἰορδάνην Jordan

    In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

  3. Mark 3:8 Ἰορδάνου Jordan

    Jerusalem, Idumea, the region beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to Him when they heard what great things He was doing.

  4. Mark 10:1 Ἰορδάνου, Jordan,

    Then Jesus left that place and went into the region of Judea, beyond the Jordan. Again the crowds came to Him and He taught them, as was His custom.

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 3:3 Ἰορδάνου Jordan

    He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,

    Here: The river Israel crossed to enter the land (Joshua 3–4). Elijah and Elisha crossed it, and Naaman washed in it and was cleansed (2 Kings 2; 5). It was a place loaded with memories of new beginnings and cleansing.

  2. Luke 4:1 Ἰορδάνου Jordan

    Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

    Here: The river where John baptized and where Jesus received the Spirit. It was also the river Israel crossed under Joshua, a boundary heavy with Exodus memories.

John · 3

  1. John 1:28 Ἰορδάνου Jordan

    All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

    Here: The Jordan River. For Israel this was the boundary crossed under Joshua and the river where Elijah and Elisha acted (2 Kings 2), so it was a place heavy with memory.

  2. John 3:26 Ἰορδάνου, Jordan,

    So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.”

    Here: The Jordan River, the place of Israel's entry into the land and the place of John's ministry. It points back to the scenes of chapter 1.

  3. John 10:40 Ἰορδάνου Jordan

    Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and He stayed there.

    Here: The Jordan River. It formed the boundary between Judea and Perea and was heavy with Israel's memories: the crossing under Joshua, and Elijah and Elisha.

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