Capernaum

Capernaum or Capharnaum (Hebrew: כְּפַר נַחוּם, Kfar Naḥum, 'Nahum's village'; Arabic: كفر ناحوم, Kafr Nāḥūm) was a fishing village established during the time of the Hasmoneans, located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Ruins of Capernaum in the 1930s

Map of the Sea of Galilee, showing the position of Capernaum

Capernaum had a population of about 1,500 in the 1st century AD, when, according to the Gospels, Jesus dwelt and performed healing miracles there. Archaeological excavations have revealed two ancient synagogues built one over the other, and a house turned into a church by the Byzantines is held by Christian tradition to have been the home of Saint Peter.

Capernaum was inhabited continuously from the second century BC to the 11th century AD, when it was abandoned sometime before the First Crusade. This includes the re-establishment of the village northeast of the earlier location in about 700, during the Early Islamic period.

Quotes

• After a walk of a quarter of an hour we have reached the low ground of Tabigha, with its fountains of water covered with reeds, which flow in several arms into the sea. After we have crossed these watercourses, we become more talkative, and the conversation turns on that which the Talmud and Midrash say about Capernaum. It is considered as a chief seat of the "Minim" (i.e., heretics, or Jewish Christians), and what the Jews say concerning these is nothing better than were the stories which the heathen invented about the early Christians. One, at least, of these fictions of the Jews is tragico-comical. Chanina, the nephew of Rabbi Joshua, it is said, went to Capernaum. The Christians of that place then persuaded him to ride through the city upon an ass on the Sabbath day. Having regained his thoughts, he fled to his father's brother, Rabbi Joshua, who anointed him with a salve and cured him of the witchcraft, but said to him: "Since the ass of those wicked people has betrayed you to act foolishly you can no longer dwell in the Holy Land." He then went to Babylon and died there in peace. The "ass of the wicked ones" which had brayed at him was the preaching concerning the crucified One.
  • Franz Delitzsch, A Day in Capernaum (tr. George H. Schodde), pp. 37–38

• HERODIAS: Ho! ho! miracles! I do not believe in miracles. I have seen too many. [To the page.] My fan!
  FIRST NAZARENE: This man worketh true miracles. Thus, at a marriage which took place in a little town of Galilee, a town of some importance, He changed water into wine. Certain persons who were present related it to me. Also He healed two lepers that were seated before the Gate of Capernaum simply by touching them.
  FECOND NAZARENE: Nay, it was blind men that he healed at Capernaum.
  FIRST NAZARENE: Nay; they were lepers. But He hath healed blind people also, and He was seen on a mountain talking with angels.
  • Oscar Wilde, Salomé (tr. Lord Alfred Douglas)

Bible

• Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
  And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
  The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
  The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
  • Matthew 4:12–16 (KJV)

• And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
  And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
  And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
  • Matthew 8:5–6 (KJV)
  • Cf. Luke 7:1–10
  • Healing the centurion's servant

• And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
  • Matthew 9:1
  • The city is identified by Henricus Sedulius as Bethlehem, Jesus's birthplace, and by Jerome as Nazareth, because Jesus was reared there. Most other Church Fathers believe it is Capernaum, in which Christ often dwelt.

• Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
  Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
  But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
  And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
  But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
  • Matthew 11:20–24 (KJV)
  • Cf. Luke 10:13–15

• And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
  He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
  Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
  • Matthew 17:24–26
  • Coin in the fish's mouth

• And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
  And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
  • Mark 1:21–22
  • Cf. Luke 4:31–32
  • Jesus in the synagogue of Capernaum

• And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
  And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
  • Mark 2:1–2

• And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
  But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
  And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
  • Mark 9:33–35

• And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?
  And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
  • Luke 4:22–23

• And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
  And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
  • Luke 4:31–32
  • Cf. Mark 1:21–22

• Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
  And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
  • Luke 7:1–2
  • Cf. Matthew 4:12–16

• Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
  But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.
  And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
  • Luke 10:13–15
  • Cf. Matthew 11:20–24

• After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
  • John 2:12

• And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,
  And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
  And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
  So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
  But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
  Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
  The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;
  (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)
  When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
  • John 6:16–24

• These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
  • John 6:59 (KJV)
  • Bread of Life Discourse