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magdala Summary and Overview

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magdala in Easton's Bible Dictionary

a tower, a town in Galilee, mentioned only in Matt. 15:39. In the parallel passage in Mark 8:10 this place is called Dalmanutha. It was the birthplace of Mary called the Magdalen, or Mary Magdalene. It was on the west shore of the Lake of Tiberias, and is now probably the small obscure village called el-Mejdel, about 3 miles north-west of Tiberias. In the Talmud this city is called "the city of colour," and a particular district of it was called "the tower of dyers." The indigo plant was much cultivated here.

magdala in Smith's Bible Dictionary

(a tower). The chief MSS. and versions exhibit the name as MAGADAN, as in the Revised Version. Into the limits of Magadan Christ came by boat, over the Lake of Gennesareth after his miracle of feeding the four thousand on the Mountain of the eastern side, #Mt 15:39| and from thence he returned in the same boat to the opposite shore. In the parallel narrative of St. Mark, ch. #Mr 8:10| we find the "parts of Dalmanutha," on the western edge of the Lake of Gennesareth. The Magdala, which conferred her name on "Mary the Magdalene one of the numerous migdols, i.e. towers, which stood in Israel, was probably the place of that name which is mentioned in the Jerusalem Talmud as near Tiberias, and this again is as probably the modern el-Mejdel, a miserable little Muslim village, of twenty huts on the water's edge at the southeast corner of the plain of Gennesareth. It is now the only inhabited place on this plain.

magdala in Schaff's Bible Dictionary

MAG'DALA (tower). In the chief manuscripts and versions the name is given as "Magadan." Magdala is found only in Matt 15:29. Christ came thither by boat over the Lake of Galilee after his miracle of feeding the four thousand on the mountain on the eastern side, Matt 15:39; and from thence he returned in the boat to the opposite shore. The parallel passage, Mark 8:10, has the "parts of Dalmanutha," on the western edge of the lake. The two regions or districts were probably near each other. The Magdala from which Mary Magdalene was named is perhaps identical with Migdal-el, Josh 19:38, and may be the modern el-Mejdel, a miserable little Moslem village of fifteen or twenty hovels, on the water's edge, at the south-east corner of the plain of Gennesaret.

magdala in Fausset's Bible Dictionary

In Sinaiticus and Vaticanus manuscripts (Matthew 15:39)" Magadan" is the reading. A town or region to which our Lord came after feeding the 4,000. "Dalmanutha" is in Mark's Gospel (Mark 8:10). The name Mary "Magdalene" shows there was a "Magdala" probably a later form of Migdol, "a tower." El Mejdel on the western border of the lake of Galilee, an hour's journey N. of Tiberius, now represents Magdala, and is about the position where our Lord is thought to have been after the miracle, it is near a beautiful plain and a hill rising about 400 ft., with overhanging limestone rock honeycombed with caves. The Jews used "Magdala" to denote a person with twisted or platted hair; a usage of women of loose character.