BSN: SEA OF GALILEE

In the New Testament:
- Sea of Galilee – a large freshwater lake in northern Israel, covering about 65 square miles (8 miles wide and 13 miles long); also known as the Sea of Tiberias or the Lake of Gennesaret; its main source of water is the Jordan River, supplemented by underground springs. It was big for Israel, but much smaller than any of the Great Lakes. (It’s about two-thirds the size of Lake Tahoe.) There are still commercial fishermen who work it to this day.
- Sea of Tiberias – same as Sea of Galilee – see John 6:1; 21:1. There was also a town called Tiberias – see Jn 6:23; it was located on the lake’s coast, founded and named for the Roman emperor Tiberias. Toward the end of the 1st century, the Sea of Galilee came to be known as the Sea of Tiberias because of the city. This development indicates the growing influence of the Roman Empire in the regions of Israel. It also lends further support to the view that the Gospel of John was the last of the four Gospels to be written, as he is the only Gospel writer who uses this name for the Sea of Galilee.
- Lake of Gennesaret – same as Sea of Galilee
In the Old Testament:
- Sea of Chinneroth/Chinnereth refer to the same body of water. (Sometimes spelled Kinnereth)