The Sea of Galilee General Overview

The Sea of Galilee, as mentioned in the New Testament (Matthew 4:18, Mark 1:16), is known by many different names; Sea of Tiberias – Called after the major city at the western shores, city of Tiberias, that was built in the Roman period to honor the Roman emperor Tiberius. Sea of Kinnereth (Joshua 19:35) – Called after the city of Kinnereth/ Chinnereth in olden times, the shape of the lake resembles a Kinor which is a harp in Hebrew.  Lake of Gennesaret - Called after the Land of Gennesaret (Matthew 14:36) then it was known as Lake of Gennesar, which means the “gardens of the prince” – Called after the fertile plains located on the north west side of the lake that contained royal gardens to honor the roman Caesar Herod. Today, it’s known as Yam Kinneret (Hebrew) and Buhayrat Tabariyya, بحيرة طبريا (Arabic) by the locals.    

The Sea of Galilee is located at the east side of Galilee, 31 miles (50 km) from the Midetrean Sea, shaped like a pear or a harp. It’s about 690 feet (210 meters) below sea level making it the lowest freshwater lake in the world, maximum depth of about 150 feet (46 meters) and measuring 13 miles long (21 km) and 7 miles (11 km) wide with surface of 65 square miles (168 square km) making it Israel’s largest and most important sweet water lake.

Sea of Galilee is fed by rainfall, springs and streams from the surrounding hills, underground springs and Jordan River that flow the Sea from the north. It provides Israel with one third of its water needs and some of the water is also supplied to the Kingdom of Jordan.
Moreover, the Sea of Galilee is well known for its varieties of fish especially in its north side where springs and Jordan River flow into. There are about 22 species of fishes such as: Tilapia Zilli, Barbus Canis, Gara rufa and many more…

“47 Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a net cast into the sea, and gathering together of all kind of fishes. 48 Which, when it was filled, they drew out, and sitting by the shore, they chose out the good into vessels, but the bad they cast forth.” Matthew 13: 47-48

In olden times, it was in this region where Jesus preached, found his first four disciples (Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:14-20, Luke 5:1-11) and many of his miracles occurred. The northwestern shores of the Sea of Galilee were densely populated and many biblical figures lived there, thus, the Sea of Galilee region attracts many pilgrims and tourists each year. The most famous sites are: Capernaum, the hometown of five of the disciples, Tabgha, the site where Jesus fed five thousand people from two fishes and five loaves of bread, Church of the Beatitudes, where the Sermon on the Mount took place and Migdal, hometown of Mary Magdalene.

More photos of Sea of Galilee sites are available at HolyLand Photo Gallery