παραθαλάσσιος

From the study of Matthew 4:13

Range of meaning

'Beside the sea': on the shore, coastal. It is made from παρά 'beside' and θάλασσα 'sea.' Used of towns, districts and peoples on a coast.

Against the English

KJV 'upon the sea coast' makes modern readers think of an ocean shoreline. NIV 'by the lake' is clear about the geography but loses the word 'sea,' which v. 15 picks up from Isaiah.

How it drifted

In 1611 'sea coast' simply meant the land by any 'sea.' Today it suggests the Mediterranean or an ocean. Jewish usage, in Hebrew yam and following it in Greek θάλασσα, called large inland lakes 'seas.' The Gospels call the Lake of Gennesaret 'the Sea of Galilee.'

Used elsewhere in the period

Found a few times in the Greek Old Testament for coastal peoples and districts. Common in Greek geographical writing. The New Testament uses it only here. Isaiah 9:1 (8:23 in the Hebrew and Greek numbering) speaks of 'the way of the sea' (Greek ὁδὸν θαλάσσης), quoted in Matt 4:15.