City

Nain

NAY-in · Modern Nein, Israel

Nain is a city of the biblical world, known today as Nein, Israel.

What is known

Where Jesus raised a widow's only son from the dead as his funeral procession left the town (Luke 7:11-17)
One of the few Gospel miracles performed entirely on Jesus's own initiative, without a request from anyone

History

Founded: A small Galilean village on the northwest slope of Mount Moreh, existing by the 1st century AD
Population: Estimated 100–300 residents in the 1st century AD — a small unwalled agricultural hamlet
Coordinates: 32.6306° N, 35.3500° E

Archaeology

Archaeological evidence at Nein is limited: surveys have found pottery sherds from the Middle Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Hellenistic periods indicating long-term settlement, plus rock-cut tombs of probable Christian origin, but no excavated remains specifically tied to the 1st-century village have been uncovered, since the ancient site lies beneath the modern village. Crusaders identified Nein as biblical Nain and built a commemorative church, later rebuilt by the Franciscans in the 19th century.

The Franciscan Church of the Resurrection of the Widow's Son, Nein — source & licence

Scripture references

Luke 7:11-17 — Raising of the widow's son

On a modern map

Nain today

More places

Capstone Bible is a free interactive study app — a map of every place in this library, a zoomable timeline of biblical and church history, the Bible text with every name in it linked to its article, reading plans and personal notes.

Open Capstone Bible