Magadan
Magadan is an ancient city mentioned in the New Testament, located in the region of Galilee in modern-day Israel. Known today as Majdal. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Magadan appears in Matthew 15:39, where Jesus, after miraculously feeding the four thousand on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, dismissed the crowds, got into a boat, and went to the region of Magadan. The parallel account in Mark 8:10 uses the name Dalmanutha for the same or a nearby destination. This journey marked a transition in Jesus' ministry, as immediately upon arriving, the Pharisees and Sadducees approached him demanding a sign from heaven, which he refused apart from the sign of Jonah (Matthew 16:1-4). Magadan thus became the setting for a pivotal confrontation between Jesus and the religious establishment, revealing the hardness of heart among Israel's leaders even after witnessing extraordinary miracles. The location along the western shore of the Sea of Galilee placed it within the heartland of Jesus' Galilean ministry. Though mentioned only once, Magadan represents one of many fishing villages and small towns that formed the backdrop of Jesus' public work, places where the kingdom of God was proclaimed and demonstrated in word and deed.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Magadan is widely identified with Magdala (modern Migdal or Majdal), situated on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee approximately five kilometers north of Tiberias. Some scholars distinguish Magadan as a variant name for the same settlement or its immediate environs. Recent excavations at Magdala beginning in 2009 have uncovered a remarkable first-century synagogue, complete with a carved stone block depicting a menorah, one of the earliest such representations ever found. The excavations also revealed a prosperous fishing village with ritual baths, marketplaces, and harbor facilities dating to the time of Jesus. The site is now home to the Duc in Altum center and continues to yield significant archaeological discoveries.
Verse Appearances (1)
Matt
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →