Bible Dictionary: Gerasenes

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Smith's Bible Dictionary

Gerasenes

(Luke 8:26) Revised Version; [See GADARENES, GIRGESENES, GERASENES]

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

GERASA; GERASENES

ger'-a-sa, ger'-a-senz (Gerasa; Gerasenon):

1. Country of the Gerasenes:

The town itself is not named in Scripture, and is referred to only in the expression, "country of the Gerasenes" (Mark 5:1 Luke 8:26, 37; see Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek, Appendix, 11). This describes the district in which Christ met and healed the demoniac from the tombs, where also took place the destruction of the swine. It was on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, and must have been a locality where the steep edges of the Bashan plateau drop close upon the brink of the lake. This condition is fulfilled only by the district immediately South of Wady Semak, North of Qal `at el-Chucn. Here the slopes descend swiftly almost into the sea, and animals, once started on the downward run, could not avoid plunging into the depths. Many ancient tombs are to be seen in the face of the hills. Gerasa itself is probably represented by the ruins of Kurseh on the South side of Wady Semak, just where it opens on the seashore. The ruins of the town are not considerable; but there are remains of a strong wall which must have surrounded the place. Traces of ancient buildings in the vicinity show that there must have been a fairly numerous population in the district.

2. History:

The great and splendid city in the Decapolis is first mentioned as taken after a siege by Alexander Janneus, 85 B.C. (BJ, I, iv, 8). Josephus names it as marking the eastern limit of Peraea (BJ, III, iii, 3). He calls the inhabitants Syrians, when, at the beginning of the Jewish revolt, the district round Gerasa was laid waste. The Syrians made reprisals, and took many prisoners. With these, however, the Gerasenes dealt mercifully, letting such as wished go free, and escorting them to the border (BJ, II, xviii, 1, 5). Lucius Annius, at the instance of Vespasian, sacked and burned the city, with much slaughter (BJ, IV, ix, 1). From this disaster it appears soon to have recovered, and the period of its greatest prosperity lay, probably, in the 2nd and 3nd centuries of our era. It became the seat of a bishopric, and one of its bishops attended the Council of Chalcedon. Reland (Pal, II, 806) notes certain extant coins of Gerasa, from which it is clear that in the 2nd century it was a center of the worship of Artemis. It was besieged by Baldwin II, in 1121 A.D. Mention is made of the strength of the site and the mighty masonry of its walls. William of Tyre calls the city Jarras, and places it 16 miles East of Jordan (Hist, xii, 16). The distance is about 19 miles from the river. It was conquered by the Moslems in the time of Omar (Guy le Strange, Palestine under the Moslems, 462). The sultan of Damascus is said to have fortified it; but there is nothing to show that the Moslems occupied it for any length of time.

3. Description:

Modern Jerash lies on both banks of Wady Jerash, about 6 miles from its confluence with Wady ez-Zerqa (the Jabbok). It is almost 20 miles from Amman (Philadelphia), and 22 from Fahil (Pella). The ruins are wide and imposing and are better preserved than any others on the East of Jordan. They include several splendid temples, theaters, basilica, palaces and baths, with hippodrome and naumachia. The triumphal arch to the South of the city is almost entire. Two paved streets with double colonnades cut through the city at right angles, four massive pedestals still marking the point of intersection. An excellent account of the ruins is given in Thomson's LB, III, 558.

There is nothing above ground of older date than the 2nd and 3rd centuries of our era; but there is no reason to doubt that the Greek city of Gerasa stood on the same site. The presence of a copious spring of sweet water makes it probable that the site has been occupied from olden time; but no trace remains of any ancient city. Some would identify the place with RAMOTH-GILEAD, which see.

The site is now occupied by a colony of Circassians, and there is reason to fear that, unless something is done to preserve them, many valuable remains of antiquity will perish.

W. Ewing

Greek

1086. Gerasenos -- Gerasene, of Gerasa, a city East of the Jordan
... Word Origin of uncertain origin Definition Gerasene, of Gerasa, a city
E. of the Jordan NASB Word Usage Gerasenes (3). Gergesene. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1086.htm - 6k

Library

Of the Raising of the Daughter of the Ruler of the Synagogue, and ...
... place, and insert it in another connection; to wit, at the point where He crosses
the take and returns from the country of the Gerasenes, after casting out the ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxviii of the raising of.htm

Jesus Heals Two Gergesene Demoniacs.
... driven forward by the storm, they would have reached the far shore several hours
before dark], ^c 26 And they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lvi jesus heals two gergesene.htm

Of his Coming into his Own Country, and of the Astonishment of the ...
... the incidents of the ship in which Jesus was asleep, and the miracle performed in
the expulsion of the devils in the country of the Gerasenes, [1031] "two ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xlii of his coming into.htm

References
... by two low peaks or "horns.". 46. The country of the Gerasenes, Gadarenes,
or Gergesenes. Gadarenes is the best attested reading ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/references.htm

The Demoniac of Gadara
... St. Mark CHAPTER 5:1-20 THE DEMONIAC OF GADARA. "And they came to the other
side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. And ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 5 1-20 the demoniac of.htm

At Gerasa - the Healing of the Demonised.
... In that case, of course, it would be in the early morning that the Gerasenes afterwards
resorted to Jesus and that He again returned to Capernaum. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxv at gerasa -.htm

The Name of the Place Where John Baptized is not Bethany, as in ...
... about the swine, which were driven down a steep place by the demons and drowned
in the sea, is said to have taken place in the country of the Gerasenes. ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/24 the name of the.htm

Of the Absence of any Antagonism Between Matthew and Mark, or ...
... which a former difficulty was explained which met us in the case of the two persons
who were tormented by the legion of devils in the territory of the Gerasenes ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter lxv of the absence of.htm

The Peace-Bringer in the Spiritual World
... of the Gadarenes'; whereas the Revised Version, following the general consensus
of textual critics, reads 'Gadarenes' in Matthew and 'Gerasenes' in Mark and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the peace-bringer in the spiritual.htm

The Legion of Demons.
... A DAY OF MIRACLES BY THE LAKE THE LEGION OF DEMONS. And they arrived at the
country of the Gerasenes, which is over against Galilee. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the legion of demons.htm

Thesaurus

Gerasenes (3 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia GERASA; GERASENES. ger'-a-sa, ger'-a-senz
(Gerasa; Gerasenon): 1. Country of the Gerasenes: The ...
/g/gerasenes.htm - 11k

Gerasa
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia GERASA; GERASENES. ger'-a-sa, ger'-a-senz
(Gerasa; Gerasenon): 1. Country of the Gerasenes: The ...
/g/gerasa.htm - 10k

Ger'asenes (3 Occurrences)
Ger'asenes. Gerasenes, Ger'asenes. Gergesa . ... Mark 5:1 And they came to the other
side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. (See RSV). ...
/g/ger'asenes.htm - 7k

Gadara
... In the parallel passages (Mark 5:1 Luke 8:26, 37) we read: chora ton Gerasenon
"country of the Gerasenes." There is no good reason, however, to question the ...
/g/gadara.htm - 12k

Shore (45 Occurrences)
... to the water. (WEY NIV). Mark 5:1 So they arrived at the opposite shore
of the Lake, in the country of the Gerasenes. (WEY). Mark 5 ...
/s/shore.htm - 22k

Opposite (137 Occurrences)
... tomb. (WEB WEY DBY NAS RSV NIV). Mark 5:1 So they arrived at the opposite
shore of the Lake, in the country of the Gerasenes. (WEY). ...
/o/opposite.htm - 37k

Lies (208 Occurrences)
... the fire." (WEB). Luke 8:26 Then they put in to shore in the country of the
Gerasenes, which lies opposite to Galilee. (WEY). John 8 ...
/l/lies.htm - 35k

Gadarenes (4 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary The inhabitants of Gadara, in Revised Version
"Gerasenes" (Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26, 37). In Matthew 8:28 they ...
/g/gadarenes.htm - 8k

Terror (137 Occurrences)
... Luke 8:37 Then the whole population of the Gerasenes and of the adjacent districts
begged Him to depart from them; for their terror was great. ...
/t/terror.htm - 37k

Districts (22 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Luke 8:37 Then the whole population of the Gerasenes and of the adjacent
districts begged Him to depart from them; for their terror was great. ...
/d/districts.htm - 13k

Bible Concordance

Gerasenes (3 Occurrences)

Mark 5:1 So they arrived at the opposite shore of the Lake, in the country of the Gerasenes.
(WEY ASV BBE NAS NIV)

Luke 8:26 Then they put in to shore in the country of the Gerasenes, which lies opposite to Galilee.
(WEY ASV BBE NAS NIV)

Luke 8:37 Then the whole population of the Gerasenes and of the adjacent districts begged Him to depart from them; for their terror was great. So He went on board and returned.
(WEY ASV BBE NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Gerasenes

Girgesenes Gadarenes Gerasenes

Related Terms

Gerasa

Ger'asenes (3 Occurrences)

Gadara

Shore (45 Occurrences)

Opposite (137 Occurrences)

Lies (208 Occurrences)

Gadarenes (4 Occurrences)

Terror (137 Occurrences)