Greek word · G3093

Μαγδαλά, Μαγαδάν

magdala, magadan

Magadan

A place name found only here in ancient literature. Its form may derive from a Semitic name, but no confident derivation exists. Some suggest a link with Hebrew migdal (tower), the root of Magdala, but that link is uncertain.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Μαγαδάν

Magadan, an unidentified place on the coast of the Sea of Galilee: Matthew 15:39 (Rec. Μαγδαλά; cf. Mark 8:10, where for Δαλμανουθά, D* has Μελεγαδά, D1 Μαγαιδά, some cursives Μαγαδά, and Euseb. Onomast. Μεγαιδάν; cf. DB, iii, see word).†

Μαγδαλά (Aram. מַגְדְֺּלָא = Heb. H4026, which in Joshua 15:37 B is rendered Μαγαδά),

Magdala: Matthew 15:39 (Rec. for Μαγαδάν, which see).†

(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 15:39

Range of meaning

A place name found only here in ancient literature. Its form may derive from a Semitic name, but no confident derivation exists. Some suggest a link with Hebrew migdal (tower), the root of Magdala, but that link is uncertain.

Against the English

Translations from the critical text (BSB, NIV, ESV, NASB, NLT) have "Magadan". Translations from the Byzantine/Received text (KJV, WEB, YLT) have "Magdala".

How it drifted

The drift happened in the manuscripts, not in English. Copyists who did not recognise "Magadan" replaced it with Magdala, a well-known fishing town on the lake and the home of Mary Magdalene.

Used elsewhere in the period

No other ancient text, inscription or geographer names a Magadan. Magdala (Aramaic Migdal Nunya, "Tower of Fish"; Greek Taricheae, "place of fish-salting") is well attested, for example by Josephus as Taricheae. Excavations at Migdal since 2009 have uncovered a first-century synagogue there. Mark's parallel (8:10) has "the parts of Dalmanutha", which is also otherwise unknown.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 15:39 Μαγαδάν. of Magadan.

    After Jesus had dismissed the crowds, He got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

    Here: A place name that cannot be declined; it is tagged here as genitive, "of Magadan". Its location is unknown, which is why many later copyists replaced it with the famous lakeside town of Magdala. The parallel in Mark 8:10 has yet another name, "Dalmanutha".

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