Δεκάπολις (Dekapolis)
Dekapolis
Decapolis
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun Dekapolis refers to a region east of the Jordan River known as the "Ten Cities." The term combines words for ten and city, describing a district that included urban centers such as Damascus, Scythopolis, and Gadara. Ancient sources like Pliny list these specific locations, though the exact number and names of cities varied among historical authorities.
In the New Testament, this geographic designation appears in only three verses, primarily within the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. It serves to locate Jesus’ ministry activities in a mixed Jewish and Gentile area south-east of the Sea of Galilee. For instance, Mark notes that Jesus sent the healed demoniac to proclaim the Lord’s deeds specifically in the Decapolis (Mark 5:20), highlighting the region’s significance as a place where the gospel reached beyond traditional Jewish boundaries.
Translators consistently render this word as "Decapolis" without attempting to translate the meaning into English. This preserves the specific historical identity of the league of cities, distinguishing it from other regional descriptions in the biblical text. The term anchors the narrative in a real political and cultural landscape that existed during the first century.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word Decapolis refers to a group of ten cities located east of the Jordan River. In the first century, this area was a distinct cultural and political zone where Jewish and Gentile populations lived side by side. When the Gospels mention this region, they are grounding Jesus’ ministry in a real historical landscape that extended beyond traditional Jewish borders.
For your faith, this detail highlights the wide reach of Jesus’ compassion. He did not stay within one ethnic or religious boundary but moved into mixed areas where people of different backgrounds gathered. The crowds from Decapolis who followed Him show that His message was intended for everyone, regardless of their origin or status.
Seeing Jesus in these cities reminds us that the gospel is for all nations. It encourages you to look beyond your own circle and recognize that God’s work often happens in places where cultures meet. This historical fact invites us to trust that God’s love crosses every boundary we might set.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of [the] Decapolis.1×
- [the] Decapolis1×
- Decapolis1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Δεκαπόλεως.1×
- Δεκαπόλεως1×
- Δεκαπόλει1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 5:20
He went his way, and began to proclaim in Decapolis how Jesus had done great things for him, and everyone marveled.
This verse is significant because it records Jesus’ specific instruction for the healed demoniac to spread the news of his restoration within this Gentile-majority region, marking an early expansion of the gospel beyond Jewish territories.
-
Matthew 4:25
Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him.
This occurrence highlights the geographic scope of Jesus’ ministry by listing Decapolis alongside Galilee and Judea, showing that people from this mixed urban league were actively seeking Him.
-
Mark 7:31
Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee through the middle of the region of Decapolis.
Here the term anchors a specific travel route, showing Jesus moving through the heart of the Decapolis region after leaving Tyre and Sidon, which emphasizes His deliberate engagement with Gentile areas.