Cana

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

Cana ( Κανὰ τῆς Γαλιλαίας) is mentioned four times in the Fourth Gospel. It was the scene of our Lord’s first miracle ( John 2:1;  John 2:11); the place to which ‘a certain king’s officer (βασιλικός), whose son was sick at Capernaum,’ came to find Jesus ( John 4:46); and the native place of the disciple Nathanael ( John 21:2). After the miracle, Jesus ‘went down’ (κατέβη) to Capernaum; and the king’s officer besought him to ‘come down’ (καταβῇ) to heal his son. Those references place Cana of Galilee on higher ground than Capernaum. There is no other direct evidence as to its position.

Josephus states ( Vita , 16) that he resided for a time ‘in a village of Galilee which is named Cana.’ From this village he made a descent during the night upon Tiberias (17). Later (41) he speaks of residing in the great plain, the name of which was Asochis. If these residences are one and the same place, the Cana of Josephus may well be Khirbet Kâna or Kânat el-Jelîl , on the N. slopes of the plain of Buttauf, and about 8 miles N. of Nazareth. This, however, would not decide the site of St. John’s Cana. [The Κανά of Ant . xv. v. 1 should be, according to Bj i. xix. 1, Καναθά].

Etymology and tradition are divided between the above mentioned site on the plain of Buttauf and Kefr Kennâ , a hamlet on the direct road to the lake, and about 3½ miles N.E. of Nazareth, where there is a fine spring. Etymology certainly favours Khirbet Kâna , the doubling of the medial ‘nun’ being against Kefr Kennâ . Tradition is indecisive. The references in Placentinus ( Itin . 4), Phocas, John of Würzburg, Quaresmius ( Elucidationes , ii. 852f.), etc., favour Kefr Kennâ , where the monks of the Greek and Latin Churches have considerable ecclesiastical properties. On the other hand, the notices of Theodosius (a.d. 530), Saewulf, Brocardus, Fetellus, Marinus Sanutus (p. 253), and others, suit the northern site.

In later times, Robinson ( Br P [Note: Rp Biblical Researches in Palestine.] 2 [Note: designates the particular edition of the work referred] ii. 348f., iii. 108) supports the claims of Khirbet Kâna , and is followed by Hitter, Thomson, Ewald, Socin, Keim, and others. Eusebius and Jerome ( Onom. s.v . Κανα) identify Cana with Kanah * [Note: This Kanah is probably the modern village of Kana, 7 miles S.E. of Tyre (Encyc. Bibl. ii. 2652; Hastings’ Db ii. 831).] in Asher ( Joshua 19:28). This could not be Kefr Kennâ , which is not in Asher, but might be Khirbet Kâna ( Eneyc. Bibl . i. 638). Other recent writers contend for Kefr Kennâ , among whom are Guérin, de Saulcy, Porter, Tristram, etc. The balance of evidence is perhaps on the side of the northern site (Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible i. 346 b). Conder ( Pe F [Note: Ef Palestine Exploration Fund.] Mem . i. 288) suggests as a possible site a spot nearer to Nazareth than Kefr Kennâ , called ‘Ain Kânâ , and not far from Reineh. Dr. Sanday appears to support this, and claims Guthe as agreeing ( Sacred Sites , 24 n. [Note: note.] ).

Literature.—Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible i. 346; Encyc. Bibl . i. 637; Robinson, Br P [Note: Rp Biblical Researches in Palestine.] 2 [Note: designates the particular edition of the work referred] ii. 348f., iii. 108; Conder, Pe F [Note: Ef Palestine Exploration Fund.] Mem . i. 288; Stanley, S P [Note: P Sinai and Palestine.] 368; Guérin, Galilée , i. 175 ff.; Thomson, Land and Book , 425 f.; Tristram, Land of Israel , 455; Socin, Pal . [Note: Palestine, Palestinian.] 358. 367; Murray, Pal . [Note: Palestine, Palestinian.] 366; Buhl, Ga P [Note: Ap Geographic des alten Palästina.] 219 f.; Ewald, Gesch . vi. 180 n. [Note: note.] ; Keim, Jesus of Nazara , iv. 116 n. [Note: note.] ; Ritter, Comp. Geogr . iv. 378f.

A. W. Cooke.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ca'na. (place of reeds) Cana of Galilee, once Cana in Galilee . A village or town, not far from Capernaum, memorable as the scene of Christ's first miracle,  John 2:1;  John 2:11;  John 4:46, as well as of a subsequent one,  John 4:46;  John 4:54, and also as the native place of the apostle Nathanael.  John 21:2. The traditional site is at Kefr-Kenna , a small village about 4 1/2 miles northwest of Nazareth. The rival site is a village situated farther north, about five miles north of Seffurieh (Sepphoris), and nine miles north of Nazareth.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Cana of Galilee. A town where Jesus performed His first miracle, turning the water into wine, and a second one, healing the nobleman's or courtier's son at Capernaum, by a word spoken at a distance (John 2;  John 4:46;  John 4:54). Nathanael belonged to Cana ( John 21:2); it was more elevated than Capernaum, as Jesus "went down" from it there ( John 2:12). The traditional site is Kefr Kenna, 5 miles N.E. of Nazareth. Another site has been proposed by Dr. Robinson, namely, Khirbet Kana or Kana el Jelil, but the balance of evidence supports the traditional spot. (See Wine.)

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

a town of Galilee, where Jesus performed his first miracle,  John 2:1-2 , &c. It lay in the tribe of Zebulun, not far from Nazareth. Cana was visited by Dr. E. D. Clarke, who says, "It is worthy of note, that, walking among the ruins of a church, we saw large massy stone pots, answering the description given of the ancient vessels of the country; these were not preserved nor exhibited as reliques, but lying about, disregarded by the present inhabitants, as antiquities with whose original use they were unacquainted. From their appearance, and the number of them, it was quite evident that a practice of keeping water in large stone pots, each holding from eighteen to twenty-seven gallons, was once common in the country."

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Cana . A Galilæan village, where Christ turned water into wine (  John 2:1 ) and healed with a word a nohleman’s son who lay sick at Capernaum (  John 4:46 ). Nathanael was a native of this place (  John 21:2 ). Three sites have been suggested as identifications, any one of which would satisfy the meagre indications. These are Kanat el-Jelil , perhaps the most probable, north of Sephurieh; ‘Ain Kana , east of Nazareth; and Kefr Kenna , north-east of, and a little farther from, the same town. The last is the site fixed upon by ecclesiastical tradition.

R. A. S. Macalister.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Cana of Galilee (kâ'nah ). A town noted as the scene of Christ's first miracle,  John 2:1-11, and of another miracle, 4:46-54, and as the home of Nathanael. 21:2. Tradition places it at Kefr-Kenna, about four English miles northeast of Nazareth, and the traveller is now shown an earthen jar, which is claimed to be one of the water-jars used at the wedding. Robinson and others, with fair probability, identify Cana with Kâna-el-Jelîl, about nine miles north of Nazareth. It has a fine situation, and the ruins indicate the existence in former times of a considerable village.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The birthplace of Nathanael, the city in which our Lord performed his first miracle, and from which he soon after sent a miraculous healing to the nobleman's son at Capernaum, eighteen miles off,  John 2:1-11;  4:46-54;  21:2 . It was called Cana of Galilee, now Kana-el-Jelil, and lay seven miles north of Nazareth. This is Robinson's view. The commonly received site is nearer Nazareth. Cana is now in ruins.

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

In Galilee. A small village near Nazareth. This place is rendered memorable in the gospel, being honoured with our Lord's presence at a marriage. and first miracle that he wrought of turning water into wine. ( John 2:1-25)

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 John 2:1-11 4:46 Joshua 19:28

Holman Bible Dictionary

 John 2:1 John 4:46 John 21:2

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Ca´na, a town in Galilee, not far from Capernaum, where Christ performed his first miracle by turning water into wine (). This Cana is not named in the Old Testament, but is mentioned by Josephus as a village of Galilee. The site has long been identified with the present Kefr Kenna, a small place about four miles north-east from Nazareth, on one of the roads to Tiberias.

There is a ruined place called Kâna el-Jelil, about eight miles N. ½ E. from Nazareth, which Dr. Robinson is inclined to regard as the more probable site of Cana. His reasons are certainly of considerable weight.