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Γαλιλαία

Galilaía

G1056 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A distinct geographic region in the northern part of ancient Syria-Palestine, called Galilee. Primarily used as a territorial designation—'the Galilee'—encompassing towns, villages, and surrounding countryside. In New Testament and Hellenistic sources, refers both to the physical territory (northern highlands including areas west and north of Lake Kinneret/Sea of Galilee) and, by extension, to its inhabitants.

Semantic Range

region in northern Syria-Palestine; geographic district; area with distinct cultural, demographic, and political identity

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew גָּלִיל (Galil), meaning 'district, region, circle'. The Greek form Γαλιλαία is a direct transliteration of the Hebrew, likely via Aramaic usage. The name originally denoted a 'district' or 'circle (of settlements)'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Γαλιλαία appears as a geographic term throughout Second Temple, Hellenistic, and Roman sources. In pre-exilic and Persian periods, 'Galil' in Hebrew often designated various northern districts. By the Hellenistic and Roman eras, Γαλιλαία referred specifically to the well-defined territory north of Samaria and west of the upper Jordan and Golan, known for mixed populations (including Israelites, Syrians, and Itureans). In the Gospels, Γαλιλαία signifies a distinct region with a recognizable cultural and ethnic character, sometimes contrasted with 'Judea' (Ἰουδαία). English translations as 'Galilee' accurately reflect the geographic reference, but do not convey the region's socio-political complexity and diverse population in the period. The term never implies ethnic or religious 'otherness' on its own, despite later interpretations attaching 'Galilee of the Nations' (see Isa 9:1) overtones. Classical Greek used περιφέρεια or χώρα for 'district'; Γαλιλαία is unique to Jewish/Israelite and related Greek sources from the Hellenistic period onward. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the term is always topographical, not theological.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Hebrew origin (גָּלִיל); Galilæa (i.e. the heathen circle), a region of Palestine:--Galilee.

Root Family

Γαλιλαία (Galilaia) — district, region, territory

Root Γαλιλ- district, region, territory

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1056-03 Γαλιλαίας galilaias N GEN F SG Galilee of the Galilee region Galilaia 37
G1056-02 Γαλιλαίαν galilaian N ACC F SG Galilee the Galilee region Galilaia 17
G1056-01 Γαλιλαία galilaia N NOM F SG Galilee the Galilean district Galilaia 7

Occurrences in Scripture

61 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1056-03 Matthew 2:22 Γαλιλαίας galilaias N GEN F SG Galilee of the Galilee region Galilaia
G1056-03 Matthew 3:13 Γαλιλαίας galilaias N GEN F SG Galilee of the Galilee region Galilaia
G1056-02 Matthew 4:12 Γαλιλαίαν galilaian N ACC F SG Galilee the Galilee region Galilaia
G1056-01 Matthew 4:15 Γαλιλαία galilaia N NOM F SG Galilee the Galilean district Galilaia
G1056-03 Matthew 4:18 Γαλιλαίας galilaias N GEN F SG Galilee of the Galilee region Galilaia
G1056-01 Matthew 4:23 Γαλιλαίᾳ galilaia N DAT F SG Galilee the Galilean district Galilaia
G1056-03 Matthew 4:25 Γαλιλαίας galilaias N GEN F SG Galilee of the Galilee region Galilaia
G1056-03 Matthew 15:29 Γαλιλαίας galilaias N GEN F SG Galilee of the Galilee region Galilaia
G1056-01 Matthew 17:22 Γαλιλαίᾳ galilaia N DAT F SG Galilee the Galilean district Galilaia
G1056-03 Matthew 19:1 Γαλιλαίας galilaias N GEN F SG Galilee of the Galilee region Galilaia
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