Γαδαρηνός (Gadarēnos)
Gadarēnos
Gadara
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective Gadarenēn refers to a resident or native of Gadara, an important Hellenized city in the Decapolis located east of the Jordan River. Lexical sources identify it as belonging to this specific town, which served as the capital of Peraea and stood southeast of the Sea of Galilee.
This term appears only once in the New Testament, marking the location of Jesus’ encounter with the demon-possessed man in Matthew 8:28. While some manuscript traditions use alternative names like Gergesene or Gerashene for this same event, the Gadarene designation highlights the distinct cultural and geographic setting where this miracle took place.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word Gadarenēn points to a specific place in history: Gadara, a Hellenized city in the Decapolis. It appears only once in the New Testament, marking the location where Jesus met two demon-possessed men. This single reference grounds the miracle in a real, tangible setting, showing that God’s power extends beyond Jewish borders into Gentile territories.
For your faith, this reminds us that Jesus is Lord over all places and peoples. The encounter happened in a region known for its foreign culture, yet Jesus’ authority was not limited by geography or religious boundaries. It invites us to trust that no area of our lives or the world is outside His reach.
Even though manuscript variations exist regarding the exact name of the region, the core truth remains: Christ confronts darkness wherever it resides. This offers hope that His grace is available everywhere, regardless of cultural or spiritual distance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Gadarenes1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Γαδαρηνῶν1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 8:28
When he came to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes, two people possessed by demons met him there, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that nobody could pass that way.
This verse uses the term to locate the encounter with the demon-possessed men, highlighting that Jesus’ authority extends into Gentile regions beyond Israel.