Κανᾶ

From the study of John 2:1

Range of meaning

A village in lower Galilee. Only John's Gospel names it (2:1, 11; 4:46; 21:2). The name is probably from Hebrew qanah, 'reed'.

Against the English

English versions all render it 'Cana in/of Galilee'. The question is not translation but which ruin it was.

Used elsewhere in the period

Josephus (Life 86) says he stayed at 'a village of Galilee called Cana', which shows the name was in use for a Galilean village in the first century. Two candidates: Kafr Kanna, about 6–7 km northeast of Nazareth, the traditional pilgrim site; and Khirbet Qana, about 13 km north of Nazareth above the Beit Netofa valley. Excavations at Khirbet Qana have shown a first-century Jewish village, and many archaeologists now favour it.

From the study of John 4:46

Range of meaning

A place name, probably from Hebrew qanah, 'reed'. A village of Lower Galilee known only from John's Gospel and Josephus (who stayed at a 'Kana' in Galilee, Life 86).

Against the English

Translations agree. The point is the cross-reference, not the word.

Used elsewhere in the period

Josephus places a village called Kana in Galilee (Life 86). Two sites compete: Khirbet Qana, on a hill north of the Bet Netofa valley, where excavations found a first-century Jewish village and later Christian pilgrim veneration; and Kafr Kanna, near Nazareth, the traditional site since the later medieval period. Many archaeologists now favour Khirbet Qana.