כִּנֶּ֫רֶת (kin.n.rot)
kin.n.rot
(Sea of) Chinnereth
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun kinneret refers to a specific region in ancient Israel, most famously as the early name for what is now called the Sea of Galilee. The word itself means "harps," a description likely drawn from the lake’s crescent shape or perhaps the sound of its waters against the shore. This geographical marker appears seven times in the Hebrew Bible, anchoring narratives in a place that was both agriculturally rich and strategically important.
Its occurrences are concentrated in the books of Joshua and Numbers, where it serves as a boundary marker for the tribe of Naphtali and other tribal territories. Later references in 1 Kings connect the name to the broader region surrounding the lake, highlighting its role as a center of trade and settlement. The term does not appear in later prophetic literature with the same frequency, suggesting its primary function was topographical rather than symbolic.
Understanding kinneret helps readers visualize the physical landscape of Jesus’ ministry, even though the New Testament typically uses the name "Sea of Galilee" or "Lake of Gennesaret." The shift in naming reflects a change in cultural and political context over centuries. Recognizing this older Hebrew term allows modern readers to trace the continuity of place across biblical history, linking the tribal allotments of Joshua with the later historical accounts of Israel’s kings.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Chinnereth evokes a sense of harmony, derived from the Hebrew word for harp. This ancient designation for the Sea of Galilee reminds us that God often uses the beauty of creation to anchor His people in history. The crescent shape of the lake and the gentle sound of its waters likely inspired this poetic title, turning a geographical feature into a symbol of peace.
For believers today, this word connects us to the tangible reality of Jesus’ ministry. While the New Testament often calls it the Sea of Galilee, the Hebrew Chinnereth grounds us in the tribal lands of Israel’s past. It invites us to see the landscape not just as a backdrop, but as a place where God’s promises were fulfilled and where faith was tested and strengthened.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Kinnereth5×
- from/ Kinnereth1×
- and/ Kinnereth1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/כִּנֶּ֗רֶת1×
- כִּנֶּ֖רֶת1×
- כִּנֶּ֔רֶת1×
- כִּנְר֜וֹת1×
- כִּנְר֔וֹת1×
- כִּֽנֲר֖וֹת1×
- וְ/כִנָּֽרֶת\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 19:35
The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth,
This verse uniquely lists Chinnereth as a fortified city within Naphtali’s territory, highlighting its strategic importance beyond just being a body of water.
-
Numbers 34:11
The border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain. The border shall go down, and shall reach to the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward.
Here the term marks the eastern boundary of the Promised Land, showing how geography defined the extent of God’s inheritance for Israel.
-
Joshua 12:3
and the Arabah to the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and to the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward, the way to Beth Jeshimoth; and on the south, under the slopes of Pisgah:
The text uses the name to describe the conquered territory, emphasizing the completeness of Israel’s victory under Joshua’s leadership.