Magdala
A place in the Bible
A town on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Mary Magdalene came from there, as her name tells us.
What happened here
- Mary Magdalene: the Bible calls her “Mary, called the Magdalene.” Jesus had driven seven demons out of her, and she traveled with him along with other women.
- The name: the Bible tells nothing about the town. “Magdalene” is understood as “the woman from Magdala.”
Today
It is identified with a place by the lake, in Israel, that kept the name: el-Mejdel.
Where it appears in the Bible
Luke 8:1-3
What the Bible says
Luke 8:1-3
1And it came to pass afterwards, that he travelled through the cities and towns, preaching and evangelizing the kingdom of God; and the twelve with him: 2And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities; Mary who is called Magdalen, out of whom seven devils were gone forth, 3And Joanna the wife of Chusa, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who ministered unto him of their substance.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: Luke 8:2; Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Magdala”