The Sea (Lake) of Galilee, measuring about 13 miles long and 7.5 miles wide (21 by 12 kilometers), features prominently in the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth (c. 6-4 BCE–c. 30 CE) (Browning 2009), and a basic understanding of it contributes significantly to a better comprehension of the New Testament gospel accounts (Nun 1989; see also 1992, 1993; Wachsmann 2008).

The English name uses “sea” rather than “lake” because of the ancient Hebrew not differentiating between the two (Wachsmann 2008, 1721). The Sea of Galilee is not large but was once a much bigger body of water called Lisan Lake, which formerly filled the entire Jordan Valley but receded, resulting in the Jordan river system with the Hula swamps in the north, the Sea of Galilee, and the Dead Sea in the south.

The lake has been named after the largest cities resting on its shores or after the most important geographical regions alongside it (Wachsmann 2008, 1721). In modern Hebrew, it is known as Kinneret or Yam Kinneret (Sea of Kinneret), which is its most ancient name after the large Early Bronze-Iron Age site of Tell Kinnarot on its northwest shore. After the destruction of this site in 732 BCE by the Assyrian king Tiglat Pileser III (fl. eighth century BCE), the lake became known as the Sea of Ginosar or Gennesaret (Luke 5:1; Josephus, J.W. 3:515) after the city and the valley of Ginosar.

In 20 CE, the lake was called the Sea of Tiberias (John 6:1; 21:1) following the founding of the city of Tiberias in that same year. The gospels, however, prefer the name “Sea of Galilee” (Mark 1:16, 7:31; Matt 4:18, 15:29; John 6:1), referring to the lake’s proximity to the region of Galilee in northern Israel. 

The economic importance of the Sea of Galilee lay in the abundance of fish swimming in its rich waters, which was an important source of protein (Wachsmann 2008, 1721). Further importance lay in its position as a nautical transport hub between the Galilee, the Golan Heights, and the Jordan Valley.

The Sea of Galilee immediately and centrally played a role in the ministry of Jesus. After leaving Nazareth, his home town, Jesus moved to Capernaum on the lake’s northwest coast, possibly staying there in the home of Simon Peter (Mark 2:1; Matt. 4:13; 8:14–16). 

During this period, Jewish settlements surrounded the lake except on its southeastern flank, where the pagan cities of Hippos (Susita) and Gadara (Gader) were stationed. This latter fact coheres with the gospel descriptions of Jesus and his disciples interacting in the region with herds and droves of pigs, which were anathema in the Jewish areas (Mark 5:10–12; Matt 8:29–31).

Boats, fishing, and sea travel on the lake all have an important role in the gospels (Nun 1989; Wachsmann 2008, 1721–1722). Jesus handpicked his first disciples from among Galilean fishermen, making them “fishers of men” (Mark 1:17; Matt 4:19; Luke 5:10). Mark describes the very first time Jesus called strangers to become his disciples,

 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him (1:16–20, emphasis added).

Jesus is also depicted as speaking to various groups from boats (Mark 3:9, 4:1; Matt 13:1–3). One of his parables compared heaven to a net, an association easily understood by the audiences from the local fishing communities who had come to hear him. 

Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:47–50).

Miracles relating to fishing also feature (Matt 17:24–27; Luke 5:1–11).

The discovery of the “Galilee Boat” or “Jesus Boat” caused a storm of excitement among scholars from various disciplines (Wachsmann 1987, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2008; Cohen 2005; Werker 2005). The boat’s hull reveals a remarkable view of life on the lake during the time of Jesus and is representative of the class of vessel that was used by Jesus’ followers. It now resides in the Yigal Allon Museum at Kibbutz Ginosar, where it is exhibited in a specially designed hall dedicated to it in the museum.

References

Browning, W. R. F. 2009. A Dictionary of the Bible (2 ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Cohen, O. 2005. “Conservation of the Ancient Boat from the Sea of Galilee.” Atiqot 50. Jerusalem: Israel Antiquities Authority.

Nun, M. 1989. The Sea of Galilee and its Fishermen in the New Testament. Ein Gev: Kibbutz Ein Gev Tourist Department and the Kinnereth Sailing Co.

Nun, M. 1992. Sea of Galilee: Newly Discovered Harbours From New Testament Days (3rd ed.). Ein Gev: Kibbutz Ein Gev Tourist Department and the Kinnereth Sailing Co.

Nun, M. 1993. Ancient Stone Anchors and Net Sinkers from the Sea of Galilee. Ein Gev: Kibbutz Ein Gev Tourist Department and the Kinnereth Sailing Co.

Wachsmann, Shelley. 1987. “The Galilee Boat: 2,000-Year-Old Hull Recovered Intact.” BAR 14(5):95–103.

Wachsmann, Shelley. 1990. “The Excavations of an Ancient Boat from the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret).” Atiqot 19. Jerusalem: Israel Antiquities Authority.

Wachsmann, Shelley. 1995. The Sea of Galilee Boat: An Extraordinary 2000 Year Old Discovery. New York: Plenum Press.

Wachsmann, Shelley. 1998. Seagoing Ships and Seamanship in the Bronze Age Levant. College Station and London, Texas A. & M. University Press and Chatham Press.

Wachsmann, Shelley. 2008. “Sea of Galilee.” In The Routledge Encyclopedia of the Historical Jesus, edited by Craig A. Evans, 1720-1730. Routledge (Apple Books).

Werker, E. 2005. “Identification of the Wood in the Ancient Boat from the Sea of Galilee.” Atiqot 50. Jerusalem: Israel Antiquities Authority.