Galilean
/ˌɡælɪˈliːən/noun
A person or thing from Galilee, a historical region in northern Israel.
Did you know?In the New Testament, “Galilean” could identify Jesus and his followers geographically, while also marking them as outsiders to Judean religious and political elites.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Hebrew
Hebrew
הַגָּלִיל (ha-Galil)
“The district, region, or circuit; the name of the northern region later called Galilee.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Γαλιλαία (Galilaia)
“Galilee, the northern region of ancient Palestine.”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Greek
Γαλιλαῖος (Galilaios)
“A Galilean; a person from Galilee.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
Galilaeus
“A Galilean or something associated with Galilee.”
Old English–Middle English
English
Galilean
“A person from Galilee, especially in biblical or Christian writing.”
Modern English
English
Galilean
“Relating to Galilee or its inhabitants; also, a person from Galilee.”