Matthew 8 14

Matthew 8:14 kjv

And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

Matthew 8:14 nkjv

Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever.

Matthew 8:14 niv

When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever.

Matthew 8:14 esv

And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever.

Matthew 8:14 nlt

When Jesus arrived at Peter's house, Peter's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever.

Matthew 8 verses

Matthew 8 14 Meaning

Matthew 8:14 describes Jesus' arrival at Peter's home and His immediate observation of Peter's mother-in-law afflicted by a fever and bedridden. This concise verse sets the stage for a private healing miracle, demonstrating Jesus' power over sickness and revealing Peter's marital status. It also underscores Jesus' personal engagement with His disciples and their families.

Matthew 8 14 Context

This verse is situated early in Matthew's narrative of Jesus' ministry, following the Sermon on the Mount and a series of powerful demonstrations of His authority. Chapter 8 opens with Jesus healing a leper (Mt 8:1-4), followed by the miraculous healing of the Centurion's servant at a distance (Mt 8:5-13), showcasing His power over disease and His universal authority. Immediately after the public display in Capernaum with the centurion, Jesus transitions to a private setting – Peter's house. This sequence highlights Jesus' readiness to heal wherever there is need, whether publicly or privately, and illustrates the accessibility of His power beyond typical public ministries. The subsequent verses in Matthew 8 detail more healings and His authority over natural forces and demons, setting a theme of Jesus as the all-powerful Messiah.

Historically, Capernaum was a thriving fishing village on the Sea of Galilee, a base for Jesus' ministry. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen living there. First-century homes were typically simple, multi-generational dwellings where family members resided together. Fevers were common and dangerous, often leading to death, and there were no effective cures, making Jesus' immediate healing all the more significant.

Matthew 8 14 Word analysis

• And (Καί - Kai): A conjunction, signifies a natural continuation from the previous event, the healing of the centurion's servant. It smoothly transitions the scene from public ministry to private intimacy.
• when Jesus (τοῦ Ἰησοῦ - tou Iesou): "Jesus" (Ἰησοῦς - Iēsous) meaning "Yahweh saves." The genitive construction here implies that upon Jesus' coming, the event unfolds, focusing the action on Him as the central figure.
• was come (ἐλθόντος - elthontos): An aorist participle indicating a completed action – He had arrived or entered. It conveys the directness and immediacy of His arrival.
• into (εἰς - eis): Preposition indicating movement "into" a place. It specifies the destination of Jesus' journey after His public ministry.
• Peter's (Πέτρου - Petrou): Genitive case of Peter, indicating possession. "Peter" (Πέτρος - Petros) means "rock." This confirms it was Simon Peter, a chief apostle, whose family residence Jesus entered.
• house (οἰκίαν - oikian): Refers to a dwelling, home. This detail is significant as it provides insight into the domestic lives of the disciples, highlighting Jesus' willingness to enter humble, ordinary settings.
• he saw (εἶδεν - eiden): Aorist active indicative of horao, "to see, perceive, behold." It signifies Jesus' direct observation, not merely being told. His seeing initiates the divine response.
• his (αὐτοῦ - autou): Possessive pronoun referring to Peter.
• wife's (γυναικός - guneekos): From gunē meaning "woman, wife." This directly confirms Peter was married. This point is historically significant given later ecclesiastical debates about clerical celibacy.
• mother (μητέρα - mētera): "Mother." The presence of his mother-in-law in Peter's home aligns with ancient Middle Eastern extended family living arrangements.
• laid (βεβλημένην - beblēmenēn): A perfect passive participle of ballo, meaning "to throw, cast." Here, it describes her state: "having been laid down," or "prostrate." It indicates she was bedridden, confined, and helpless due to her illness.
• and (καί - kai): Connective, linking her position with her condition.
• sick (πυρέσσουσαν - pyressousan): Present active participle of pyresso, meaning "to be feverish, to be on fire." Describes her active state of suffering.
• of a fever (πυρετῷ - pyreto): From pyretos, literally "burning heat." In dative case, specifies the cause of her sickness. Fever in the ancient world could be life-threatening and debilitating.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And when Jesus was come into Peter's house": This phrase marks a shift in scene from Jesus' public ministry (e.g., healing the Centurion's servant) to a private domestic setting. It signifies Jesus' personal connection with His disciples, entering their intimate space, showing accessibility and humility.
• "he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever": This detailed description reveals several key points: (1) Jesus' observant nature and compassion; (2) Peter's marital status, affirming that he was not celibate; (3) the severity of the mother-in-law's condition, indicated by her being "laid" (bedridden) and suffering from a debilitating "fever" – a common and serious ailment in that era without modern medicine. It sets up the immediate need for a miracle.

Matthew 8 14 Bonus section

This particular miracle of healing Peter's mother-in-law, occurring in a private domestic setting, beautifully illustrates that Jesus' healing power is not limited by location or the scale of the audience. He responds to specific, intimate needs just as readily as He performs public spectacles. The promptness of her subsequent service (as seen in Mt 8:15) after her complete healing emphasizes a pattern: encountering Jesus' grace leads to grateful, immediate service. This narrative, therefore, offers a practical model for how divine encounter transforms lives into living gratitude.

Matthew 8 14 Commentary

Matthew 8:14 presents a seemingly simple scene with profound theological and historical implications. Jesus, fresh from public ministry and astounding displays of power, demonstrates His humility by entering the private, humble dwelling of His disciple, Peter. This personal visit highlights Jesus' concern not only for the multitudes but also for the specific needs of individuals within His inner circle and their families.

The observation that Peter had a "wife's mother" directly implies Peter was married, a significant detail often referenced in discussions regarding apostolic celibacy within Christian traditions. It reveals the ordinary human reality of the apostles' lives.

Furthermore, the detailed description of her being "laid, and sick of a fever" immediately establishes the grave nature of her condition, setting the stage for a miraculous intervention. Fevers in the ancient world were often severe and sometimes fatal, making Jesus' impending effortless and immediate healing a powerful testament to His divine authority over all forms of illness, affirming Him as the bringer of God's Kingdom who triumphs over sickness and infirmity. This private act of compassion is just as revelatory of Jesus' nature and power as His grander, public miracles.