Lexical Summary Gadarénos: Gadarene Original Word: Γαδαρηνός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Gadarene. From Gadara (a town east of the Jordan); a Gadarene or inhabitant of Gadara -- Gadarene. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Gadara (Gadara, the capital of Perea) Definition of Gadara, Gadarene NASB Translation Gadarenes (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1046: ΓαδαρηνόςΓαδαρηνός, Γαδαρηνη, Γαδαρηνον (from the proper name Γαδαρα; cf. the adjective Ἀβιληνή, Μαγδαληνή), of Gadara, a Gadarene. Gadara was the capital of Peraea (Josephus, b. j. 4, 7, 3), situated opposite the southern extremity of the Lake of Gennesaret to the southeast, but at some distance from the lake on the banks of the river Hieromax (Pliny, h. n. 5, 16), 60 stadia from the city Tiberias (Josephus, Vita65), inhabited chiefly by Gentiles (Josephus, Antiquities 17, 11, 4); cf. Winers RWB under the word Gadara; Rüetschi in Herzog iv., p. 636f; Kneucker in Schenkel ii. 313f; Riehm, HWB, p. 454; (BB. DD. under the word). χώρα τῶν Γαδαρηνῶν the country of the Gadarenes, Gadaris: Mark 5:1 Rec.; Luke 8:26 Rec., 37 R G (but here ἡ περίχωρος τῶν Γαδαρηνῶν), and in Matthew 8:28 T Tr WH; but the manuscripts differ in these passages; see Γερασηνοι and Γεργεσηνοι. Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Gadara lay southeast of the Sea of Galilee on a ridge overlooking the Yarmuk River valley. As one of the ten Hellenistic cities of the Decapolis, it enjoyed political autonomy under Roman oversight. Its prominent position and extensive necropolis made it a regional center for commerce, philosophy, and pagan religious practice. The surrounding district included steep limestone cliffs that plunge toward the lake—terrain that perfectly fits the Gospel description of a herd of swine rushing down a precipice into the water. Cultural and Historical Background Founded under Seleucid influence and later rebuilt by Pompey, Gadara blended Greek urban life with a predominantly Gentile populace. Literary figures such as the satirist Menippus and the poet Meleager hailed from the city, illustrating its vibrant intellectual climate. By New Testament times, Gadara was fortified, minted its own coins, and maintained theatres, baths, and colonnaded streets, all testifying to Hellenistic sophistication in the immediate vicinity of largely Jewish Galilee. Scriptural Context: Matthew 8:28 “When Jesus arrived on the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon–possessed men came from the tombs to meet Him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.” (Matthew 8:28) Matthew places the miracle within Gadarene territory, stressing Jesus’ deliberate crossing into Gentile lands immediately after calming the storm (Matthew 8:23-27). The location among tombs, the presence of unclean spirits, and the large herd of pigs (Matthew 8:30-32) underscore the ritual uncleanness of the scene and heighten the contrast with the Lord’s absolute purity and authority. Synoptic Parallels and Harmonization Mark 5:1 and Luke 8:26 read “region of the Gerasenes,” while some manuscripts preserve “Gergesenes.” Each designation refers to the same general district east of the lake, with Gadara serving as the principal city controlling the surrounding villages and harbor. In first-century usage a district could legitimately be labelled by its major city or by a prominent local town, much as “region of Caesarea” might signify nearby villages rather than the walled city itself. The variant readings therefore present complementary, not contradictory, details—consistent with the historical geography of the Decapolis corridor. Theological Themes and Ministry Implications 1. Universal Reach of the Gospel Jesus intentionally steps onto Gentile soil, foreshadowing the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). His authority extends beyond Israel, demonstrating that the promised Messiah is Lord of all nations. 2. Triumph over the Demonic Realm The violent demoniacs embody total spiritual bondage; their immediate submission—“Have You come here to torture us before the time?” (Matthew 8:29)—reveals Christ’s supremacy over supernatural evil. 3. Cost of Deliverance The loss of the swine drove local residents to beg Jesus to leave (Matthew 8:34). Temporal economic considerations eclipsed eternal liberation in their minds, a perennial warning against valuing material gain over spiritual freedom. 4. Testimony through Transformed Lives Mark and Luke recount that the healed man (one of the two) became a herald in the Decapolis (Mark 5:20). Matthew’s abbreviated report still implies that Jesus left behind living evidence of His power, preparing Gentile hearts for later missionary advances (Mark 7:31; Matthew 4:25). Legacy in Early Christian Witness Church tradition places early congregations in Gadara by the second century, including a bishop who attended the Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325). Archaeological remains of a basilica within Gadara’s city walls attest to a thriving Christian community that traced its spiritual lineage to the Master’s first visit. Pastoral Applications • Christ crosses every cultural, religious, and moral boundary to rescue the captive. Forms and Transliterations Γαδαρηνων Γαδαρηνῶν Gadarenon Gadarenôn Gadarēnōn Gadarēnō̂nLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 8:28 Adj-GMPGRK: χώραν τῶν Γαδαρηνῶν ὑπήντησαν αὐτῷ NAS: into the country of the Gadarenes, two INT: region of the Gadarenes met him |
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