Maps Archives

About the Casual English Bible Maps..

Bible maps make the Bible clearer

The Casual English Bible® maps tell Bible stories in a captivating way that engages even people who have never read the Bible. Lavishly detailed maps only make the stories of Jesus and others more compelling and easier to picture and to understand.

These 3D-style maps of Bible lands are created from blended high resolution satellite images, matched to precise elevation data from international space agencies.

How to search for maps

—Type “Galilee” into the Casual English Bible’s map search engine, below. Instantly, you’ll see dozens of beautiful maps…many in 3D style. Each one tracks with a different Bible story. These aren’t generic maps with a hundred place names.
—Type “Samson” into the Bible map search engine. You’ll see the tiny village where he lived in the Judean foothills below Jerusalem.
—Type “Corinthians” and you’ll see a gallery full of maps associated with Paul’s letters of 1, 2 Corinthians, to the church in Corinth, Greece.

3D sense of the lay of the land

Get a feel for the lay of the land:

—Ararat Mountains, where Noah’s boat ran aground. The Bible doesn’t say it was Mount Ararat.
—Judean hills where Joshua and the Israelites found most of their battles for the Promised Land. They avoided the plains, where their enemies with armored chariots had the advantage over Israel’s foot soldiers.
—Jesus’ 20-mile climb from Jericho and the Jordan River Valley upward half a mile high, to the crest of the Mount of Olives, overlooking Jerusalem.
—One surprise for some readers is the Jesus Triangle, a plug of ground between three cities. It’s where Jesus spent most of his ministry time. A person can walk that entire triangle in a single day. Type “Jesus triangle” to see it.

Sea of Galilee

Bible Book: John Type: Maps Location: Bethsaida, Capernaum, Chorazin, Gennesaret, Gergesa, Israel, Magdala, Mount Hermon, Mount of Beatitudes, Sea of Galilee, Tiberias Era: Back from exile, Church, Letters, Jesus

Sea of Galilee

It's a lake

The Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Kinneret (Hebrew for "harp"), is a harp-shaped freshwater lake in the northern region of modern-day Israel. It's a beauty, surrounded by lush hills and dotted with ancient fishing villages. But this lake isn't just famous for its natural beauty; it plays a pivotal role in several Bible stories.

Geography lesson

The Sea of Galilee stretches about 13 miles (21 kilometers) in length and 8 miles (13 kilometers) in width. At roughly 700 feet (213 meters) below sea level, it holds the distinction of being Earth's lowest freshwater lake. Fed by the mountains and the Jordan River in the north, this serene body of water is a vital resource for the region. It, in turns, empties into the southern part of the Jordan River that flows into the Dead Sea.

Miracles at the lake

Jesus spent a good chunk of his ministry around these shores, performing miracles like walking on water and calming storms. The sea served as a backdrop for some of his most profound teachings and miracles, including the miraculous feeding of the multitude with just a few loaves and fish.

Jesus calms a storm

In the Bible, one of the most famous stories takes place on the Sea of Galilee. In the Gospel of Mark 4:35-41, there's an account of Jesus and his disciples in a boat when a fierce storm arises. The waves were crashing, and the boat was nearly swamped. But Jesus, apparently unfazed, calms the tempest with just a few words. The disciples were amazed and wondered, “Who in the world is this man? He gives orders to the wind and the water, and they actually obey him” (verse 41).

Reason for sudden storms

As for the reason behind these sudden windstorms, the Casual English Bible reports that "cool sea breezes plunge down ravines into hot air baking in the cauldron of this shallow lake, the Sea of Galilee. They crash into the cliffs on the eastern lakefront, below the Golan Heights" (Matthew 8 map text). The Sea of Galilee isn't just a picturesque body of water; it's a place deeply intertwined with the life and teachings of Jesus, where nature itself played a role in illustrating his divine power and authority. AI generated, edited by Miller

Get a larger copy of this map and a license to use it in your presentation, book or website.

Map Galilee farmland

Map Galilee farmland

Bible Book: Matthew Type: Maps Location: Bethsaida, Cana, Chorazin, Galilee, Gennesaret, Gergesa, Ginnosar, Israel, Jesus Triangle, Jezreel Valley, Magdala, Mount of Beatitudes, Mount Tabor, Nain, Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, Sepphoris, Tiberas Era: Jesus

Mapping Galilee farmland

When Jesus traveled around Galilee teaching and healing people, he was moving among farmers and fishermen.

In his day, the Galilean region was a renowned agricultural hub. Crops such as wheat, barley, olives, and grapes thrived in the rich soil. Farmers skilled in irrigation farming built terraces on slopes to curb soil erosion. Some irrigated their farms with spring water, even if they had to haul it by hand.

Ancient historian's view of Galilee farming

Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, wrote extensively about the Galilean region during his time. In his work, "The Jewish War," he described the Galilean region as fertile and productive, well suited for agriculture due to its topography and climate.

Josephus also highlighted the skilled farmers' techniques in Galilee. He described the daily life of Galilean farmers, highlighting their hard work and dedication. Josephus said they start their work early in the morning and continue until sunset, working to ensure their crops thrived.

He said the Galilean region was a beautiful and productive area for agriculture.

Farming Galilee today

Galilee, now a part of modern-day Israel, remains a vital agricultural hub, primarily for fruits and vegetables that are grown and exported around the world. many farmers here have harnessed advancements in technology to transform the agricultural sector with computerized irrigation systems, greenhouses, and modern tools such as tractors and harvesting machines that have improved farming efficiency and yields.

Green farming

Despite the significant strides in technology, the essence of using natural inputs in farming remains vital in Galilee today, just as it was in biblical times. The producers use integrated pest management techniques to ensure that their crops thrive while protecting the environment. Organic farming methods are also prevalent among small-scale farmers who sell their produce in local farmer markets.

Written by AI Chat

Edited by Miller

Spiritual harvest

35Jesus went into cities and villages all over the area. He taught in synagogues. He preached the good news about the Kingdom of Heaven. He healed everyone brought to him. It didn’t matter what kind of illness or disease they had. 36He felt for the people. He could see they were facing a lot of troubles and they had no idea where to turn for help. They were like lost sheep without a shepherd. 37He told his disciples, “There’s a huge crop out there ready to harvest. But we don’t have enough workers. 38Ask the Boss in charge of the harvest to send more workers out into the field.”

Matthew 9:35-38

For more about life in Jesus's day, from Stephen M. Miller:

The Jesus of the Bible

Complete Guide to the Bible

Galilee farmland

Get a larger copy of this map and a license to use it in your presentation, book or website.