Matthew 9:1 kjv

And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

Matthew 9:1 nkjv

So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.

Matthew 9:1 niv

Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town.

Matthew 9:1 esv

And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.

Matthew 9:1 nlt

Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town.

Matthew 9 verses

Matthew 9 1 Meaning

Matthew 9:1 marks a transition point in Jesus' ministry, bringing Him back to His central base of operations after encountering resistance in the Gerasene region. It sets the immediate geographical scene for a significant demonstration of His divine authority: the healing of a paralytic and the declaration of forgiveness of sins, actions that profoundly challenged the religious establishment of His day. The verse signifies Jesus' continued and intentional movement in His ministry, highlighting His authority over both natural elements and geographical location, as He confidently returned to what was effectively His "home city."

Matthew 9 1 Context

Matthew chapter 9 opens a new section of Jesus' ministry, emphasizing His authority over sickness, sin, and even death. It immediately follows chapter 8, where Jesus demonstrated His power over various natural and spiritual forces: calming the storm at sea, casting out demons in the Gadarene country, and healing a leper, a centurion's servant, and Peter's mother-in-law. Having crossed to the Gentile side of the Sea of Galilee (Gadara), He now returns to Capernaum, a predominantly Jewish city. This quick return sets the stage for direct confrontation with Jewish religious leaders regarding His power to forgive sins, a power traditionally reserved for God alone. Historically, Capernaum was a thriving fishing and customs town on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, strategically important for trade, and therefore an ideal base for Jesus' public ministry in Galilee.

Matthew 9 1 Word analysis

• And: Greek "Kai" (καί). Functions as a conjunction, connecting this event to the preceding narrative in Mt 8. It signifies a continuous, intentional action by Jesus, not a random occurrence.
• he entered: Greek "Embas" (ἐμβὰς - participle from ἐμβαίνω embaino). Meaning "having stepped in," "embarked." It refers to His action of getting into the ship.
• into a ship: Greek "eis ploion" (εἰς πλοῖον). "Ploion" (πλοῖον) refers to a boat or small ship. These were common for transport and fishing on the Sea of Galilee. It highlights the mode of transport necessary for crossing the large lake.
• and passed over: Greek "diaperasas" (διαπεράσας - participle from διαπεράω diaperao). Meaning "having crossed through," "passed across." This implies the completion of a journey across the water. It echoes the return from the Gerasene region as mentioned in the parallel accounts (Mk 5:21; Lk 8:40), setting the scene for a return to His primary area of ministry.
• and came: Greek "elthen" (ἦλθεν - Aorist active indicative of ἔρχομαι erchomai). Simple past tense, "He came." Signifies His arrival at a specific destination.
• into his own city: Greek "eis ten idian polin" (εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν πόλιν).
  • his own: Greek "idian" (ἰδίαν). This possessive adjective emphasizes a special relationship or belonging. It is a key phrase as Jesus did not own property there, nor was it His birthplace (that was Bethlehem). Instead, "His own city" refers to Capernaum, where He primarily resided during His Galilean ministry (as mentioned in Mt 4:13) and where His primary support structure resided (e.g., Peter and Andrew, James and John). This phrase underlines Capernaum as His chosen ministerial headquarters and home base.
  • city: Greek "polin" (πόλιν). A populated place, town, or city.
• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • And he entered into a ship: This simple phrase depicts Jesus taking initiative, purposefully engaging the necessary means of transport to move from one geographical area to another. It underscores His practical approach to ministry and travel.
  • and passed over: Implies a journey completed across the Sea of Galilee, signifying His transit from the Gentile territory (Gerasene/Gadarenes) back to the Jewish region. It signals a shift in immediate focus of His ministry and target audience.
  • and came into his own city: This culminating phrase defines His destination and reinforces the strategic importance of Capernaum for Jesus' mission. His choice of "his own city" as the point of return signifies a deliberate and authoritative action to continue His work in a place He had effectively made His home, implying both a degree of familiarity and a central base for His operations. It sets the immediate scene for His subsequent teaching and miracle working.

Matthew 9 1 Bonus section

The phrase "his own city" for Capernaum is distinctive to Matthew (though implicitly supported by Mark and Luke describing Jesus' return to Capernaum after the Gadarene incident). It emphasizes Jesus' settled presence there. Despite Nazareth being His hometown (where He grew up), Capernaum served as His active ministry headquarters from early in His public life (Mt 4:13). This "own city" would soon become the locus of severe woes due to its eventual rejection of His message, as seen in Jesus' condemnation of Capernaum in Matthew 11:23-24, despite the great works performed there. The deliberate journey across the Sea and direct return signifies Jesus' continuous and targeted ministry, always moving according to the divine plan, often towards places where His light and power were most needed.

Matthew 9 1 Commentary

Matthew 9:1 functions as a crucial scene-setter, seamlessly linking Jesus' powerful demonstrations from the previous chapter to the new wave of His ministry. After the dramatic encounters with storms and demons across the Sea of Galilee, Jesus does not linger in foreign territory but purposefully returns to Capernaum. This swift and deliberate return to "His own city" underscores Capernaum's pivotal role as His chosen headquarters in Galilee, a place where He was familiar and accessible, yet also a stage where His authority would be increasingly challenged. The ease with which He travels and establishes His base implies a sovereignty not only over nature (as seen in chapter 8) but also over location and circumstance. This return sets the stage for Jesus to resume His core mission of proclaiming the Kingdom and validating it with miraculous deeds, particularly the revolutionary act of forgiving sins, an act that would escalate conflict with the religious leaders who viewed such power as blasphemous when exercised by a man.