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Friday, June 13th, 2025
the Week of Proper 5 / Ordinary 10
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Good News Translation

Matthew 4:15

"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, on the road to the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee, land of the Gentiles!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Galilee;   Jesus, the Christ;   Prophecy;   Quotations and Allusions;   Zebulun;   Thompson Chain Reference - Tribe;   Zebulun;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Galilee;   Naphtali, the Tribe of;   Prophecies Respecting Christ;   Zebulun, the Tribe of;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Capernaum;   Naphtali;   Tempt;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Day of the lord;   Galilee;   Naphtali;   Quotations;   Zebulun;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Light;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hutchinsonians;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Capernaum;   Galilee;   Naphtali, Tribe of;   Quotations;   Zabulon;   Zebulun, Lot of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Capernaum;   Galilee;   Issachar;   Jesus Christ;   Matthew, the Gospel According to;   Old Testament;   Prophet;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Fulfill;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Nephthalim;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Law;   Mss;   Quotations;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Family (Jesus);   Gentiles (2);   Isaiah;   Joram;   Matthew, Gospel According to;   Naphtali ;   Poet;   Propitiation (2);   Quotations (2);   Sea of Galilee;   Septuagint;   Tribe ;   Zebedee ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Galilee ;   Naphtali ;   Zebulun ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Galilee;   Sceptre;   Ship;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Gilead;   Kingdom of christ of heaven;   Kingdom of god;   Kingdom of heaven;   Levi;   Naphtali;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Neph'thalim;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Capernaum;   Naphtali;   Zebulun;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Beyond;   Jesus Christ (Part 1 of 2);   Naphtali;   Peraea;   Priesthood;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,along the road by the sea, beyond the Jordan,Galilee of the Gentiles.
King James Version (1611)
The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthali, by the way of the Sea beyond Iordane, Galilee of the Gentiles:
King James Version
The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
English Standard Version
"The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
New American Standard Bible
"THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES—
New Century Version
"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali along the sea, beyond the Jordan River. This is Galilee where the non-Jewish people live.
Amplified Bible
"THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE [in the district] OF THE GENTILES—
Geneva Bible (1587)
The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim by the way of the sea, beyond Iordan, Galile of the Gentiles:
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES—
Legacy Standard Bible
"The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
Berean Standard Bible
"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-
Contemporary English Version
"Listen, lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, lands along the road to the sea and east of the Jordan! Listen Galilee, land of the Gentiles!
Complete Jewish Bible
"Land of Z'vulun and land of Naftali, toward the lake, beyond the Yarden, Galil-of-the-Goyim —
Darby Translation
Land of Zabulon and land of Nepthalim, way of [the] sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:
Easy-to-Read Version
"Listen, land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, lands by the road that goes to the sea, the area past the Jordan River— Galilee, where those from other nations live.
George Lamsa Translation
O land of Zabulon, O land of Napthali, the way to the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles!
Lexham English Bible
"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, toward the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
Literal Translation
"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:
American Standard Version
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
Bible in Basic English
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
Hebrew Names Version
"The land of Zevulun and the land of Naftali, Toward the sea, beyond the Yarden, Galil of the Goyim,
International Standard Version
"O Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,Isaiah 9:1-2;">[xr] on the road to the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles!
Etheridge Translation
The land of Zabolon, the land of Naptholi, the way of the sea beyond Jurdan, Galila of the peoples.
Murdock Translation
The land of Zebulon, the land of Naphthali, the way of the sea, the ford of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The lande of Zabulon, & Nephthalim, (by) the way of the sea beyonde Iordane, Galilee of the Gentiles.
English Revised Version
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Toward the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
World English Bible
"The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
by the way of the sea,
Weymouth's New Testament
"Zebulun's land and Naphtali's land; the road by the Lake; the country beyond the Jordan; Galilee of the Nations!
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The lond of Sabulon and the lond of Neptalym, the weie of the see ouer Jordan, of Galilee of hethen men,
Update Bible Version
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
Webster's Bible Translation
The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, [by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:
New English Translation
" Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
New King James Version
"The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:
New Living Translation
"In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,
New Life Bible
"The land of Zebulun and Naphtali is along the road to the lake. It is on the other side of the Jordan River in Galilee. These people are not Jews.
New Revised Standard
"Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Land of Zebulun, and land of Naphtali, the lake-way across the Jordan, - Galilee of the nations,
Douay-Rheims Bible
Land of Zabulon and land of Nephthalim, the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:
Revised Standard Version
"The land of Zeb'ulun and the land of Naph'tali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles--
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
The londe of zabulon and Neptalim the waye of the see beyonde Iordan Galile of the Gentyls
Young's Literal Translation
`Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations! --
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The londe of zabulon and Neptalim, the waye of the see beyonde Iordan, and Galile of the Gentyls,
Mace New Testament (1729)
and the land of Nephthalim, lying upon the sea, and about Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:
Simplified Cowboy Version
"In the land around Capernaum and along the Jordan, and in Galilee, the land of those who ain't Jews,

Contextual Overview

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went away to Galilee. 13 He did not stay in Nazareth, but went to live in Capernaum, a town by Lake Galilee, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This was done to make come true what the prophet Isaiah had said, 15 "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, on the road to the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee, land of the Gentiles! 16 The people who live in darkness will see a great light. On those who live in the dark land of death the light will shine." 17 From that time Jesus began to preach his message: "Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of heaven is near!"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Galilee: Joshua 20:7, Joshua 21:32, 1 Kings 9:11, 2 Kings 15:29

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:21 - General Isaiah 9:1 - by the way Malachi 4:2 - the Sun Matthew 2:15 - that Matthew 10:5 - Go Mark 1:39 - Galilee John 7:52 - Search

Cross-References

Genesis 4:24
If seven lives are taken to pay for killing Cain, Seventy-seven will be taken if anyone kills me."
Leviticus 26:18
"If even after all of this you still do not obey me, I will increase your punishment seven times.
Leviticus 26:21
"If you still continue to resist me and refuse to obey me, I will again increase your punishment seven times.
Leviticus 26:24
then I will turn on you and punish you seven times harder than before.
Leviticus 26:28
then in my anger I will turn on you and again make your punishment seven times worse than before.
1 Kings 16:7
That message from the Lord against Baasha and his family was given by the prophet Jehu because of the sins that Baasha committed against the Lord . He aroused the Lord 's anger not only because of the evil he did, just as King Jeroboam had done before him, but also because he killed all of Jeroboam's family.
Psalms 59:11
Do not kill them, O God, or my people may forget. Scatter them by your strength and defeat them, O Lord, our protector.
Psalms 79:12
Lord, pay the other nations back seven times for all the insults they have hurled at you.
Ezekiel 9:4
"Go through the whole city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the forehead of everyone who is distressed and troubled because of all the disgusting things being done in the city."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That it might be fulfilled ... - This place is recorded in Isaiah 9:1-2. Matthew has given the sense, but not the very words of the prophet. For the meaning of the passage as employed by Isaiah, see the notes at Isaiah 9:1-2.

By the way of the sea - Which is near to the sea, or in the vicinity of the sea.

Beyond Jordan - This does not mean to the east of Jordan, as the phrase sometimes denotes, but rather in the vicinity of the Jordan, or perhaps in the vicinity of the sources of the Jordan. See Deuteronomy 1:1; Deuteronomy 4:49.

Galilee of the Gentiles - Galilee was divided into upper and lower Galilee. Upper Galilee was called Galilee of the Gentiles, because it was occupied chiefly by Gentiles. It was in the neighborhood of Tyre, Sidon, etc. The word “Gentiles” includes in the Scriptures all who are not Jews. It means the same as nations, or, as we should say, the pagan nations.

Matthew 4:16

The people which sat in darkness - This is an expression denoting great ignorance.

As in darkness or night we can see nothing, and know not where to go, so those who are ignorant of God and their duty are said to be in darkness. The instruction which removes this ignorance is called light. See John 3:19; 1Pe 2:9; 1 John 1:5; 1 John 2:8. As ignorance is often connected with crime and vice, so darkness is sometimes used to denote sin, 1 Thessalonians 5:5; Ephesians 5:11; Luke 22:53.

Saw great light - That is, as the passage is employed by Matthew, the light under the Messiah would spring up among them. In that region he grew up, and in that region he preached a great part of his discourses and performed a great part of his miracles.

The region and shadow of death - This is a forcible and beautiful image, designed also to denote ignorance and sin. It is often used in the Bible, and is very expressive. A “shadow” is caused by an object coming between us and the sun. So the Hebrews imaged death as standing between us and the sun, and casting a long, dark, and baleful shadow abroad on the face of the nations, denoting their great ignorance, sin, and woe.. It denotes a dismal, gloomy, and dreadful shade, where death and sin reign, like the chills, damps, and horrors of the dwelling-place of the dead. See Job 10:21; Job 16:16; Job 34:22; Psalms 23:4; Jeremiah 2:6. See also the notes at Isaiah 9:2. These expressions denote that the country of Galilee was especially dark. We know that the people were proverbially ignorant and stupid. They were distinguished for a coarse, outlandish manner of speech Mark 14:70, and are represented as having been also distinguished by a general profligacy of morals and manners. It shows the great compassion of the Saviour, that he went to preach to such poor and despised sinners. Instead of seeking the rich and the learned, he chose to minister to the needy, the ignorant, and the contemned. His office is to enlighten the ignorant; his delight to guide the wandering, and to raise up those that are in the shadow of death. In doing this, Jesus set an example for all his followers. It is their duty to seek out those who are sitting in the shadow of death, and to send the gospel to them. No small part of the world is still lying in wickedness - as wicked and wretched as was the land of Zabulon and Naphthali in the time of Jesus. The Lord Jesus is able to enlighten them also, and every Christian should regard it a privilege, as well as a duty, to imitate his Saviour in this, and to be permitted to send to them the light of life. See Matthew 28:19.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 4:15. Galilee of the Gentiles — Or of the nations. So called, because it was inhabited by Egyptians, Arabians, and Phoenicians, according to the testimony of Strabo and others. The Hebrew גוים goyim, and the Greek εθνων, signify nations; and, in the Old and New Testaments, mean those people who were not descendants of any of the twelve tribes. The word Gentiles, from gens, a nation, signifies the same. It is worthy of remark, that it was a regular tradition among the ancient Jews, that the Messiah should begin his ministry in Galilee. See the proofs in Schoetgen.


 
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