### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term Χοραζίν (Chorazín, `{{G5523}}`) refers exclusively to a specific geographical location, a town in ancient Galilee. Its derivation is noted as "uncertain," meaning its etymological roots or a deeper intrinsic meaning beyond its designation as a proper noun are not known. As a place name, its semantic range is limited to its identity as a physical locality. It is not a common noun describing an object, action, or concept, but rather a unique identifier for a particular settlement mentioned in the New Testament.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Chorazin is mentioned in the New Testament on two occasions, both within the context of Jesus' pronouncements of woe against unrepentant cities.
1. **[[Matthew 11:21]]**: "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes." Here, Chorazin is grouped with Bethsaida, another Galilean town, and contrasted sharply with the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon. The implication is that Chorazin had been a primary site for Jesus' miracles (δυνάμεις - dynameis, `{{G1411}}`), yet its inhabitants failed to respond with repentance (μετάνοια - metanoia, `{{G3341}}`). The severity of the woe indicates a greater culpability due to their privileged exposure to divine power and truth.
2. **[[Luke 10:13]]**: This verse is a near-identical parallel to [[Matthew 11:21]], reiterating the same condemnation. It appears within the context of Jesus sending out the seventy-two disciples, emphasizing the urgency and breadth of the message of the Kingdom, and the dire consequences for its rejection.
The consistent pairing of Chorazin with Bethsaida and their juxtaposition against Tyre and Sidon highlights a key theological principle: greater exposure to divine revelation brings greater accountability. Chorazin, having witnessed firsthand the transformative power of God through Christ, faced a more severe judgment than cities historically known for their paganism and wickedness, precisely because of its hardened heart in the face of such light.
### Related Words & Concepts
While Chorazin itself is a proper noun, its biblical context links it to several significant concepts and other place names:
* **Bethsaida (Βηθσαϊδά - Bethsaida, `{{G964}}`)**: Frequently paired with Chorazin in the woes, indicating a shared experience of Jesus' ministry and a similar response of unbelief.
* **Capernaum (Καπερναούμ - Kapharnaoum, `{{G2584}}`)**: Often mentioned alongside Chorazin and Bethsaida as part of the "evangelical triangle" where Jesus performed many miracles and established His base of operations. Capernaum also received a severe woe ([[Matthew 11:23]]).
* **Tyre (Τύρος - Tyros, `{{G5184}}`) and Sidon (Σιδών - Sidon, `{{G4745}}`)**: These ancient Phoenician cities serve as a comparative benchmark. Despite their historical reputation for idolatry and sin, Jesus suggests they would have repented if they had witnessed the same mighty works as Chorazin, underscoring Chorazin's greater guilt.
* **Repentance (μετάνοια - metanoia, `{{G3341}}`)**: The lack of repentance is the core reason for Chorazin's condemnation, emphasizing the essential human response required by God's grace.
* **Miracles/Mighty Works (δύναμις - dynamis, `{{G1411}}`)**: The very basis of Chorazin's heightened accountability, as these demonstrations of divine power were clearly visible to its inhabitants.
* **Divine Judgment/Woe (οὐαί - ouai, `{{G3759}}`)**: The form of Jesus' pronouncement, signifying a solemn declaration of impending doom and sorrow.
### Theological Significance
The condemnation of Chorazin holds profound theological significance, serving as a powerful object lesson within the New Testament.
1. **Accountability for Revelation**: Chorazin exemplifies the principle that greater light brings greater responsibility. Having been privileged to witness the very presence and power of the Messiah, its failure to repent rendered its spiritual blindness all the more egregious. This underscores God's righteous judgment, which is proportionate to the knowledge and opportunity given.
2. **The Severity of Unbelief**: The woes against Chorazin highlight the gravity of unbelief and impenitence in the face of divine truth. It is not merely a passive state but an active rejection that incurs severe consequences, even more so than the historical sins of pagan nations.
3. **Jesus' Sorrow Over Hardness of Heart**: Jesus' pronouncements, while condemnatory, also convey a profound sorrow over the spiritual blindness and resistance of those He sought to save. His lament over Chorazin and Bethsaida reflects His deep desire for all to come to repentance.
4. **A Warning for All Generations**: Chorazin stands as a perpetual warning to all who hear the Gospel. Proximity to spiritual truth, participation in religious activities, or even witnessing God's power are insufficient without genuine repentance and faith. The fate of Chorazin serves as a reminder that intellectual assent or mere observation without heart transformation leads to condemnation.
### Summary
Chorazin (Χοραζίν, `{{G5523}}`) is a Galilean town, a proper noun of uncertain etymology, known primarily from two New Testament occurrences in [[Matthew 11:21]] and [[Luke 10:13]]. It is consistently mentioned alongside Bethsaida as a city that received extensive exposure to Jesus' mighty works but failed to repent. This spiritual recalcitrance led to Jesus' pronouncement of severe woe, indicating that its judgment would be more intense than even that of notoriously wicked cities like Tyre and Sidon, precisely because of its greater privilege and subsequent greater guilt. Theologically, Chorazin serves as a stark biblical example of the principle that increased divine revelation brings increased accountability, underscoring the gravity of unbelief and the necessity of genuine repentance in the face of God's grace.
TRV