Matthew 4 13

Matthew 4:13 kjv

And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

Matthew 4:13 nkjv

And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,

Matthew 4:13 niv

Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali?

Matthew 4:13 esv

And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,

Matthew 4:13 nlt

He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.

Matthew 4 verses

Matthew 4 13 Meaning

Matthew 4:13 details Jesus' move from Nazareth to Capernaum, a strategic city on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, situated within the historical tribal lands of Zebulun and Naphtali. This relocation marked a pivotal point in His early public ministry, establishing Capernaum as His primary base of operations and signifying the immediate fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy regarding the "Galilee of the Gentiles" receiving the light of the Messiah.

Matthew 4 13 Context

Matthew Chapter 4 opens with Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, immediately following His baptism by John the Baptist. Upon hearing of John's arrest (Mt 4:12), Jesus withdraws from Judea into Galilee. This strategic move marks a transition from John's preparatory ministry to Jesus' own burgeoning public ministry. Verse 13 specifically pinpoints the geographical starting point and establishes Capernaum as Jesus' initial and enduring base of operations for His Galilean ministry. This relocation is not merely geographic but profoundly theological, setting the stage for the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy from Isaiah 9 concerning the "light" appearing in "Galilee of the Gentiles." It follows the rejection Jesus implicitly faced in His hometown of Nazareth, more fully narrated in Luke 4, which provides a significant backdrop for His decision to make Capernaum His new home.

Matthew 4 13 Word analysis

• And leaving Nazareth (Καὶ καταλιπὼν Ναζαρέτ - Kai katalipōn Nazaret):

  • "And leaving" (Καὶ καταλιπὼν - Kai katalipōn): The Greek verb katalipō means "to leave behind, abandon, forsake." This indicates a decisive and deliberate departure from Nazareth as His settled abode, rather than a mere visit away. It underscores a strategic move following His formal anointing at baptism and John's arrest.
  • "Nazareth" (Ναζαρέτ - Nazaret): This was Jesus' hometown where He was raised (Lk 2:51, 4:16). While foundational to His upbringing, Nazareth's ultimate rejection of His ministry, described in Luke 4, serves as a backdrop to this definitive move to a new center for His mission. It illustrates the prophetic truth that "a prophet is not without honor except in his hometown" (Mt 13:57).

• he came and dwelt (ἦλθεν καὶ κατῴκησεν - ēlthen kai katōkēsen):

  • "he came" (ἦλθεν - ēlthen): A straightforward Greek verb indicating a physical arrival.
  • "and dwelt" (καὶ κατῴκησεν - kai katōkēsen): From katoikeō, meaning "to settle down, reside, inhabit, make one's home." This emphasizes that Capernaum became His primary base of operations, His ministry "headquarters," rather than just a place He passed through. This detail highlights His strategic choice of Capernaum for focused and sustained ministry. Mark 2:1 confirms Capernaum was considered His "home" (en oiko).

• in Capernaum (εἰς Καπερναούμ - eis Kapharnaoum):

  • "Capernaum" (Καπερναούμ - Kapharnaoum): A prominent fishing village and a bustling Roman customs station on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. The name might mean "village of Nahum" (כְּפַר נָחוּם). Its strategic location on a major trade route (the Via Maris) made it an ideal center for reaching diverse populations, including Jews and Gentiles. It provided immediate access to Galilee, Decapolis, and other surrounding regions.

• which is upon the sea coast (τὴν παραθαλασσίαν - tēn parathalassian):

  • "sea coast" (παραθαλασσίαν - parathalassian): Specifically refers to the western shore of the Sea of Galilee (also known as Lake Gennesaret or Sea of Tiberias). This placement provided crucial accessibility for travel by boat to numerous towns around the lake, facilitating wider outreach. The lake itself was a vital resource for the fishing industry, attracting people and trade, thereby enhancing Capernaum's suitability as a ministry base.

• in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim (ἐν ὁρίοις Ζαβουλὼν καὶ Νεφθαλίμ - en horiois Zaboulōn kai Nephthaleim):

  • "in the borders of" (ἐν ὁρίοις - en horiois): This signifies the geographical location within the ancient tribal territories. Though political administration had changed by Jesus' time, Matthew intentionally uses these historic names to underscore the prophetic significance of the location.
  • "Zabulon" (Ζαβουλὼν - Zaboulōn) and "Nephthalim" (Νεφθαλίμ - Nephthaleim): These were two of the northern Israelite tribal territories. This region was historically vulnerable to foreign invasions and often had a mixed population, earning it the designation "Galilee of the Gentiles" (Γαλιλαία τῶν ἐθνῶν). Matthew's explicit mention of these tribes directly connects Jesus' move to the fulfillment of Isaiah 9:1-2, where the light of the Messiah would dawn on these seemingly peripheral, dark, and culturally diverse lands. This highlights God's universal plan of salvation, extending beyond the traditionally central regions of Judea.

Matthew 4 13 Bonus section

• The prophetic fulfillment highlighted in Matthew 4:13 underscores a major theme in Matthew's Gospel: Jesus is the Messiah, meticulously fulfilling Old Testament scriptures in His life and ministry, even down to the very place He chooses to reside.
• The strategic importance of Capernaum for Jesus' ministry cannot be overstated. As a crossroads for commerce and people, it offered immediate access to large, diverse audiences, which allowed for the widespread dissemination of His message through both land and sea routes around the lake.
• Capernaum ultimately bears witness to a significant part of Jesus' miracles and teachings (e.g., healing Peter's mother-in-law, casting out demons, healing the paralytic, calling Matthew, and much of the teaching in John 6). Despite receiving such a wealth of divine manifestation, Jesus later pronounced a woe upon Capernaum for its unbelief and failure to repent (Mt 11:23-24), serving as a sober reminder of accountability in the face of spiritual light.

Matthew 4 13 Commentary

Matthew 4:13 succinctly describes Jesus' strategic relocation to Capernaum, marking the true inception of His Galilean ministry from a settled base. This decision was pivotal. After facing rejection in His hometown of Nazareth, Jesus chose a thriving, diverse crossroads town on the Sea of Galilee. The text emphasizes Capernaum's placement "in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim" to immediately highlight the fulfillment of Isaiah's ancient prophecy. This prophecy foretold that light would shine on these very regions, historically associated with darkness, marginalization, and a mixture of Jewish and Gentile populations. Jesus' presence in Capernaum thus signaled that His ministry of light and salvation was intended not only for the religiously observant in the Jewish heartland but precisely for those considered on the fringes, the "Galilee of the Gentiles," thereby expanding the scope of God's redemptive work. Capernaum became the "home" from which His transformative message and mighty works emanated across the region.