Matthew 15 29

Matthew 15:29 kjv

And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

Matthew 15:29 nkjv

Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there.

Matthew 15:29 niv

Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down.

Matthew 15:29 esv

Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there.

Matthew 15:29 nlt

Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee and climbed a hill and sat down.

Matthew 15 verses

Matthew 15 29 Meaning

Matthew 15:29 describes a geographical and postural shift in Jesus' ministry. After engaging with Gentile territory (Tyre and Sidon) and the Syrophoenician woman, Jesus returns to a familiar region in Galilee. He travels to the Sea of Galilee, ascends a mountain, and sits down, setting the stage for significant events that follow, notably the large gathering of people, a wave of healings, and the miraculous feeding of the four thousand. This verse signals a new phase or locale for His authoritative teaching and healing ministry among the Jewish people, establishing a prominent base for His work.

Matthew 15 29 Context

This verse serves as a crucial transition in Matthew's narrative. Immediately preceding it (Mt 15:21-28), Jesus had ministered briefly outside Jewish territory in the region of Tyre and Sidon, where He encountered and commended the faith of the Syrophoenician woman. This Gentile interaction challenged traditional Jewish views of inclusion. Upon departing from "there" (which refers back to that Gentile region), Jesus purposefully returns to a well-known area of His primary ministry: the Sea of Galilee. His ascent onto a mountain and subsequent sitting posture signals a return to a more established ministry setting among large Jewish crowds. This return to a "familiar" or "home" region after a significant, atypical venture highlights Jesus' dedication to both His immediate mission to Israel and the eventual expansion of His kingdom. The subsequent verses (Mt 15:30-38) confirm that this new location by the mountain became a hub for immense healing and teaching, culminating in the miraculous feeding of four thousand people—another echo of His divine power and provision, reminiscent of the earlier feeding of five thousand, but now directed toward a potentially different (or even partially Gentile, or more diverse) crowd, showing that God's compassion extends to all. Historically, sitting was the traditional posture of a rabbi or teacher giving instruction. Mountains often symbolized places of spiritual significance, revelation, or proximity to God, providing a suitable backdrop for divine encounters or authoritative pronouncements.

Matthew 15 29 Word analysis

• And passing on from there (κἀκεῖθεν μεταβὰς - kakeithen metabas):

  • κἀκεῖθεν (kakeithen): A compound of kai (and) + ekeithen (from there). It signifies a movement away from the previously mentioned location, which was the region of Tyre and Sidon (Mt 15:21). This underscores a purposeful departure from Gentile territory back to His primary area of ministry among the Jewish people.
  • μεταβὰς (metabas): A participle from the verb metabainō, meaning "to go from one place to another," "to change place," "to pass over/away." It implies a decisive relocation.

• Jesus went (ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς - ēlthen Iēsous):

  • ἦλθεν (ēlthen): A simple aorist tense of erchomai (to come, to go). It's a direct statement of His arrival at the next destination.
  • Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous): The Greek form of the Hebrew "Yeshua" (Joshua), meaning "The Lord saves" or "God is salvation." The focus remains entirely on Him as the central figure.

• beside the Sea of Galilee (παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν τῆς Γαλιλαίας - para tēn thalassan tēs Galilaias):

  • παρὰ (para): A preposition meaning "beside," "near," "alongside." It indicates His proximity to the body of water.
  • τὴν θάλασσαν τῆς Γαλιλαίας (tēn thalassan tēs Galilaias): "The sea of Galilee." This was the central hub of Jesus' Galilean ministry, where many miracles occurred, and many disciples were called. It was also known as the Lake of Gennesaret or Lake Tiberias. Its proximity implies a readiness to interact with the common people who resided there.

• and having gone up on the mountain (ἀναβὰς εἰς τὸ ὄρος - anabas eis to oros):

  • ἀναβὰς (anabas): A participle from anabainō, meaning "to go up," "to ascend." This ascent is a deliberate act.
  • εἰς τὸ ὄρος (eis to oros): "To the mountain." The definite article "the" (τὸ) might suggest a specific, well-known mountain in the region, or simply that Jesus chose a prominent elevation as distinct from the shoreline. Mountains in biblical narrative often serve as places of divine revelation (Sinai, Elijah's encounters), prayer (Jesus in Gethsemane), authoritative teaching (Sermon on the Mount), or miraculous power (Transfiguration). This choice of setting elevates the coming events to a spiritual plane.

• He sat down there (ἐκάθητο ἐκεῖ - ekathēto ekei):

  • ἐκάθητο (ekathēto): Imperfect tense of kathēmai (to sit, to be seated). The imperfect tense suggests a continued action or a settled state, indicating He established Himself there for a period, ready to teach or receive. In rabbinic tradition, sitting was the customary posture for a teacher or a judge exercising authority. It implies a sense of rest, authority, and preparation for interaction with those who would come.
  • ἐκεῖ (ekei): "There." This refers directly to the location He had just ascended—the mountain.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Passing on from there, Jesus went...": Highlights Jesus' purposeful movement. He doesn't wander but strategically shifts His ministry focus and location. It signifies a transition from one phase or audience to another, maintaining control over His itinerary.
  • "beside the Sea of Galilee, and having gone up on the mountain...": Details the specific location. The juxtaposition of "sea" and "mountain" implies both accessibility to crowds by the water and a spiritual elevation from the mountain. It brings together the ordinary realm of people and the sacred realm of divine activity. This particular pairing often serves as a setting for mass gatherings, teaching, and miracles in Matthew's Gospel.
  • "He sat down there": This simple act carries deep significance. It denotes rest, authority, and readiness for interaction, particularly teaching. It also implies a certain level of permanence, signaling this would be a temporary base for His operations.

Matthew 15 29 Bonus section

• Anticipation of Exodus Motif: Jesus going up on a mountain can subtly echo Moses ascending Sinai to receive the Law and mediate God's will to the people. While Jesus' ministry transcends and fulfills the Old Covenant, the motif of a divine leader interacting with the masses from an elevated place holds symbolic resonance.
• Balance of Ministry: The verse implicitly highlights the balance in Jesus' ministry—from ministering to a lone Gentile woman (Mt 15:21-28) to returning to large Jewish crowds. This cyclical movement emphasizes the inclusiveness of His mission, both to the lost sheep of Israel and, foreshadowingly, to the wider world.
• The 'Mountain' vs. 'The Hill': In Greek, oros (mountain) generally denotes a more significant elevation than bounos (hill). The choice of oros further emphasizes the weighty nature of the events set to unfold from this location.

Matthew 15 29 Commentary

Matthew 15:29 is a succinct verse that, while seemingly just a geographical report, is packed with narrative and theological significance. It functions as a bridge, smoothly transitioning Jesus from His brief yet profound encounter with Gentile faith in the region of Tyre and Sidon back to the heartland of His Jewish ministry by the Sea of Galilee. This movement signifies a re-establishment of His presence among "His own," reinforcing Matthew's portrayal of Jesus as the Messiah of Israel, even as He occasionally extends His reach beyond its traditional boundaries.

The specific locations are chosen deliberately: the Sea of Galilee, a wellspring of His initial Galilean ministry, symbolizes the place where His primary mission to Israel took root, where He called disciples and performed countless wonders for the Jewish populace. The ascent "on the mountain" evokes profound biblical imagery. Mountains are repeatedly depicted as sites of divine revelation (Mount Sinai for Moses), intensive prayer (Jesus often went to mountains to pray), authoritative teaching (Sermon on the Mount), and miraculous power (Transfiguration). By sitting down on the mountain, Jesus adopts the posture of a rabbi, a teacher with inherent authority and a calm readiness to impart wisdom and ministry. This posture suggests He is accessible yet elevated, preparing to minister comprehensively.

This setup anticipates the deluge of sick and afflicted people described in the very next verses (Mt 15:30-31), whom Jesus heals comprehensively, leading into the miracle of feeding the four thousand. Thus, verse 29 isn't just a travel log; it’s a theological marker. It demonstrates Jesus' purposeful itinerary, His return to minister to His people, and His establishment of a base of operations on a biblically symbolic elevation for a period of intense teaching and healing ministry. It reaffirms His dual role as a compassionate Healer and an authoritative Teacher.