Lexical Summary Emmaous: Emmaus Original Word: Ἐμμαοῦς Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Emmaus. Probably of Hebrew origin (compare yem); Emmaus, a place in Palestine -- Emmaus. see HEBREW yem NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably of Hebrew origin, cf. yem Definition Emmaus, a place 60 stadia (7.5 miles) west of Jer. NASB Translation Emmaus (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1695: ἘμμαοῦςἘμμαοῦς (in Josephus also Αμμαους), ἡ, Emmaus (Latin genitive-untis), a village 30 stadia from Jerusalem (according to the true reading (so Dindorf and Bekker) in Josephus, b. j. 7, 6, 6; not, as is commonly said, following the authority of Luke, 60 stadia), apparently represented by the modern Kulonieh (cf. Ewald, Gesch. des Volkes Israel, 2te Ausg. vi., p. 675f; (Caspari, Chronolog. and Geograph. Introduction to the Life of Christ § 191; Sepp, Jerus. u. d. heil. Land, 1:52)): Luke 24:13. There was a town of the same name in the level country of Judaea, 175 stadia from Jerusalem, noted for its hot springs and for the slaughter of the Syrians routed by Judas Maccabaeus, 1 Macc. 3:40, 57; afterward fortified by Bacchides, the Syrian leader, 1 Macc. 9:50, and from the 3rd century on called Nicopolis (B. D., under the word Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Emmaus was a small Judean village situated roughly seven miles (about sixty stadia) northwest of Jerusalem, reachable by a well-traveled road descending from the capital through rolling hills toward the Shephelah. Ancient Christian pilgrims variously identified the site with modern El-Qubeibeh, Abu Ghosh, or Nicopolis. Whatever its precise location, the village lay close enough to Jerusalem for travelers to make a round trip in a single day, a fact implicit in Luke’s account of the returning disciples (Luke 24:33). Canonical Context (Luke 24:13–35) The lone New Testament occurrence of Ἐμμαούς appears in Luke 24:13. On the afternoon of Resurrection Sunday, two disciples left Jerusalem for Emmaus in sorrow and confusion. As they “talked and deliberated, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them” (Luke 24:15). Though unrecognized, He interpreted the Hebrew Scriptures, demonstrating that “the Christ had to suffer these things and then to enter His glory” (Luke 24:26). In Emmaus, at table fellowship, “their eyes were opened and they recognized Him” (Luke 24:31). The men immediately hurried back to Jerusalem, testifying that “the Lord has indeed risen” (Luke 24:34). Historical Background By the first century, roads between Jerusalem and western Judea served traders, pilgrims, and Roman patrols. Emmaus likely offered lodging and provisions to Passover pilgrims returning home after the feast. Its relative obscurity accentuates Luke’s theme: the risen Christ reveals Himself not first to rulers or crowds but to ordinary followers along an ordinary road. Christological Revelation 1. Progressive Illumination: The journey traces a movement from despair (“their faces downcast,” Luke 24:17) to joy as Jesus unfolds Moses and the Prophets. Biblical Theology of the Road Emmaus complements Old Testament “road” theophanies (Genesis 32; Exodus 4) and prefigures apostolic journeys in Acts. Scripture portrays the path as a liminal space where God meets, instructs, and redirects His people. Witness and Mission Impulse Having met the risen Lord, the disciples reverse course, returning to Jerusalem by night. The pattern (encounter → understanding → proclamation) anticipates Acts 1–2. Emmaus thus stands as an early model of resurrection witness that fuels corporate testimony. Pastoral and Discipleship Applications • Christ still draws near to perplexed believers, primarily through Scripture rightly opened. Later Christian Memory Early church writers such as Eusebius linked Emmaus with post-70 AD Nicopolis, while medieval pilgrims favored El-Qubeibeh. Churches and monasteries were founded at each site, commemorating the narrative and fostering reflection on pilgrimage, hospitality, and the risen Lord’s presence. Key References Luke 24:13; Luke 24:15; Luke 24:26–27; Luke 24:30–35 Forms and Transliterations Εμμαους Ἐμμαούς Ἐμμαοῦς Emmaous EmmaoúsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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