📖 Biblical Definition
Cana was the Galilean village where Christ began His public ministry by turning water into wine at a wedding feast (John 2:1-11) — the first of seven signs in John’s Gospel: "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." He returned to Cana to heal the nobleman’s son at a distance (John 4:46-54), the second sign. Nathanael (Bartholomew) was a native of Cana (John 21:2). The choice of a wedding for the inaugural miracle is theologically loaded: the Bridegroom has come, the wine of the kingdom is poured out, the wedding-supper is being prepared.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
CA'NA, n.
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A village in Galilee, the scene of the first miracle wrought by Christ, where He turned water into wine at a marriage feast.
📖 Key Scripture
John 2:1 — "There was a marriage in Cana of Galilee."
John 2:11 — "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory."
John 4:46 — "Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where He made the water wine."
John 21:2 — "Nathanael of Cana in Galilee."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern teetotal moralism re-edits Cana to make Christ a non-Lord of the wedding.
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The first sign Jesus performed was at a wedding, providing more wine after the host had run out. The text is shameless about it. Six stone water jars, twenty to thirty gallons each — somewhere between 120 and 180 gallons of wine, and the master of the feast judged it the best of the night. This is not a mistranslation; this is the inaugural miracle of the Messiah.
Why begin there? Because the Bridegroom has arrived, and a wedding without the wine is no wedding. Christ is not embarrassed by joy. He is jealous over its abuse, severe with drunkenness, sober about His blood, and He instituted the cup at His own Table. The teetotal corruption of John 2 is symptomatic of a wider Christianity uncomfortable with embodied gladness. Cana refuses the edit. The Bridegroom is here; the wine is good; the wedding is on.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek Kana (G2580); Hebrew Qanah — place of reeds.
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G2580 — Kana — Cana of Galilee
H7071 — Qanah — reedy place
Usage
"Christ began His ministry by saving a wedding feast — the embarrassed host's patron is still on duty."
"The Bridegroom does not begrudge the wine; He fills the jars to the brim and beyond."
"A Christianity that cannot honor Cana cannot rightly honor Calvary either."