Capernaum was a fishing village on the Sea of Galilee that served as a center for Jesus' ministry in the region.
Capernaum was a fishing village located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It served as a base for Jesus' ministry in the region and is mentioned frequently in the Gospels. After being rejected in Nazareth, Jesus made Capernaum his home (Matthew 4:13) and performed many miracles there, including healing a centurion's servant (Matthew 8:5-13) and Peter's mother-in-law (Mrk.1.29-31).
Jesus taught in the synagogue at Capernaum (Mrk.1.21; Jhn.6.59) and called several of his disciples, such as Peter, Andrew, James, and John, from the village (Mrk.1.16-20). Despite the numerous miracles and teachings, the people of Capernaum did not repent, leading Jesus to rebuke the city for its unbelief (Matthew 11:23; Luke 10:15).
The ruins of ancient Capernaum have been excavated, revealing the remains of a synagogue dating to the 4th or 5th century AD, built on the foundation of an earlier synagogue from the time of Jesus. The site also includes the remains of a house that may have belonged to Peter.
Approximate location: 32.881, 35.575 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
Matthew's call comes soon after Jesus returned to "his own city", generally understood to be Capernaum, and Mark sets Levi's booth near the seashore.
Sources: Matthew 9:1-9 · Mark 2:13-14
Nahum’s town, a Galilean city frequently mentioned in the history of our Lord. It is not mentioned in the Old Testament. After our Lord’s expulsion from Nazareth (Matt. 4:13-16; Luke 4:16-31), Capernaum became his “own city.” It was the scene of many acts and incidents of his life (Matt. 8:5, 14, 15; 9:2-6, 10-17; 15:1-20; Mark 1:32-34, etc.). The impenitence and unbelief of its inhabitants after the many evidences our Lord gave among them of the truth of his mission, brought down upon them a heavy denunciation of judgement (Matt. 11:23). It stood on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. The “land of Gennesaret,” near, if not in, which it was situated, was one of the most prosperous and crowded districts of Palestine. This city lay on the great highway from Damascus to Acco and Tyre. It has been identified with Tell Hum, about two miles south-west of where the Jordan flows into the lake. Here are extensive ruins of walls and foundations, and also the remains of what must have been a beautiful synagogue, which it is conjectured may have been the one built by the centurion (Luke 7:5), in which our Lord frequently taught (John 6:59; Mark 1:21; Luke 4:33). Others have conjectured that the ruins of the city are to be found at Khan Minyeh, some three miles further to the south on the shore of the lake. “If Tell Hum be Capernaum, the remains spoken of are without doubt the ruins of the synagogue built by the Roman centurion, and one of the most sacred places on earth. It was in this building that our Lord gave the well-known discourse in John 6; and it was not without a certain strange feeling that on turning over a large block we found the pot of manna engraved on its face, and remembered the words, ‘I am that bread of life: your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness…
(village of Nahum) was on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. (Matthew 4:13) comp. John 6:24 It was in the “land of Gennesaret,” [ (Matthew 14:34) comp. John 6:17,21,24 ] It was of sufficient size to be always called a “city,” (Matthew 9:1; Mark 1:33) had its own synagogue, in which our Lord frequently taught, (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:33,38; John 6:59) and there was also a customs station, where the dues were gathered both by stationary and by itinerant officers. (Matthew 9:9; 17:24; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27) The only interest attaching to Capernaum is as the residence of our Lord and his apostles, the scene of so many miracles and “gracious words.” It was when he returned thither that he is said to have been “in the house.” (Mark 2:1) The spots which lay claim to its site are,
the field of repentance; city of comfort
CAPER'NAUM (town of Nahum), a city of great interest as the home of Jesus after he left Nazareth. Though it fills a large place in the gospel narrative, it is not once mentioned in O.T. history, nor in any portion of the Bible except the four Gospels. It is called Christ's "own city," Matt 9:1, and it was the scene of some of his most remarkable miracles, labors, and discourses. Matt 8:5-14; 2 Cor 9:2; Matt 17:24; John 6:17-59;Deut 4:46, etc. Much exploration, study, and discussion have been given to determine its true site, but the question is still unsettled. The gospel narrative throws some general, though not very definite, light upon the location of this lost city. It was (1) a city of Galilee, Luke 4:31; (2) by the lake-coast. Matt 4:13; John 6:17, Jud 6:24; (3) with collectors of customs, and probably a custom-house, Matt 17:24; Mark 2:1, 2 Kgs 22:14; Luke 5:27 compared with Matt 9:1,Gal 1:9; (4) it had a noted synagogue, built by a Roman centurion, Matt 8:5; Mark 1:21; Luke 7:1,1 Chr 6:5; (5) it was joined with Chorazin and Bethsaida in the woes pronounced upon them by Christ, and its complete destruction was predicted. Matt 11:20-23; Luke 10:13-15; (6) it has been inferred also from the Scriptures that Capernaum was in the land of Gennesaret, but this is not certain. Comp. Matt 14:34 with John 6:16-17, John 6:24-25. These indicate that the city was on the west side of the Sea of Galilee, and near its northern end. Two places have been mainly urged as marking the site of ancient Capernaum:(1) Khan Minyeh, supported by Robinson (1852), Macgregor (1864), Porter (1875), Kiepert, Sepp, and by members of the recent British and American Palestine Exploration Societies (Kitchener and Merrill); (2) Tell Hum, maintained by Dr. Wilson, Major Wilson, W. M. Thomson…
CAPER'NAUM (town of Nahum), a city of great interest as the home of Jesus after he left Nazareth. Though it fills a large place in the gospel narrative, it is not once mentioned in O.T. history, nor in any portion of the Bible except the four Gospels. It is called Christ's "own city," Matt 9:1, and it was the scene of some of his most remarkable miracles, labors, and discourses. Matt 8:5-14; 2 Cor 9:2; Matt 17:24; John 6:17-59;Deut 4:46, etc. Much exploration, study, and discussion have been given to determine its true site, but the question is still unsettled. The gospel narrative throws some general, though not very definite, light upon the location of this lost city. It was (1) a city of Galilee, Luke 4:31; (2) by the lake-coast. Matt 4:13; John 6:17, Jud 6:24; (3) with collectors of customs, and probably a custom-house, Matt 17:24; Mark 2:1, 2 Kgs 22:14; Luke 5:27 compared with Matt 9:1,Gal 1:9; (4) it had a noted synagogue, built by a Roman centurion, Matt 8:5; Mark 1:21; Luke 7:1,1 Chr 6:5; (5) it was joined with Chorazin and Bethsaida in the woes pronounced upon them by Christ, and its complete destruction was predicted. Matt 11:20-23; Luke 10:13-15; (6) it has been inferred also from the Scriptures that Capernaum was in the land of Gennesaret, but this is not certain. Comp. Matt 14:34 with John 6:16-17, John 6:24-25. These indicate that the city was on the west side of the Sea of Galilee, and near its northern end. Two places have been mainly urged as marking the site of ancient Capernaum:(1) Khan Minyeh, supported by Robinson (1852), Macgregor (1864), Porter (1875), Kiepert, Sepp, and by members of the recent British and American Palestine Exploration Societies (Kitchener and Merrill); (2) Tell Hum, maintained by Dr. Wilson, Major Wilson, W. M. Thomson…
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
16 verses in 4 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s G2584
Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came and pleaded with Him,
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.
After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?”
Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.
A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum. And when the people heard that He was home,
Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”
Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to Me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in Your hometown what we have heard that You did in Capernaum.’”
Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath He began to teach the people.
When Jesus had concluded His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades!
After this, He went down to Capernaum with His mother and brothers and His disciples, and they stayed there a few days.
So once again He came to Cana in Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. And there was a royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.
got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet gone out to them.
So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to look for Him.
Jesus said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.