Matthew 4 15

Matthew 4:15 kjv

The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

Matthew 4:15 nkjv

"The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:

Matthew 4:15 niv

"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles?

Matthew 4:15 esv

"The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles ?

Matthew 4:15 nlt

"In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali,
beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River,
in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,

Matthew 4 verses

Matthew 4 15 Meaning

Matthew 4:15 serves as a direct quotation from Isaiah 9:1-2, establishing Jesus' ministry in Galilee as the fulfillment of ancient prophecy. It specifies the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, highlighting their geographical location on trade routes and across the Jordan, collectively known as "Galilee of the Gentiles." This verse declares that the Messiah, the true light, would begin His saving work in this marginalized, ethnically mixed, and often disparaged region, thereby bringing light and glory to a land previously cast into deep spiritual darkness.

Matthew 4 15 Context

Matthew 4:15 introduces the geographical setting of Jesus' early ministry. Following Jesus' temptation in the wilderness and the arrest of John the Baptist, Jesus withdrew from Judea and settled in Capernaum, a city in Galilee. This move was not arbitrary but a deliberate fulfillment of Isaiah's ancient prophecy. The context highlights that Jesus did not begin His public ministry in Jerusalem, the religious and political center of Judaism, but in the often-overlooked, economically vibrant, yet religiously diverse and peripheral region of Galilee. This sets the stage for the universal reach of His gospel, starting in a place many devout Jews might have deemed impure due to its mixed population and strong Gentile influence. Historically, this northern region, encompassing the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, had been greatly afflicted by Assyrian invasions centuries earlier, experiencing profound desolation and an influx of foreign populations, hence its descriptor "Galilee of the Gentiles."

Matthew 4 15 Word analysis

• “The land of Zebulun” (Γῆ Ζαβουλών, Gē Zaboulōn): Refers to the territory settled by the tribe of Zebulun, a son of Jacob. This area was in the lower Galilee, south of the modern Sea of Galilee, a fertile region but vulnerable to foreign incursions due to its geographical position.
• “and the land of Naphtali” (καὶ γῆ Νεφθαλίμ, kai gē Nephthaleim): Indicates the land allotted to the tribe of Naphtali, north of Zebulun and extending towards the Sea of Galilee. Historically, these two tribes suffered heavily from the Assyrian invasion, leading to depopulation and a mixture of Israelite and non-Israelite populations.
• “by the way of the sea” (ὁδὸν θαλάσσης, hodon thalassēs): This specifically denotes the Via Maris, a critical ancient trade route connecting Egypt with Mesopotamia. It passed through the Jezreel Valley and along the Sea of Galilee, making the region a crossroads of diverse peoples and cultures, fostering a mix of pagan and Israelite inhabitants.
• “beyond the Jordan” (πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, peran tou Iordanou): Signifies the Transjordan region, east of the Jordan River. While part of ancient Israelite inheritance for some tribes (e.g., Reuben, Gad), it was often associated with and populated by numerous Gentile cities (like the Decapolis), further emphasizing the Gentile presence mentioned in the prophecy.
• “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Γαλιλαία τῶν ἐθνῶν, Galilaia tōn ethnōn):
  • Γαλιλαία (Galilaia): Derived from Hebrew galil, meaning "circle" or "district." It was the northernmost district of Israel. Its name likely implies its character as a region encircled or settled by diverse groups.
  • τῶν ἐθνῶν (tōn ethnōn): "of the Gentiles" or "of the nations." This term explicitly identifies the significant non-Jewish population and influence in the region. This phrase underlines that this prophecy about a coming light was specifically for a place widely considered marginalized, less "pure," and peripheral by the more exclusive Judean society.

Matthew 4 15 Bonus section

The mention of "Galilee of the Gentiles" is a significant literary and theological device in Matthew. It intentionally links Jesus’s mission not only to the Jewish people but also immediately extends it to the non-Jewish world, underscoring the universal aspect of the Kingdom of God right from the outset of Jesus’s public ministry. This anticipates the explicit commission to reach "all nations" in Matthew 28. It also subtly emphasizes that Jesus is indeed the Lord who cares for the despised and overlooked, choosing a place known for its obscurity to manifest His glorious light. This fulfills Isaiah's promise that despite profound humiliation and spiritual darkness, these regions would see great glory through the Messiah.

Matthew 4 15 Commentary

Matthew 4:15 establishes a profound theological point: God's salvation, personified in Jesus Christ, begins not in the esteemed center of Jerusalem but in the despised "Galilee of the Gentiles." This fulfills Isaiah's ancient lamentation (Isaiah 9:1-2) which promised a great light would dawn on a people walking in deep darkness – precisely those tribal lands that first experienced the crushing weight of Assyrian invasion and exile. The location signifies God's redemptive strategy to bring His light to the spiritually marginalized, the ethnically mixed, and those considered outside the privileged religious circle. It implicitly critiques the ethnocentric and exclusivist tendencies of some Jewish thought of the time, presenting a Messiah whose reach transcends ethnic and geographic boundaries from the very beginning of His ministry. This setting foreshadows the global scope of the Great Commission, where the good news is for "all nations," echoing God's covenant with Abraham.