Chorazin

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

CHORAZIN. —Mentioned once only in the Gospels,  Matthew 11:21 =  Luke 10:13, along with Bethsaida, as one of the ‘cities’ (πόλεις) where most of Jesus’ mighty deeds were done. The name is not found in the OT nor in Josephus; and it is not certain whether it be the same place as ברנים or ברניים mentioned once in the Talmud (hoth, 85), where the superior quality of its wheat is praised. Jastrow’s gives ‘ near Jerusalem,’ Dalman’s ‘בִּרָוִים name of place.’ One MS has ברוים, two ב׳; see Rabbinowicz, ae Lectiones; Neubauer, Géographie du Talmud, p. 220. Most MSS [Note: SS Manuscripts.] of the NT spell Χοραζ(ε)ίν, others, especially in Luke, Χωραζίν; so Stephen in Luke, but not Elzevir, Mill; D [Note: Deuteronomist.] both times Χοροζαΐν, and the same form prevails in the Latin texts: C(h)orozain . Why the editions of the Peshitta, even Gwilliams’, spell ܟܴܘܪܰܐܻܝܢ Kôr ăz în , we fail to see. Barhebraeus gives expressly ܟܾܘܪܐܻܝܢ Kurzîn as the vocalization of the Peshitta, and Chorazin as that of the Greek.

Neither the grammatical form of the name (on which see Schwöbel, ZDP V [Note: DPV Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palästina-Vereins.] xxvii. 134) nor its etymology is sufficiently clear. The place has been identified with Khersa on the eastern shore of the Lake of Galilee, but more probably with Khirbet Kerâzeh , 4 kilometres N. of Tell Hûm, first discovered by Thomson in 1857. Eusebius calls it a κώμη ( oppidum ), 12 Roman miles from Capernaum, in his time deserted; but 12 seems to be a misspelling of the MS for 2, as given by the Latin translation of Jerome (Eusebius, Onomasticon , ed. Klostermann, 174. 25, 175. 25).* [Note: In the Latin text (OS2 114. 7) the name is spelt ‘Chorazin’, not ‘Chorozain,’ as stated in Encyc. Bibl., where also the modern name Kerâzeh is once spelt with K, as if it were ק.] On the ruins of Kerâzeh, especially its synagogue, see the literature quoted by Schürer, GJ V [Note: JV Geschichte des Jüdischen Volkes.] 3 [Note: designates the particular edition of the work referred] § 27, n. [Note: note.] 59. Cheyne’s list of Proper Names (in the Queen’s Printers’ Aids to the Student of the Holy Bible ) recommends the pronunciation Cho-ra’zin  ; this is supported by the modern form Kerâzeh , if it be the same name; the accentuation of the first syllable, common in German, has the support of Kurzin in the Peshitta; in Latin Choroza in . The mediaeval explanation of the name ‘hoc mysterium meum’ = הוארִאוי, goes back to Jerome ( OS 61. 8). There was once a tradition that the Antichrist was to be born in Chorazin, and that its inhabitants were proud of this, and therefore the place was cursed by Jesus; see Expos. Times , xv. [1904] p. 524. The name Chorazin is, like that of Nazareth, an interesting illustration of the scantiness of our literary tradition.† [Note: Among the mighty works done in Bethsaida the feeding of the 5000 is certainly to be reckoned ( Luke 9:10 ff., where ἐπισισισμος of v.12 is to be explained from Βηθσαιδά = οἶκος ἑτισιτισμοῦ [OS 174. 7, 188. 75]). Hence it is tempting to find one of the mighty works done at Chorazin in the healing of the demoniac in the land of the Gerasenes or Gergesenes (8:26), and to combine this name with Chorazin. In his Philologica Sacra (1890, p. 21) the present writer suggesten that the prominent part played by the swine in that story may be derived from a local name like Ras el-chinzir or Tell abu-l-chinzir. The plural of chinzir (swine) is chanazir, of which Chorazin might be a transposition.]

Eb. Nestle.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Chorazin ( Ko-Râ'Zin ). A city named with Capernaum and Bethsaida in the woes pronounced by Christ.  Matthew 11:20-23;  Luke 10:13. The identification of Chorazin depends largely, though not wholly, upon that of Capernaum. Robinson places it at Tell Hum, but others, with greater probability, fix its site at Kerâzeh, two and a half miles northwest of Tell Hum, and west of the valley of the Jordan.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A town in Galilee, near to Capernaum and Bethsaida, on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jerome says it was two miles from Capernaum. No traces of its name remain; but Robinson with strong probability locates it at the modern Tell-hum, on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, three miles northeast of Capernaum. It was upbraided by Christ for its impenitence,  Matthew 11:21;  Luke 10:13 .

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

With Capernaum and Bethsaida doomed to "woe," because of neglected spiritual privileges. The scene of many of Jesus' mighty works, which failed to bring its people to repentance and faith ( Matthew 11:21;  Luke 10:13). No work of Jesus is recorded in it, a proof of how much more he did than is written ( John 21:25). Probably at Kerazeh, near Tell Hum.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

City in which some of the Lord's mighty works were done, and on which a woe was pronounced.  Matthew 11:21;  Luke 10:13 . The woe was also pronounced on Bethsaida and Capernaum. They were all near the Sea of Galilee. Chorazin is identified with the ruins of Kerazeh , 32 55' N, 35 34' E .

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

CHORAZIN . A place referred to only in the denunciation by Christ (  Matthew 11:21 ,   Luke 10:13 ). It is with probability identified with Kerazeh , north of Tell Hum, where are remains of pillars, walls, etc., of basalt.

R. A. S. Macalister.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Chora'zin. One of the cities in which our Lord's mighty works were done, but named only in His denunciation.  Matthew 11:21;  Luke 10:13. St. Jerome describes it as on the shore of the lake, two miles from Capernaum, but its modern site is uncertain.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Matthew 11:21 Luke 10:13

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Matthew 11:21

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( Χοραζίν v. r. Χοραζείν , Χοροζαϊ v Ν , and Χωραζίν ) , one of the cities ( Πόλεις ) in which our Lord's mighty works were done, but named only in his denunciation ( Matthew 11:21;  Luke 10:13; see Scherzer, Salvatoris Oraculum, Vet Tibi Chorazin, Lips. 1710), in connection with Bethsaida and Capernaum, not far from which, in Galilee, it appears to have been situated. It was known to Jerome, who describes it (Comm. In Matthew 11 ) as on the shore of the lake, 2 miles from Capernaum, or 12 miles, according to Eusebius (Onomast. s.v. Χωραζείν , Chorozain). Some compare the Talmudical Keraz N [q.v.J ( כרזין , Menachoth, fol. 85, 1), mentioned as being famous for wheat (Reland, Palaest. p. 722; Schwarz, Palest. p. 189); while others compare " HAROSHETH (See Harosheth) (q.v.) of the Gentiles" ( הִגּוֹים חֲרשֶׁת ,  Judges 4:2); and still others consider the name as having been in the vernacular Charashin ( חרשין ) , i.e. woody places (Lightfoot, p. 160 sq.). Origen and some MSS. write the name Chora-Zin ( Χώρα Ζίν , H. Ernesti, Observatt. Amst. 1636, 2:6), i.e. District Of Zin; but this is probably mere conjecture. St.Willibald (about A.D. 750) visited the various places along the lake in the following order- Tiberias, Magdalum, Capernaum, Bethsaida, Chorazin (Early Trav. Bohn, p. 17), being doubtless guided by local tradition, for the knowledge of the site has become utterly extinct (Robinson, Researches, 3:295). Some writers at one time supposed it to be the same with Kelat El-Ilorsa, a place on the eastern shore of the Sea of Gennesareth, where Seetzen (Reisen, 1:344) and Burckhardt (Trav. p. 265) describe some ruins; but this is written Kel-Hossu on later maps. A more recent writer (in the Hall. Lit.- Zeit. 1845, No. 233) regards it as a place in Wady el-Jamus; but this also lacks authority. Pococke (East, 2:72) speaks of a village called Gerasi among the hills west of Tell-Houm, 10 or 12 miles north-north-east of Tiberias, and close to Capernaum. The natives, according to Dr. Richardson, call it Chorasi. It is apparently this place which Keith and Van de Velde (Memoir, p. 304) call Kerazeh, and describe as containing several pedestals of columns, with leveled shafts, and the remains of a building formed of large hewn stones; while Dr. Robinson (Later Biblical Res. p. 360) rejects the identification with disparagement of the antiquities (p. 347), although he did not visit the site (Biblioth. Sacra, 1853, p. 137), which Dr. Thomson, nevertheless, confidently adopts (Land and Book, 2:8), apparently with good reason. M. De Saulcy is disposed to identify Chorazin with the fountain Ain et-Tin, near the northern extremity of the plain of Gennesareth; but his arguments, except the vicinity of the spots to the lake, are frivolous (Narrative, 2:371). The question is intimately connected with that of the position of Capernaum (q.v.). Dissertations on the curse pronounced by Christ against this and the neighboring places ( Matthew 11:21) have been written in Latin by Scherzer (Lips. 1666), Hornbeck (Miscell. Sacr. Ultraj. 1687, I, 3:301 sq.), Schott (T Ü b. 1766).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kō̇ - rā´zin ( Χοραζίν , Chorazı́n ,  Matthew 11:21; Χωραζίν , Chōrazı́n ,  Luke 10:13; Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek Χοραζείν , Chorazeı́n ): A city whose name appears only in the woe pronounced against it by Christ ( Matthew 11:21;  Luke 10:13 ). Its appearance there, however, shows that it must have been a place of some importance, and highly privileged by the ministry of Jesus. It was already deserted in the time of Eusebius, who places it 2 miles from Capernaum ( Onomasticon , under the word). We can hardly doubt that it is represented by the extensive ruins of Kerāzeh , on the heights to the north of Tell Ḥūm . It is utterly desolate: a few carved stones being seen among the heaps. There are traces of a Roman road which connected the ancient city with the great highway between north and south which touched the lake shore at Khān Minyeh ̌ .

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Chora´zin, a town mentioned in; , in connection with Bethsaida and Capernaum, not far from which, in Galilee, it appears to have been situated. Jerome makes it a village of Galilee, on the shore of the Lake Tiberias, two miles from Capernaum. But no place of the name has been historically noticed since his days; and not only the town, but its very name appears to have long since perished. [[[Bethesda; Capernaum]]]