Gadarenes
LocationsGeographical Setting
An ancient city on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, identified with the region of the Gerasenes or Gergesenes in New Testament accounts.
What is the meaning of Gadarenes in the Bible?
The Gadarenes were the inhabitants of the region of Gadara, referenced in the Gospel of Matthew as the location where Jesus cast demons into a herd of swine. While the parallel accounts in Mark and Luke identify the site as Gerasa or Gergesa, the term Gadarenes specifically denotes the population associated with the city of Gadara in the Decapolis.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing the Gadarenes as the people of Gadara aids in resolving textual variations across the Synoptic Gospels, allowing readers to understand that the different place names likely refer to the same broader region or neighboring cities within the Decapolis. This clarification enhances the historical context of Jesus' ministry in the Gentile territories east of the Sea of Galilee.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Gadarenes in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Gadarenes clarify?
Related Topics
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.