Lexical Summary parathalassios: By the sea, coastal Original Word: παραθαλάσσιος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance by the seaFrom para and thalassa; along the sea, i.e. Maritime (lacustrine) -- upon the sea coast. see GREEK para see GREEK thalassa NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom para and thalassa Definition by the sea NASB Translation sea (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3864: παραθαλάσσιοςπαραθαλάσσιος, παραθαλασσια, παραθαλασσιον (παρά and θάλασσα), beside the sea, by the sea: Matthew 4:13. (The Sept.; Herodotus, Xenophon, Thucydides, Polybius, Diodorus, others.) Topical Lexicon Meaning and ScopeThe adjective denotes a location situated “beside” or “along” the sea. In Matthew 4:13 it qualifies Capernaum, fixing the town on the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee. Though the term itself appears only once, its idea permeates the Gospels wherever the shoreline frames pivotal moments in the life and work of Jesus. Biblical Setting: Matthew 4:13 “Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali” (Matthew 4:13). This relocation marks the formal launch of the public ministry. By exchanging an inland village for a lakeside hub, Jesus positions Himself at a crossroads where fishermen, traders, Roman officials, and travelers along the Via Maris regularly converged. The shoreline backdrop immediately sets the stage for calling fishermen-disciples (Matthew 4:18-22) and for drawing “great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan” (Matthew 4:25). Historical Geography The Sea of Galilee—really a fresh-water lake about thirteen miles long—lay in a fertile, populous basin ringed by Greek, Jewish, and mixed settlements. Capernaum (“village of Nahum”) held a customs station (Matthew 9:9) and a garrison (Luke 7:5-9). Being παραθαλάσσιος gave it economic vitality, exposure to Gentile culture, and constant movement of goods and ideas. Such a milieu explains the rapid dissemination of Jesus’ fame “throughout all Syria” (Matthew 4:24). Prophetic Resonance Matthew immediately connects the lakeside setting with Isaiah’s promise: “He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations” (Isaiah 9:1). The term “Way of the Sea” (Hebrew derek hayyam) parallels the Greek adjective’s stress on a maritime corridor. By choosing a παραθαλάσσια town, the Messiah fulfills the oracle that light would dawn first on the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali (Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 4:14-16). Strategic Role in the Galilean Ministry 1. Formation of the core disciples—Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen whose livelihood depended on the lake (Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11). Miracles and Teachings Along the Shore • Calming the storm (Matthew 8:23-27) and walking on the water (Matthew 14:22-33) highlight divine mastery over creation witnessed from a παραθαλάσσιος vantage. Mission and Warning Capernaum’s privileged status as the base “by the sea” does not guarantee lasting blessing. Jesus later laments, “And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to heaven? No, you will go down to Hades” (Matthew 11:23). Proximity to revelation demands response; indifference invites judgment. Theological Reflections Being παραθαλάσσιος underscores the Lord’s pattern of meeting people in everyday contexts—markets, boats, and homes—turning the ordinary into venues of divine encounter. The shoreline symbolizes the boundary where familiar land meets unpredictable waters, mirroring the transition from old covenant expectations to the new, expansive kingdom. Devotional Implications Believers today often stand metaphorically “by the sea,” poised between comfort and the unknown. The Galilean example encourages readiness for Christ’s call, confidence in His sovereignty over life’s “storms,” and concern that gospel light continue to reach the nations gathered along the world’s busy shores. Forms and Transliterations παραθαλασσιαν παραθαλασσίαν παραθαλασσίας παραθαλασσίους παραθέσεις παράθεσιν παράθεσις παρατεθέρμανται parathalassian parathalassíanLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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