Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry
Matthew 4:12-17
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
Jude
Revelation
Matt.4.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ακουσας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- δε: CONJ
- οτι: CONJ
- Ιωαννης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- παρεδοθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- ανεχωρησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Γαλιλαιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Mark 1:14 (verbal): Uses very similar wording—'after John was put in prison' and then Jesus comes into Galilee; directly parallels Matthew's causal link between John's arrest and Jesus' movement to Galilee.
- Luke 3:19-20 (thematic): Explicitly reports John's imprisonment by Herod, providing the background event that Matthew cites as prompting Jesus' withdrawal to Galilee.
- Luke 4:14 (structural): Continues the same narrative sequence: after John's arrest Jesus' ministry begins and he returns to Galilee, paralleling Matthew's transition from John’s imprisonment to Jesus' Galilean activity.
- Isaiah 9:1-2 (quotation): Matthew immediately links Jesus' Galilean ministry to Isaiah's prophecy (quoted in Matt 4:15–16); Isaiah 9:1–2 is the Old Testament passage Matthew cites to explain the significance of Jesus' presence in Galilee.
Alternative generated candidates
- When Jesus heard that John had been handed over, he withdrew into Galilee.
- Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.
Matt.4.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- καταλιπων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Ναζαρα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ελθων: VERB,aor,act,ptcp,nom,sg,m
- κατωκησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- Καφαρναουμ: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- παραθαλασσιαν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- οριοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- Ζαβουλων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- Νεφθαλιμ·: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Isaiah 9:1-2 (verbal): Mentions the land of Zebulun and Naphtali and coming light to Galilee—prophecy Matthew later applies to Jesus' residence in Capernaum (the same region).
- Matthew 4:15-16 (quotation): Immediate Matthean parallel: Matthew explicitly quotes Isaiah about Zebulun and Naphtali to interpret Jesus’ move to Capernaum as fulfillment of prophecy.
- Mark 1:21 (structural): Mark likewise places Jesus in Capernaum where he begins teaching and exercising authority, paralleling Matthew’s relocation from Nazareth.
- Luke 4:31 (structural): Luke records Jesus’ activity in Capernaum (teaching in the synagogue), reflecting the same Galilean center of ministry noted in Matthew 4:13.
- John 1:46 (thematic): Nathaniel’s question “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” thematically connects to Jesus’ origin in Nazareth and the significance of his leaving it for Capernaum.
Alternative generated candidates
- And leaving Nazareth he came and lived in Capernaum by the sea, on the border of Zebulun and Naphtali.
- And leaving Nazareth he came and lived in Capernaum by the lake, in the district of Zebulun and Naphtali.
Matt.4.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ινα: CONJ
- πληρωθη: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- ρηθεν: PART,aor,pass,nom,sg,n
- δια: PREP
- Ησαιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- προφητου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- λεγοντος·: PART,pres,act,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Isaiah 9:1-2 (8:23-9:1 LXX/Hebrew division) (quotation): Matthew explicitly introduces and then quotes this Isaiah passage about Galilee and the people seeing a great light (Matt 4:15–16), so Isa. 9:1–2 is the direct source cited by Matthew's fulfillment formula.
- Matthew 1:22 (structural): Uses the same fulfillment formula ('to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet') to introduce a citation of Isaiah 7:14 about the virgin birth, showing Matthew's characteristic way of linking Jesus' life to prophetic texts.
- Matthew 8:17 (quotation): Another instance where Matthew says an event 'fulfilled what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet' and then cites Isaiah (here Isa. 53:4), illustrating Matthew's pattern of attributing Jesus' actions to Isaiah's prophecies.
- Mark 1:14-15 (thematic): Describes the beginning of Jesus' Galilean ministry and proclamation of the kingdom; thematically parallels Matthew's account of Jesus moving to Galilee and the fulfillment citation introducing his Galilean mission (Matt 4:12–17).
Alternative generated candidates
- So that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled, saying:
- So that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying,
Matt.4.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Γη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- Ζαβουλων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- γη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- Νεφθαλιμ: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- οδον: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- θαλασσης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- περαν: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- Ιορδανου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Γαλιλαια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,f
- εθνων: NOUN,gen,pl,neut
Parallels
- Isaiah 9:1 (quotation): Matthew explicitly cites this prophecy naming Zebulun and Naphtali, the 'way of the sea' and 'Galilee of the Gentiles' as fulfilled in Jesus' ministry.
- Isaiah 9:2 (verbal): The following line in Matthew ('people who sat in darkness have seen a great light') echoes Isaiah 9:2, linking the Galilean setting to the motif of light coming to those in darkness.
- Matthew 4:14 (structural): The preceding verse introduces the fulfillment formula ('that what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled'), framing 4:15 as a citation of Isaiah.
- Matthew 4:16 (verbal): Verse 4:16 continues the Isaiah quotation ('they saw a great light'), directly connecting the geographic description in 4:15 to Jesus' role as the light to Israel and the nations.
- Luke 1:78-79 (thematic): Zechariah's prophecy about the 'dawn from on high' giving light to those in darkness parallels Matthew's use of Isaiah to portray Jesus bringing light to Galilee and the Gentiles.
Alternative generated candidates
- “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the road by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.”
- "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way along the sea, beyond the Jordan—Galilee of the Gentiles."
Matt.4.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- λαος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- καθημενος: PTCP,nom,sg,m,pres,mid
- εν: PREP
- σκοτια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- φως: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ειδεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- μεγα: ADJ,acc,sg,n,pos
- και: CONJ
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- καθημενοις: PTCP,dat,pl,m,pres,mid
- εν: PREP
- χωρα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- σκια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- θανατου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- φως: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- ανετειλεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRON,dat,pl,3
Parallels
- Isaiah 9:2 (LXX 9:1) (quotation): Matthew directly echoes the Septuagint text of Isaiah about the people sitting in darkness seeing a great light; Matthew treats Isaiah’s oracle as fulfilled in Jesus’ ministry in Galilee.
- Luke 1:79 (quotation): Simeon’s canticle uses the same Isaiah-derived wording—light for those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death—applying the motif to the coming of the Messiah.
- John 1:4-9 (verbal): John’s prologue develops the recurring Johannine theme that the Word is the true light shining in the darkness (and not overcome by it), a theological echo of Matthew’s light-in-darkness imagery.
- Acts 26:18 (thematic): Paul’s commission to turn people ‘from darkness to light’ and open their eyes employs the same salvation-by-light motif—deeds of revelation and conversion tied to Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 4:6 (verbal): Paul cites the cosmic act ‘God made light shine out of darkness’ and applies it to divine revelation in Christ, paralleling Matthew’s use of light as God’s saving disclosure.
Alternative generated candidates
- The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light; those who sat in the region and shadow of death—upon them a light has dawned.
- The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light; for those sitting in the region and shadow of death a light has dawned.
Matt.4.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Απο: PREP
- τοτε: ADV
- ηρξατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- κηρυσσειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- και: CONJ
- λεγειν·Μετανοειτε: VERB,pres,act,inf + VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- ηγγικεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- γαρ: PART
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- βασιλεια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,f
- ουρανων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Matt.3:2 (verbal): John the Baptist's proclamation uses the same formula: 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,' serving as immediate precursor and verbal parallel to Jesus' opening proclamation.
- Mark 1:14-15 (verbal): Mark's summary of Jesus' early preaching: 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel'—closely parallels Matthew's call to repentance and the nearness of the kingdom (God/Heavenal wording difference).
- Matt.10:7 (structural): When Jesus sends the Twelve he instructs them to proclaim that 'the kingdom of heaven is at hand,' echoing Matthew 4:17 and showing the same mission/message extended through the disciples.
- Luke 11:20 (thematic): Jesus' claim that 'if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you' thematically affirms the kingdom's present arrival in Jesus' ministry, corresponding to Matthew's 'has come near.'
Alternative generated candidates
- From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
- From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
When Jesus heard that John had been handed over, he withdrew into Galilee.
Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali.
This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the prophet Isaiah, saying,
'The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;'
'The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light; those who sat in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.'
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'