Χοραζίν

Chorazin

Definition

Chorazin was a town in Galilee, located near the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, not far from Capernaum and Bethsaida. In the New Testament, it is mentioned exclusively in the context of Jesus pronouncing woes upon it for its unbelief, despite witnessing His mighty works. The town serves as a specific example of a community that rejected Jesus' message and miracles, leading to a declaration of severe judgment. Its mention alongside Capernaum and Bethsaida (Matthew 11:20–24, Luke 10:13–15) groups it as part of a region that experienced a concentrated ministry of Jesus yet failed to repent.

Biblical Usage

The word 'Chorazin' is used only twice in the New Testament, both times in parallel accounts of Jesus' denunciation of unrepentant cities. It appears in Matthew 11:21 and Luke 10:13. In both passages, Jesus directly addresses Chorazin (and Bethsaida), contrasting the mighty works done there with the lack of repentance, and declaring that even pagan cities like Tyre and Sidon would have responded more faithfully. The usage is solely in a prophetic, judicial context of warning and condemnation for rejecting divine revelation.

Etymology

The name 'Chorazin' (Greek: Χοραζίν) is a Hellenized form of a Hebrew or Aramaic place name. Its exact derivation is uncertain, but it may be related to the Hebrew word 'karaz,' meaning 'secret' or 'mystery,' though this is speculative. As a proper noun for a town, it was adopted directly into Greek from the local Semitic language without a change in essential meaning.

Semantic Range

Chorazin is theologically significant as a stark example of the responsibility that accompanies privilege. The town witnessed Jesus' ministry firsthand yet remained in unbelief, making its judgment more severe (Matthew 11:22). It illustrates the biblical principle that greater revelation brings greater accountability. Understanding Chorazin as a real, historical place enriches reading by grounding Jesus' warnings in specific geography, emphasizing that His message of repentance was met with both acceptance and rejection in actual communities.

In the 1st century, Chorazin was a Jewish town in Galilee, likely a small agricultural or fishing community. Archaeological remains, including a synagogue, confirm its existence. Culturally, its inhabitants were part of a region steeped in Jewish tradition and expectation for the Messiah. Jesus' condemnation would have been shocking, as it placed a Jewish town beneath the expected fate of historically pagan, Gentile cities like Tyre and Sidon in God's judgment, radically challenging assumptions about ethnic or cultural privilege.

Capernaum (Kapernaoum, G2584) — Another Galilean town condemned for unbelief alongside Chorazin. Bethsaida (Bēthsaida, G966) — A third town grouped with Chorazin and Capernaum in Jesus' pronouncement of woe.

Word Details

Scripture References