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G1082 · Greek · New Testament
Γεννησαρέτ
Gennesaret
Proper noun (place)
Gennesaret (region/lake)

Definition

Gennesaret (Γεννησαρέτ) refers either to the fertile plain on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee or to the lake itself (also called the Sea of Galilee or Sea of Tiberias). The region of Gennesaret was renowned in antiquity for its extraordinary agricultural productivity — figs, olives, walnuts, palms — and for its gentle climate.

Theological Significance

Gennesaret is the setting for several key events in Jesus's ministry: the storm calming (where the disciples land at Gennesaret in Matthew 14:34), and the Sermon on the Mount is traditionally located nearby. The lake Gennesaret is where Jesus called His first disciples (Luke 5:1-11), turning ordinary fishermen into fishers of men. Geography in the Gospels is rarely incidental — place names anchor the gospel in real history.

Key Scripture Passages

Matthew 14:34
And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.
Mark 6:53
And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore.
Luke 5:1
On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret.
Numbers 34:11
Then the border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain. And the border shall go down and reach to the shoulder of the Sea of Chinnereth eastward.
Matthew 4:18
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

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