Γεργασηνός G1086
Gerasenes, inhabitants of Gerasa/Gergesa, region on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee
The Gerasenes were inhabitants of the region around Gerasa or Gergesa, located on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Textual variants in Gospel manuscripts reflect uncertainty about the precise location—some read 'Gadarenes,' others 'Gergesenes,' others 'Gerasenes.' The most likely site is Gergesa (modern Kursi), directly on the lake's eastern shore with steep slopes descending to the water, matching the narrative's topographical details about pigs rushing down the bank. This was predominantly Gentile territory, explaining the presence of swine herds.
Senses
1. sense 1 — All three occurrences (Mark 5:1, Luke 8:26, 37) refer to the inhabitants of the region where Jesus healed the demoniac living among the tombs. The narrative's geographical markers—crossing the sea, steep bank, pig herd—fit the eastern shore location. The multilingual glosses show the textual complexity—Spanish offers variant forms 'Gerasēnón/Gerasēnôn,' French 'Gadarénien' (reflecting manuscript variants), German 'Gerasener.' The townsfolk's request that Jesus leave their region reveals their prioritization of economic security (lost pigs) over spiritual liberation. 3×
AR["الجَراسيّينَ"]·ben["গেরাসেনীয়দের"]·DE["Gerasener", "Γερασηνῶν"]·EN["Gerasenes", "Gerasēnoi"]·FR["Gadarénien"]·heb["גְּרָסִים", "גְּרָסֵנִים"]·HI["गिरासेनियों"]·ID["Gerasa", "orang-Gerasa"]·IT["gerasenon"]·jav["tiyang-Gèrasa", "wong-Gérasa."]·KO["거라사-사람들-의", "게라사인들의."]·PT["gerasenos", "gerasenos."]·RU["Герасинцев", "Гергесинцев"]·ES["Gerasēnón", "Gerasēnôn"]·SW["Wageraseni", "Wagrasenói."]·TR["Gerasalılar'ın.", "Gerasenilerin,"]·urd["گراسینیوں", "گیراسینیوں-کے"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
Γεργασηνός, -ή, -όν, Gerasene, of Gerasa, not the G. of Decapolis, 30 m. S.E. of the Lake, but a Gerasa or Gergesa (perh. the mod. Kersa) on E. shore; as subst., pl. οἱ Γ., Mrk.5:1, Luk.8:26, 37 (Γεργεσηνῶν, RV, mg. 1; Γαδαρηνῶν, RV, mg. 2).† (From Abbott-Smith. LSJ has no entry)