Bible Location

Gadara

New Testament

Gadara was an important Greco-Roman city east of the Jordan River and southeast of the Sea of Galilee. It belonged to the group of Hellenistic cities commonly known as the Decapolis.

The region associated with Gadara appears in the Gospel traditions concerning Jesus' healing of demon-possessed men or a man after crossing the Sea of Galilee.

The Gospel manuscripts preserve different geographical names for the episode, including Gadarenes, Gerasenes, and Gergesenes. Consequently, the relationship between the city of Gadara and the precise lakeshore location of the miracle requires caution.

Biblical Significance

Matthew records Jesus arriving in the region of the Gadarenes, where He encountered two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs.

Mark and Luke describe a closely corresponding episode involving one man and use textual traditions associated particularly with the Gerasenes.

Jesus commanded the unclean spirits to leave, and they entered a herd of pigs that rushed down a steep slope into the lake.

The episode demonstrates Jesus' authority over demonic powers and led to widespread reaction throughout the surrounding region.

Historical Background

Gadara was a prominent Hellenistic and Roman city of the Decapolis. It stood on a defensible ridge overlooking the Yarmouk Valley and the region southeast of the Sea of Galilee.

The city possessed theaters, baths, streets, temples, and other monumental architecture typical of prosperous Greco-Roman urban centers.

Its territory extended beyond the immediate urban settlement, which is important when considering Gospel references to the "region" or territory of the Gadarenes.

Ancient Gadara should not be confused with Gerasa, another major Decapolis city much farther to the south.

Modern Identification

Ancient Gadara is securely identified with Umm Qais in northern Jordan.

The city itself lies several miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee. Its territorial district, however, may have extended toward the lake.

The precise location of the Gospel miracle involving the demons and pigs remains uncertain because the manuscript tradition preserves Gadarenes, Gerasenes, and Gergesenes, and several lakeshore locations have been proposed.

AVWJ should therefore distinguish the secure identification of the city of Gadara from the uncertain location of the Gospel event.

Scripture References

Matthew 8:28 Mark 5:1 Luke 8:26

Related Resources

View Location Map See Video See Video 2

Sources

Bible: Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39; textual evidence concerning Gadarenes, Gerasenes, and Gergesenes; Josephus; classical geographical sources; archaeological studies of Gadara/Umm Qais and the Decapolis