Brief Overview of Δαλμανουθά (G1148: Dalmanoutha)

Dalmanoutha (pronounced dal-mah-NOO-thah, Δαλμανουθά) is a Greek proper noun found under Strong’s Concordance number G1148. The word Dalmanoutha is of uncertain origin, with some scholars suggesting that it could be derived from a Semitic root. It refers to a specific location, which is mentioned only once in the New Testament.

In the New Testament, Dalmanoutha is primarily understood as a geographical location. It is mentioned in the Gospel of Mark as a place where Jesus traveled after feeding the 4,000. The exact location of Dalmanoutha is not definitively known, but it is generally believed to be somewhere near the Sea of Galilee. Some scholars suggest it could be the same place as Magdala, the town associated with Mary Magdalene, although this identification remains speculative.

Scripture References

1. Mark 8:10: “And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanoutha (Δαλμανουθά, Dalmanoutha).” This is the only verse in the New Testament where Dalmanoutha is mentioned, situating it as a significant yet obscure location in Jesus’ ministry.

Detailed Description from Lexicons

In BDAG (Bauer, Danker, Arndt, and Gingrich), Dalmanoutha is listed as a proper noun referring to a location near the Sea of Galilee. BDAG notes that the precise identification of Dalmanoutha is uncertain, but it is traditionally considered a place where Jesus interacted with His disciples and the Pharisees following the miracle of feeding the 4,000. The lexicon suggests that Dalmanoutha may have been a small village or district, but its exact location remains a topic of scholarly debate.

Thayer’s Lexicon also acknowledges the uncertainty surrounding Dalmanoutha but emphasizes its significance as the setting for an important moment in Jesus’ ministry. Thayer’s notes that some early church fathers and scholars have attempted to link Dalmanoutha with Magdala, but there is no definitive evidence to support this connection. The lexicon suggests that Dalmanoutha could have been a small, unremarkable place that gained significance because of Jesus’ presence there.

The LSJ (Liddell, Scott, Jones) lexicon provides limited information on Dalmanoutha, primarily because it is a unique term found only in the New Testament. The lexicon notes that Dalmanoutha is recognized as a location, but like other sources, it emphasizes the ambiguity surrounding its exact location and historical significance.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance simply lists Dalmanoutha as a proper noun referring to a place mentioned in Mark 8:10. The concordance highlights that this location is only mentioned once in the New Testament, making it a relatively obscure but noteworthy part of the Gospel narrative.

Usage in Classical Greek Literature

Dalmanoutha is a term that does not appear in classical Greek literature outside of its mention in the New Testament. Since it is a proper noun referring to a specific location, its use is confined to biblical texts, and there are no known references to Dalmanoutha in other ancient Greek writings.

1. Josephus, the Jewish historian, does not mention Dalmanoutha in his works, even though he provides detailed accounts of many locations around the Sea of Galilee.
2. Pliny the Elder, who wrote extensively about the geography of the Roman Empire, including regions around the Sea of Galilee, also does not reference Dalmanoutha in his natural histories.
3. Early Christian writers, such as Eusebius and Jerome, who compiled information on biblical locations, acknowledge Dalmanoutha but do not provide additional information about its precise location or significance.

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Summary

Dalmanoutha (pronounced dal-mah-NOO-thah, Δαλμανουθά) is a Greek proper noun that refers to a specific, yet obscure, location mentioned in the New Testament. The word is found only in Mark 8:10, where it designates the place Jesus traveled to after the miracle of feeding the 4,000. While the exact location of Dalmanoutha remains uncertain, it is generally believed to be near the Sea of Galilee. Lexicons such as BDAG, Thayer’s, and LSJ acknowledge the difficulty in precisely identifying Dalmanoutha, but they emphasize its importance in the Gospel narrative. Dalmanoutha is not mentioned in classical Greek literature, and its significance is primarily tied to its association with Jesus’ ministry. The location remains a topic of scholarly discussion, with some suggesting it could be related to Magdala, although this theory is not conclusively supported by historical evidence.