Matthew 4 16

Matthew 4:16 kjv

The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Matthew 4:16 nkjv

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned."

Matthew 4:16 niv

the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."

Matthew 4:16 esv

the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned."

Matthew 4:16 nlt

the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light.
And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow,
a light has shined."

Matthew 4 verses

Matthew 4 16 Meaning

Matthew 4:16 describes the transformative impact of Jesus's arrival and ministry, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah concerning those living in spiritual ignorance and despair. It proclaims that the long-awaited divine light—symbolized by Jesus, the Messiah—has appeared to people dwelling in conditions akin to darkness and death. This "great light" illuminates their spiritual state, bringing understanding, hope, and deliverance from their former state of lostness. The verse specifically points to the region of Galilee, often considered religiously obscure and populated by Gentiles, as the initial recipient of this illuminating presence.

Matthew 4 16 Context

Matthew 4:16 concludes a significant transition in Jesus's earthly ministry. Immediately preceding this verse, Jesus has left Nazareth, His hometown, and taken up residence in Capernaum, a fishing town located on the Sea of Galilee, within the ancient region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This relocation is deliberately presented by Matthew as the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 9:1-2. Historically, this area, known as "Galilee of the Gentiles," was geographically and culturally diverse, having been a crossroads of nations and often seen by more "pure" Jews as somewhat mixed or even spiritually dim. It was considered the outskirts, a marginalized land in comparison to Jerusalem and Judea. By starting His ministry there, Jesus's arrival brought light precisely to a place expected by prophecy, a place previously overlooked, signaling that the Messiah's redemptive work would extend beyond traditional Jewish boundaries to encompass all peoples. This setup perfectly prefaces the start of Jesus's public ministry, including the calling of His first disciples and the subsequent Sermon on the Mount, demonstrating the "light" through His teaching and miraculous deeds.

Matthew 4 16 Word analysis

• The people dwelling in darkness (Ὁ λαὸς ὁ καθήμενος ἐν σκοτίᾳ - Ho laos ho kathēmenos en skotia):
  • People (λαὸς - laos): In a broad sense, it refers to inhabitants of the region. However, in the Old Testament prophetic context (e.g., Isa 9), "people" can often include Gentiles or those outside the spiritual center, emphasizing that Jesus's light is for all, not just a select group.
  • Dwelling/Sitting (καθήμενος - kathēmenos): Conveys a settled state, a prolonged condition of being immersed in or under darkness. It suggests not merely a transient encounter with darkness but an enduring residence within it, implying despair, ignorance, and spiritual inactivity.
  • Darkness (σκοτίᾳ - skotia): This is a profound spiritual darkness, not merely lack of physical light. It signifies ignorance of God's truth, moral depravity, spiritual death, alienation from God, and hopelessness. It echoes the darkness over the primordial deep (Gen 1:2) and the condition of fallen humanity. It stands in direct contrast to God's nature (1 Jn 1:5) and Jesus's light (Jn 1:5).
• Have seen a great light (φῶς μέγα εἶδεν - phos mega eiden):
  • Have seen (εἶδεν - eiden): Past tense indicates a definitive event that has already taken place. It’s an accomplished reality; the light has appeared or shone for them. It suggests a spiritual awakening or recognition.
  • Great light (φῶς μέγα - phos mega): "Light" is a pervasive biblical metaphor for divine presence, revelation, truth, life, salvation, and joy. "Great" emphasizes its significance, power, and overwhelming nature. It refers directly to Jesus, His presence, teachings, and kingdom. It signifies the dawning of God's saving grace and truth into a previously benighted existence. This "great light" is the embodiment of God's revelation.
• And for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death (καὶ τοῖς ἐν χώρᾳ καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτου καθημένοις - kai tois en chōra kai skia thanatou kathēmenois):
  • Region (χώρα - chōra): A specific geographical area or country, reiterating the actual place (Galilee of the Gentiles) where this prophetic fulfillment occurs.
  • Shadow of death (σκιᾷ θανάτου - skia thanatou): This vivid Hebraism (from Hebrew tsalmavet) depicts profound danger, misery, and the very brink of destruction. It conveys not just spiritual darkness but conditions so severe they are akin to the grave itself. It means deadly gloom, utmost despair, and even spiritual death. This phrase encapsulates extreme hopelessness and the absence of life-giving truth, often used for imprisonment, grave danger, or spiritual condemnation (Ps 23:4; Job 10:21).
  • Dwelling (καθημένοις - kathēmenois): Reiterates the settled state of being engulfed by these severe conditions, parallel to "dwelling in darkness."
• On them a light has dawned. (φῶς ἀνέτειλεν αὐτοῖς - phos aneteilen autois):
  • Dawned/Risen (ἀνέτειλεν - aneteilen): Used for the rising of the sun (Mt 5:45). It signifies a sudden, unexpected, and powerful appearance, similar to the breaking of dawn after a long night. It highlights the divine initiative and the unstoppable nature of this illuminating event. This "dawning" suggests new beginnings and irreversible change.

• Words-Group analysis:
  • The people dwelling in darkness… and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death: These two parallel phrases intensely depict the desperate spiritual condition of humanity, especially those marginalized and spiritually neglected. It shows the extent of human spiritual bondage and the urgency of divine intervention. The double description underscores the utter lack of spiritual insight and hope.
  • Have seen a great light, and on them a light has dawned: This parallelism emphasizes the powerful and unmistakable manifestation of divine light—Jesus Christ. It denotes a radical change in circumstance, an abrupt transition from spiritual obscurity to clarity, from death's grip to the embrace of life and truth. The "great light" is a present reality for those who "see" or have it "dawned upon" them.

Matthew 4 16 Bonus section

This verse is often viewed as highlighting Jesus's focus on the marginalized and overlooked. Galilee, the chosen starting point for His public ministry, contrasts sharply with the religious establishment of Jerusalem, underscoring that God's redemptive light often breaks forth in unexpected places, reaching those traditionally considered least likely to receive it. It speaks to a divine pattern of condescension—God stooping down to those in deepest need. The imagery of light dawning signifies a transition from the old covenant's preparatory period to the full revelation of God in Christ, where the shadow of prophecy gives way to the substance of its fulfillment. The contrast between deep spiritual death and the sudden eruption of a "great light" encapsulates the radical nature of salvation and the divine initiative in overcoming the consequences of the fall.

Matthew 4 16 Commentary

Matthew 4:16 articulates the profound theological reality that with the advent of Jesus Christ, a new spiritual epoch began. It marks the arrival of the promised Messiah, not merely as a political figure, but as the source of ultimate truth and life. The verse portrays humanity, particularly those on the fringes ("Galilee of the Gentiles"), as immersed in profound spiritual "darkness" and under the oppressive "shadow of death"—terms denoting ignorance, moral decay, separation from God, and a life devoid of true meaning and hope. Jesus's appearance in this overlooked region is therefore a direct fulfillment of prophecy, establishing Him as the "great light" that breaks through the gloom. His ministry, marked by teaching, healing, and kingdom proclamation, begins to dispel this pervasive darkness, bringing hope, redemption, and life where spiritual desolation once reigned. This sets the stage for the rest of Matthew's Gospel, where Jesus continually manifests this light through His actions and words, inviting all to walk in it.