Χοραζίν (Chorazin)
Chorazin
Chorazin
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
Chorazin was a town in Galilee that appears only twice in the New Testament, mentioned alongside Bethsaida and Capernaum in Matthew 11:21 and Luke 10:13. Jesus pronounced woe upon this community because, despite witnessing many of his miracles, its residents did not repent. The name itself has an uncertain etymology, though one source suggests it might mean "a furnace of smoke," a detail that adds a layer of irony to the narrative.
The significance of Chorazin lies not in its size or prominence, but in its role as a stark example of spiritual hardness. By listing it with other well-known towns, Jesus highlights that proximity to divine power does not guarantee a change of heart. The brief mentions serve as a sobering reminder that witnessing miracles requires a response of faith and repentance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Chorazin serves as a quiet but serious warning for anyone who assumes that seeing God’s work guarantees a change of heart. Jesus addressed this town directly, noting that its people had witnessed mighty miracles yet remained unchanged. The text highlights that proximity to divine power does not automatically produce repentance or faith.
This passage invites us to examine our own response to what we know about God. It is easy to observe spiritual truths without letting them reshape our daily lives. The mention of Chorazin reminds us that true faith requires more than just witnessing; it demands a willing turn toward God in humility and trust.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Chorazin!2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Χοραζίν,2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 11:21
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
This verse establishes the specific judgment against Chorazin by contrasting its unrepentant state with what would have happened if similar miracles occurred in pagan cities.
-
Luke 10:13
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
Luke’s account reinforces the same warning, emphasizing that witnessing mighty works without repentance leads to a deeper spiritual hardness rather than blessing.