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AI illustration: Galilee - Region of northern Israel

What is Galilee in the Bible?

Region where Jesus grew up and carried out much of his ministry.

Galilee is a region in the north of the land of Israel, and the area where Jesus grew up and did much of his ministry. It lay in the northern part of the land, around the Sea of Galilee.

Galilee in the Bible

In the Old Testament, Kedesh in Galilee, in mount Naphtali, is set apart as a city of refuge (Joshua 20:7). Solomon gives Hiram king of Tyre twenty cities in the land of Galilee (1 Kings 9:11), and Tiglathpileser king of Assyria later takes Galilee and carries its people captive (2 Kings 15:29). Isaiah calls it Galilee of the nations (Isaiah 9:1), and Matthew applies this passage to Jesus (Matthew 4:15).

In the Gospels, Nazareth is a city of Galilee where Jesus is raised (Luke 1:26; Luke 2:39). Herod rules it as tetrarch (Luke 3:1). Jesus preaches in its synagogues and heals the sick (Matthew 4:23), calls Simon and Andrew by the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18), and does his first miracle at Cana of Galilee (John 2:11).

Women from Galilee follow him to the cross (Luke 23:49). After his resurrection the eleven disciples meet him on a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16).

Name meaning
Circuit, district
Name origin
Hebrew
Role
Region of northern Israel
First mention
Joshua 20:7
Appearances in the Bible
71 mentions

Questions about Galilee

What is Galilee in the Bible?

Galilee is a region in the north of the land of Israel, and the area where Jesus grew up and did much of his ministry. It lay in the northern part of the land, around the Sea of Galilee. In the Old Testament, Kedesh in Galilee, in mount Naphtali, is set apart as a city of refuge (Joshua 20:7). Solomon gives Hiram king of Tyre twenty cities in the land of Galilee (1 Kings 9:11), and Tiglathpileser king of Assyria later takes Galilee and carries its people captive (2 Kings 15:29). Isaiah calls it Galilee of the nations (Isaiah 9:1), and Matthew applies this passage to Jesus (Matthew 4:15). In the Gospels, Nazareth is a city of Galilee where Jesus is raised (Luke 1:26; Luke 2:39). Herod rules it as tetrarch (Luke 3:1). Jesus preaches in its synagogues and heals the sick (Matthew 4:23), calls Simon and Andrew by the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18), and does his first miracle at Cana of Galilee (John 2:11). Women from Galilee follow him to the cross (Luke 23:49). After his resurrection the eleven disciples meet him on a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16).

What does the name Galilee mean?

The name Galilee means “Circuit, district”. Origin: Hebrew.

Where is Galilee first mentioned in the Bible?

Galilee is first mentioned in Joshua 20:7.

How many times is Galilee mentioned in the Bible?

Number of mentions in the Bible: 71.