Bayit – בַּיִת – which is Hebrew for a home;
A place of Love – Ahavah
and
Welcome – Be’ruchim ha’ba’im!
First Century Israelite Home/House
The homes of poor families were small and simple, the walls were built of mud-brick or rough stone.
The roofs were constructed of clay covered woven branches.
The living spaces were used for cooking and weaving/household work. The family’s domestic animals, (e.g. donkey/goat), were kept in the lower level for protection at night. Each floor was about 7ft (2.13meters) high; same width and length of 24ft (7.32meters).
Below a typical 3rd to 8th Century house: built of Basalt.
Other examples of stone built – בַּיִת – bayit – similar to which Jesus/Yeshua may have lived in.
Is it possible that Yeshua/Jesus was born in the lower area of a house where the animals and the mangers were kept? The scriptures tell us in Matthew 2:10-11 that when the wise men came, they visited Him in a house – bayit, so the family had obviously moved there from somewhere else. Matthew described the arrival of the wise men from the East:
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
So it was probably a bayit, a house similar to those in the pictures.
Shalom bayit (also shelom bayit, shlom bayit, or (Yiddish) sholom bayis or shlom bayis)
Hebrew: שְׁלוֹם בַּיִת, literally:
peace of the home.
Shalom Bayit is the Jewish religious concept of domestic harmony and good relations between husband and wife.
In the Hebrew Alef Bet the second letter B is Bet.
In the ancient pictograph language
the letter B- bet, was represented as a tent/home
Bet – b – Family, house, in tent floor plan.
Other words beginning with BET:
The mystery of Kaphar Nachum –
kə-PUR-nee-əm – נַחוּם כְּפַר
– Kfar Naḥūm,
It literally means ‘Nahum’s village”.
It was a fishing village established during the time of the Hasmoneans, located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Satellite picture of the Sea of Galilee.
Traditions indicate that this was the birthplace of the prophet Nahum, hence the name.
Kaphar Nachum – kə-PUR-nee-əm – נַחוּם כְּפַר – Kfar Naḥūm.;
or as we are familiar with the spelling Capernaum.
It served as Yeshua/Jesus’ home in the Galilee, although He did not own His own property (Mt 4:13-14; 8:20).
Mentioned briefly in
https://www.minimannamoments.com/stones-tel-a-secret-as-they-cry-out-from-the-place-of-fishing-
The name Capernaum
(Καπερναουμ) Καπερναουμ
is a Greek transliteration of the
Hebrew כפר נחום (kaphar nahum),
which obviously consists of two elements.
The first part of the name is the word כפר (kapar), meaning village, and secondly the word nahum from the verb נחם (naham), to be sorry or to comfort.
Full meaning is –
Village Of Consolation, Protected By Being Sorry.
Some Related names connected to it are:
כפר (kapar): Caphtor, Caphtorim, Chephar-ammoni, Chephirah, Chephirim, Yom Kippur.
נחם (naham): Manaen, Menahem, Naham, Nahamani, Nahum, Nehemiah, Nehum, Tanhumeth.
It was in existence from the 2nd century B.C. to the 7th century A.D.
Capernaum was built along on the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee /Lake Tiberias, in what was then called Palestine and had up to 1500 residents.
Capernaum, was a small, prosperous fishing center as well as a crossroads for merchants traveling the Via Maris (Latin for “Way of the Sea”), an ancient road connecting Egypt with what today would be Syria, Iraq and Iran.
This made Capernaum a very strategic location for Yeshua/Jesus, due to fishing, trade and agriculture as well as a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the region. (Matthew 4:12-16).
It is best known as the birthplace of Peter and his home was here Matt 8:14, so also were the homes of John, Andrew and James as well as the tax collector Matthew and the centurion whose servant Yeshua/Jesus healed. Matt. 8:5.
Yeshua/Jesus made Capernaum His home/
Bayit – בַּיִת
– a place of Love – Ahavah
and
Welcome – Be’ruchim ha’ba’im
during the years of His ministry:
Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. (Matt 4:13).
Archeology suggests Capernaum, like other fishing communities in the north shore of the Sea of Galilee was founded during the Hasmonean period of independence, before the Roman Empire occupied the land. So when Messiah resided there, Capernaum may only have been in existence for 1 – 200 years.
Yeshua/Jesus came to Capernaum כפר נחום (kaphar nahum), from Nazareth right after His temptations by Ha’satan (Matt 4:13)
Following confrontation and rejection in the synagogue of His childhood home, Nazareth, He relocated His ministry to Capernaum.
Nazareth in Biblical Greek
Ναζαρετ
ΝαζαρεθHebrew Strong’s #3478: Nazareth = “the guarded one (pronounced nad-zar-eth’)
Some scholars derive the name from נצר I (nasar I), meaning to watch, and translate it with something like Watch (tower) or Sentinel. Others like to believe that the name Nazareth came from the verb נצר II (nasar 2), meaning to be green, and translate it with Branch(es).
From the verb נצר (nasar), to protect or preserve, means to watch, guard or keep.
or the noun נצר (neser), branch or shoot alludes to the prophetic, messianic words in Book of Isaiah 11:1, ‘from (Jesse’s) roots a Branch (netzer) will bear fruit’.
From the verb נזר (nazar), to consecrate oneself.
From the verb זרע (zara’), to scatter to sow, or זרה (zara), to scatter to winnow.
The name Nazareth also means Scattered or Sown, and became applied to that form of Judaism (that of the Nazarenes) that harvested adjacent cultures for insights.
This was an ideal spot for Messiah to deliver His messianic message; it was larger than Nazareth and was on the main Damascus Highway. As a result, Yeshua/Jesus was able to reach out to more people. It was also a safe distance from the dangers of Herod in Tiberias.
The Gennesaret area was one of the most prosperous and crowded districts of Palestine/Israel.
Capernaum as mentioned, lay on the great Via Maris highway between Damascus and Caesarea Maritima on the Mediterranean Sea, and between Tyre and Egypt.
It was located not far from other important sites mentioned in scripture such as, Bethsaida, the Mountain of Beatitudes, and Tabgha, as well as the Jordan River and Tiberias on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Since Capernaum became Yeshua/Jesus’ home town and many of His miracles occurred there, the people of Capernaum had a front row seat to much of His ministry.
However the conversion rate was disappointing and in Matt 11:23, He pronounced a strong curse on His village, it was one of the three cities cursed by Yeshua/Jesus for its lack of faith.:
“And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You shall descend to Hades, for if the miracles that happened in you would have happened in Sodom, it would have remained until today..But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”
The city rejected the Lord Jesus, and its doom was sealed.
So completely has it perished that the very site is a matter of dispute today.
Today the ruins of Capernaum are owned by two churches: the Franciscans control the western portion with the synagogue
and the Greek Orthodox’s property is marked by the white church with red domes.
Yeshua/Jesus has invited four disciples —Peter, Andrew, James, and John— to be fishers of men.
On the Sabbath, they all went to a local synagogue in Capernaum.
Yeshua/Jesus teaches in the synagogue, and again the people are astounded at his manner of teaching.
He does so as one having authority and not as the scribes.
Soon after Yeshua/ Jesus settled there, He began to preach in the synagogue. The town was soon referred to as “his own city.” (Mt 9:1)
“They went as far as Capharnaum, and as soon as the sabbath came he went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.”
While Yeshua/Jesus was teaching, we read that a man with an unclean spirit entered and addressed Him.
“In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit and he shouted, `What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God’. But Jesus said sharply, `Be quiet! Come out of him!’ and the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsion and with a loud cry went out of him.
The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. `Here is a teaching that is new’ they said `and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him’. And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.” (Mk 1:21-28)
However, to the Jewish people of Capernaum, Yeshua/Jesus’ teaching came more from His heart, rather than the text on a scroll to be read aloud. In addition, Jesus had a new Gospel to share with them and they believed His promises. (Mark 1:21-22, Luke 4:31-32)
The Synagogue
Greek and Latin writing on some of the basalt columns of the synagogue in Capernaum.
The ruins of the synagogue
and even the house of Peter’s mother-in-law have been discovered at Capernaum.
Perched in the middle of town, adorned with Corinthian columns and friezes, are remains of a synagogue which dates back to the fourth of fifth century.
Later excavations revealed that, in fact, two synagogues were built here, with the first one dating back to the first century.
Scholars propose that Christ taught here, just as mentioned in the Gospels. Here, Jesus taught about the bread of life: (John 6:35-59)
I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never thirst… I am the living bread that comes down from heaven, so that a man may eat it and not die. I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever, and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world…
The 1st century Synagogue of Capernaum where Messiah preached.
In the Byzantine period, the white synagogue would have stood out dramatically from the surrounding black basalt buildings, whereas in the 1st century, the Capernaum synagogue blended into its setting.
The dating of this synagogue is debated, but it is clearly later than the first century. Excavations have revealed a synagogue from the time of Jesus with walls made of worked stone and 4 feet thick.
These earlier walls were preserved up to 3 feet high and the entire western wall still exists and was used as the foundation for the later synagogue.
Yeshua/Jesus was confronted by a demoniac while teaching here (Mark 1:21-27).
In Capernaum, Jesus healed the servant of the centurion. This Roman official was credited with building the synagogue (Luke 7:3).
During excavations beneath the foundations of this octagonal Byzantine martyrium church at Capernaum, archaeologists made one of the most exciting Biblical archaeology discoveries: they uncovered one residence that stood out from the others – a simple first-century A.D. home that may have been the house of Peter, the home of Jesus in Capernaum.
This house became the object of early Christian attention with 2nd century graffiti and a 4th century house church built above it.
In the 5th century the large octagonal Byzantine church was erected above this, complete with a baptistry.
Pilgrims have since referred to this as the house of Peter.
When visiting Israel in the early 90’s it was a very special experience to stand in/close to, the place where Yeshua/Jesus healed the man with the withered hand, raised Peter’s mother-in-law from her sick bed, and made the first of His seven “I AM” declarations after feeding the 5,000, saying,
“I am the Bread of Life whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35)”
From the ancient ruins of Capernaum on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, it’s possible to see in the distance, the town of Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene.
As already noted in Messiah’s day, Capernaum, (also meaning – hamlet of repentance or comfort), was one of the Chief cities of Galilee on its north-west shore. The “land of Gennesaret,” very close to, if not in which it was situated, was one of the most prosperous and crowded districts of Israel. This city lay on the great highway from Damascus to Acco and Tyre.
There is no mention of it prior to the Babylonian captivity. It has been identified with Tell Hum, about two miles south-west of where the Jordan flows into the lake. Here are extensive ruins of walls and foundations, and also the remains of what must have been a beautiful synagogue, which it is conjectured may have been the one built by the centurion (Luke 7:5), in which our Lord frequently taught (John 6:59; Mark 1:21; Luke 4:33).
Other scholars have suggested that the ruins of the city are to be found at Khan Minyeh, 3 miles further to the south on the lake shore.
Some scriptures that are also connected:
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Matthew 11:25
Mark 1:21
And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
Mark 2:1
And again he entered into Capernaum, after [some] days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
Mark 9:33
And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
Luke 4:23
And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
Luke 4:31
And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
Luke 7:1
Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum
Luke 10:15
And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
John 2:12
After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
John 4:46
So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
John 6:17
And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
John 6:24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
John 6:59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
When Jesus finally departed from Nazareth, He dwelt in Capernaum (Mt 4:13) and made it the main center of His activity during a large part of His public ministry.
Simon Peter’s Wife’s Mother Lay Sick (Mat 8:14-17; Mk 1:29-34; Lk 4:38-41).
Then a Leper Came to Him (Mat 8:2-4; Mk 1:40-45; Lk 5:12- 16).
They Brought to Him a Paralytic (Mat 9:2-8; Mk 2:1-12; Lk 5:17-26).
Near by He called the fishermen to follow Him (Mk 1:16), and the publican Matthew the Tax Collector (Mat 9:9; Mk 2:13, 14; Lk 5:27, 28). from the receipt of custom
It was the scene of many “mighty works” (Mt 11:23; Mk 1:34).
Here Jesus healed the centurion’s son (Mt 8:5),
the nobleman’s son (Jn 4:46),
cast out the unclean spirit (Mk 1:23);
and here also, probably, He raised Jairus’ daughter to life (Mk 5:22, etc.).
In Capernaum the little child was used to teach the disciples humility, while in the synagogue Yeshua/Jesus delivered His ever-memorable speech on the bread of life. (John 6).
From the scripture we read that Capernaum was a city of considerable importance. Some scholars think that the words “shalt thou be exalted,” etc. (Mt 11:23; Lk 10:15), mean that it stood on an elevated site. It may perhaps refer to the excessive pride of the inhabitants in that city. It was a customs station, and the residence of a high officer of the king (Mt 9:9; Jn 4:46, etc.). It was occupied by a detachment of Roman soldiers, whose commander thought the good will of the people worth securing at the expense of building for them a synagogue (Mt 8:5; Lk 7:5).
Capernaum is also the location of the healing of the paralytic lowered by friends through the roof to reach Jesus, as reported in Mark 2:1–12 and Luke 5:17–26.
Artists reconstruction of 1st century courtyard house at Capernaum
Ark of the scrolls at Capernaum.
The Torah shrine, the niche showing a wooden cabinet carved in stone. Representing the covenant given to Moses here in an ancient synagogue.
Close up of Menorah carved in stone.
Under the monumental building are the remains of the early Roman synagogue from the times of Messiah, which was built with the local (black) basalt rock. This earlier synagogue was the center of activities of Yeshua/Jesus, where He taught.
Mark: “And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.”
Mosaic found in Caparnaum.
Peter, also known as Simon Bar-Yonah, was one of Jesus’s 12 apostles.
Peter’s Primacy
Because he was a fisherman, his house was also located close to the lake.
The shape of an Octagon, was typical of early churches and structures such as Kathisma south of Jerusalem.
In 1990 a modern church was built over the 5th century church, over St Peter’s house. You can walk up to the main floor, which has a glass bottom in the center, and view the site.
The house of Jesus at Capernaum Luke 5:19 Mt 4:13 Mk 2:1 9:33
Did the roof have ceramic tiles?
the Greek word keramos is used, as in pitched roof not flat!
This photo is of a restored Talmudic era village modeled on the ruins of a fourth – eighth century village at Qatzrin in the Golan Heights. Similar basalt construction was found in the ruins of Capernaum during the time of Messiah.
The unhewn logs were used as rafters with branches and saplings as cross support.
The top was overlain with tightly packed clay.
A view from the white synagogue at Capernaum towards the lake.
These are the ruins from the first few centuries AD. The houses were built of basalt igneous stone, the same as in the Talmudic era villages.
Yet the Greek says:
Luke 5:19 And not finding by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
Flat topped roof of timber and branches overlain by packed clay with clay pigeon house on edge of wall.
Isaiah 61:1-3;
Matthew 4:13; Matthew 16: 24
Many quote that He had nowhere to lay His head:
Matthew 8:20; Luke 9:57– 62
He states that to simply fulfill Isaiah 9:12
The Government of the Promised Son – Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan.
He spent time also in Peter’s house.
There is a story that says that Son of Man had nowhere to lay His head…
however He had to have slept, He had to eat somewhere during that three years of ministry.
The disciples asked Him where He was from… He said Come and See John 1:39
Scripture tells us that He was in the house…
This place? Ha Makom – was on the shores of Galilee, the village named Capernaum.
This was where He had a base of ministry, a home where He lived when not traveling. People came here from all over the Galilee and He received them here showing mercy, forgiveness and compassion. This place, brought restoration for those that were condemned, had sickness, depression, disease. Where the blind, lame, paralyzed and rejected, found healing and wholeness.
This was the center of His ministry. The reason why it is called Capernaum is, it a translation of its’ original name.
Caper is for the Hebrew Kaphar and can be translated as town or village.
So what is The Mystery of Kaphar Nachum Our Home from Home?
and what has the prophet Nahum got to do with Messiah’s ministry?
Naum is the name Nahum or Nachum which is the same name as the prophet Nahum the Elkoshite in the Old Testament who gave the prophecy of Nineveh.
However there is NO REAL CONNECTION to the prophet – so this really is a mystery!
Why this village, why here for there is no word for coincidence in the Hebrew language there is no such thing as chance or luck? Rather it could be providence, synchronicity, serendipity, orchestrated our heavenly fathers purposeful timing and reasoning. God is very specific, everything He does has a reason.
A deeper look into the name reveals that it is more that just a persons name it is full of meaning:
To comfort,
console,
to repent,
to change direction
and as the center of Messiah ministry Capernaum could be translated as the village of comfort, the village of consolation and repentance;
where all who came were received with compassion; sins were forgiven, lives were changed, broken were restored sick were healed, oppressed were delivered and set free.
No one was turned away all were taken in, all who were rejected were received and comforted and accepted. As we turn to Him we are comforted and became whole.
And wherever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and sought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole. Mark 6:56
In this Place – Ha Makem of Kaphar Nachum. The Place of Miracles is where we will find Him and His compassion and tender loving kindness.
We don’t need to travel to Israel to the Galilee.
For the mercy, comfort, healing and restoration are not confined to one location. Call on me and I will hear you…
2 Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; 3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jer. 33:2-3
He is the place /Ha Makem of Kaphar Nachum.
So He was completely identified with the name of that town/ City.
And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Berean Study Bible.
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Col 1:17
In Him are all the riches of His glory.
We all have a home – for heaven is our home – but we are not there yet…
However while we await His return and we are busy about our Father’s business, we can Abide in our home from home – abiding in Jesus/Yeshua – the place of comfort and consolation.. HE IS
Ha Makem of Kaphar Nachum.
He is HOME – Bayit – בַּיִת
the place of comfort and consolation
– the place of Love – Ahavah
and
Welcome – Be’ruchim ha’ba’im!
For in Him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28
We all have a home from home it’s the place of Kaphar Nachum.
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. John 15:7
In Revelation 3:20, Messiah tells us, “…if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will comein to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
To sup, means to eat and fellowship with someone. When you sup with someone, you and they are sharing in and partaking of the same things.
Call upon Me and I will answer you, says the LORD. I will not turn you away. You have access to Me. I will hear your prayers and answer them. Jeremiah 29:12
When he calls out to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor.
Psalm 91:15
Shalom, shalom
‘Mishpachah’ ‘Family’!
משפחה
Mish-pa-KHa
Please don’t leave this page until you make sure that Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Kaphar Nachum…
your home away from home…
for until we get to our real home in heaven abiding in Him is our abode, our
Bayit – בַּיִת
our kaphar nachum
the place of comfort and consolation
– a place of Love – Ahavah
and
Welcome – Be’ruchim ha’ba’im!
Make certain Jesus is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.
It’s all about Life and Relationship not Religion.
NOT SURE?
Then simply SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’ name. Amen.