### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term Κανᾶ (Kanâ), Strong's number `{{G2580}}`, is a proper noun referring to a specific geographical location in Galilee. Its base definition indicates its origin from a Hebrew root, likely related to קָנָה (qanah, compare `{{H7069}}`), which can mean "to acquire" or "to create." However, for a place name, the primary semantic function of Κανᾶ is simply to identify the village itself. It does not carry an inherent conceptual meaning beyond its designation as a specific locale. As a proper noun, its significance is derived entirely from the events that transpired there within the biblical narrative, rather than from its etymological roots.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The village of Cana is mentioned exclusively in the Gospel of John, playing a pivotal role in the early stages of Jesus' public ministry.
1. **[[John 2:1-11]]**: This passage records Jesus' first miraculous sign, the turning of water into wine at a wedding feast. The context highlights the social occasion, the mother of Jesus' involvement, and the disciples' witnessing of the event. The miracle is explicitly stated to be the "first of his signs" by which Jesus "manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him" ([[John 2:11]]). This event establishes Cana as the inaugural site for Jesus' public display of divine power and identity.
2. **[[John 4:46-54]]**: Cana is again the setting for Jesus' second sign, the healing of the royal official's son. The official, whose son was dying in Capernaum, came to Jesus in Cana to plead for his son's life. Jesus healed the boy from a distance with a word, demonstrating his authority over sickness and space. This further solidifies Cana's importance as a place where Jesus' divine power was manifested, leading to faith ("he himself believed, and his whole household" [[John 4:53]]).
3. **[[John 21:2]]**: Cana is mentioned in the context of Nathanael, one of the disciples present with Peter after Jesus' resurrection. Nathanael is specifically identified as "Nathanael of Cana in Galilee." This detail connects a specific follower of Jesus to this significant Galilean town, further grounding the narrative of Jesus' early ministry and the origins of his disciples in this region.
Across these occurrences, Cana serves as a crucial geographical anchor for the commencement and early unfolding of Jesus' miraculous works, particularly in the Gospel of John, where the "signs" are central to revealing Jesus' identity as the Son of God.
### Related Words & Concepts
While Κανᾶ itself is a proper noun, its biblical context ties it to several significant concepts and themes:
* **Galilee (Γαλιλαία - Galilaia, `{{G1056}}`):** Cana is consistently identified as being "in Galilee." This region, often looked down upon by those in Judea, was the primary locus of Jesus' early ministry, fulfilling prophetic expectations ([[Matthew 4:15-16]]).
* **Signs (σημεῖα - semeia, `{{G4592}}`):** The miracles performed by Jesus in Cana are explicitly called "signs" ([[John 2:11]], [[John 4:54]]). In John's Gospel, these signs are not merely displays of power but revelations of Jesus' divine identity and glory, intended to elicit faith.
* **Glory (δόξα - doxa, `{{G1391}}`):** The first sign at Cana is said to have manifested Jesus' "glory" ([[John 2:11]]), indicating a revelation of his inherent divine nature and majesty.
* **Faith (πίστις - pistis, `{{G4102}}`):** Both the disciples ([[John 2:11]]) and the royal official ([[John 4:53]]) came to believe in Jesus as a result of the signs performed in or originating from Cana. This highlights the purpose of Jesus' miracles: to call people to faith.
* **Wedding (γάμος - gamos, `{{G1062}}`):** The wedding at Cana is a foundational event, symbolizing joy, abundance, and foreshadowing the eschatological wedding feast of the Lamb ([[Revelation 19:7-9]]).
* **Water and Wine:** The transformation of water into wine is highly symbolic, representing the transition from the old covenant (water for purification rituals) to the new covenant of grace and abundant life offered by Christ.
### Theological Significance
The village of Cana, though geographically small, holds immense theological significance in the Gospel narrative.
* **Inauguration of Jesus' Public Ministry:** Cana is the stage for Jesus' first public miracle, marking the official commencement of his messianic activity and the public manifestation of his divine power. This "beginning of signs" sets the tone for the rest of his ministry.
* **Revelation of Jesus' Divine Nature:** The miracles at Cana, particularly the turning of water into wine, are not merely acts of benevolence but profound revelations of Jesus' glory and his authority over creation. He demonstrates power that belongs only to God, thus revealing his inherent divinity.
* **Symbolism of Transformation and Abundance:** The transformation of water into wine symbolizes the superiority and abundance of the new covenant inaugurated by Christ over the old. The water jars, used for Jewish purification rites, are filled with the finest wine, suggesting that Jesus brings a new, richer reality that fulfills and transcends the old religious practices. This points to the overflowing grace and joy found in Christ.
* **The Call to Faith:** The events at Cana are presented as catalysts for faith. The disciples believe after witnessing the water turned to wine, and the royal official and his household believe after the distant healing. Cana thus exemplifies how Jesus' signs serve to draw people into a saving relationship with him.
* **God's Presence in the Mundane:** That such profound divine activity occurred in an ordinary Galilean village like Cana underscores a key theological principle: God often chooses to reveal Himself and work His greatest wonders in humble, unexpected places, elevating the common to the sacred.
### Summary
Κανᾶ (Kanâ, `{{G2580}}`) is a specific Galilean town, primarily significant in the Gospel of John as the site of Jesus' first two miraculous "signs." At a wedding feast in Cana, Jesus turned water into wine, thereby "manifesting his glory" and prompting his disciples' belief ([[John 2:1-11]]). Later, while in Cana, Jesus healed the royal official's son from a distance, again leading to faith ([[John 4:46-54]]). The disciple Nathanael is also identified as being "from Cana in Galilee" ([[John 21:2]]). Theologically, Cana marks the inauguration of Jesus' public ministry and the initial revelation of his divine nature through powerful signs. It symbolizes the transformative power and abundant grace of the new covenant, superseding the old, and serves as a pivotal location where Jesus' works elicited faith from both his close followers and those seeking his aid.
TRV