Note 1 at Mt. 15:39: The town of Magdala was located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee about three miles north of Tiberias and situated on the southern edge of the land of Gennesaret (see note 1 at Mt. 14:34, p. 181). It was also known by the name "Dalmanutha" (Mk. 8:10). A Greek name of the same town (although not mentioned in scripture) was Taricheae from "taricheuein" meaning to preserve or to smoke fish which may have been an occupation of some residents.

Mary Magdalene probably received her name from Magdala and most likely lived there at one point since the word "Magdalene" means "an inhabitant of Magdala" (see Lk. 8:2). The word "Magdala" is derived from the Chaldean word "Migdol" or "migdalah" meaning "a tower" which may refer to the mountains just south of Magdala which rise impressively from the plain of Gennesaret to "tower" over Magdala.