Nain
“Green pastures, or possibly gracefulness”
Summary
Nain was a town in Galilee where Jesus raised a widow's son from the dead, demonstrating His power over death and His compassion for the bereaved.
☩Location
Nain was situated on a bleak, rocky slope on the northern declivity of Jebel ed-Duhy, the hill known in Scripture as 'Hill Moreh' and to modern travelers as 'Little Hermon.' The town stood directly facing Mount Tabor, from which it was about four miles distant, and two and a half miles southwest of Endor. It was approximately a day's journey from Capernaum. Despite its bleak situation, the site commanded a beautiful and extensive view across the plain of Esdraelon to Carmel, over the Nazareth hills, and away past Tabor to where the snow-capped summits of Hermon and Lebanon appear.
☩The Miracle at the Gate
Nain is mentioned only once in Scripture, in connection with Jesus raising the widow's son from the dead. The miracle was wrought near the gate of the city, in the presence of much people. The town was never enclosed by a wall, and the 'gate' was probably the opening between the houses by which the road entered the town. The most interesting antiquities at the site are tombs hewn in the rock a short distance east of the village; it was in this direction that Jesus approached, and probably to one of these very tombs they were bearing the corpse when He met and arrested the mournful procession.
Related Verses1 mention
Luke· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Nain," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VI (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Nain," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 3.James Orr (ed.), "Nain," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).