the Week of Proper 24 / Ordinary 29
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King James Version
Matthew 4:16
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The people who live in spiritual darkness have seen a great light. The light has shined for those who live in the land that is as dark as a grave."
ye people which sat in darknes sawe greate lyght and to them which sate in the region and shadowe of deeth lyght is begone to shyne.
The people livingsitting">[fn] in darkness have seen a great light,Isaiah 42:7; Luke 2:32;">[xr] and for those livingsitting">[fn] in the land and shadow of death, a light has risen."Isaiah 9:1-2">[fn]
THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED."
These people who live in darkness will see a great light. They live in a place covered with the shadows of death, but a light will shine on them." Isaiah 9:1–2
The people that sat in darkness Saw a great light, And to those that sat in the region and shadow of death, To them light sprung up.
The people who sat in darkness, saw great light; and to them who sat in the region and shades of death, light hath arisen.
THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING (living) IN [spiritual] DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT, AND FOR THOSE WHO WERE SITTING (living) IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF [spiritual and moral] DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT HAS DAWNED."
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."
The people who sat in darkness saw a great light, To those who sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up."
beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, The people who walked in darkness, saw a great light, and to them who sat in the region of the shadow of death, light is sprung up.
The people who were dwelling in darkness have seen a brilliant light; and on those who were dwelling in the region of the shadow of death, on them light has dawned."
the puple that walkide in derknessis saye greet liyt, and while men satten in the cuntre of shadewe of deth, liyt aroos to hem.
The people which sat in darkness Saw a great light, And to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up.
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."
Although your people live in darkness, they will see a bright light. Although they live in the shadow of death, a light will shine on them."
The people that sat in darkness Saw a great light, And to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up.
The people who were in the dark saw a great light, and to those in the land of the shade of death did the dawn come up.
the people living in darkness have seen a great light; upon those living in the region, in the shadow of death, light has dawned."
—the people sitting in darkness has seen a great light, and to those sitting in [the] country and shadow of death, to them has light sprung up.
The people who sat in darkness the great light hath seen; and they who have sat in the region and shadow of death, the light has arisen upon them.
the people that sat in darkness, have seen great light; and to them who sat in the region and shadow of death, light is arisen.
The people which sate in darkenesse, saw great light: and to them which sate in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung vp.
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."
The people who sat in darkness saw a great light. Light did shine on those in the land who were near death."
the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned."
The people which sate in darkenes, sawe great light: and to them which sate in the region, and shadowe of death, light is risen vp.
The people who dwelt in darkness saw a great light, and those who settled in the country and in the midst of the shadows of death, light shone on them.
The people that was sitting in darkness, a great light, beheld, - and, on them who were sitting in land and shade of death, Light rose on them.
The people that sat in darkness, hath seen great light: and to them that sat in the region of the shadow of death, light is sprung up.
the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned."
The people, which sate in darknesse, sawe great lyght: And to them whiche sate in the region and shadowe of death, lyght is sprong vp.
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."
The people who live in darknesshave seen a great light,and for those living in the land of the shadow of death,a light has dawned.
The people who sat in darkness saw a great light, To those who sat in the region and shadow of death, To them light has dawned."
the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, and the ones who sit in the land and shadow of death, a light has dawned on them."
the people sitting in darkness saw a great Light; and to those sitting in the region and shadow of death, Light sprang up to them." Isa. 9:1, 2
the people that is sitting in darkness saw a great light, and to those sitting in a region and shadow of death -- light arose to them.'
the people which sat in darknes, sawe a greate lyght, & to them which sat in the region & shadowe of deeth, lyght is begone to shyne.
the people which sat in darkness, saw a great light: and to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up."
the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, and on those who sit in the region and shadow of death a light has dawned ."
The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of deathLight has dawned." Isaiah 9:1, 2 ">[fn]
the folks livin' in the dark have seen a bright light; those livin' in the land shadowed by death, a great lantern has been lit in the darkness."
"THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED."
The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light,And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death,Upon them a Light dawned."
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
which sat in darkness: Psalms 107:10-14, Isaiah 42:6, Isaiah 42:7, Isaiah 60:1-3, Micah 7:8, Luke 1:78, Luke 1:79, Luke 2:32
shadow: Job 3:5, Job 10:22, Job 34:22, Psalms 44:19, Jeremiah 13:16, Amos 5:8
Reciprocal: Genesis 49:21 - General Exodus 27:21 - Aaron Leviticus 24:2 - the lamps Deuteronomy 33:23 - O 2 Kings 15:29 - Galilee Job 38:17 - the shadow Psalms 18:28 - my God Isaiah 9:2 - walked Jeremiah 2:6 - the shadow Malachi 4:2 - the Sun Luke 4:18 - and John 1:4 - the life John 7:52 - Search John 9:5 - long John 12:46 - am Acts 26:18 - and to Romans 2:19 - a light Ephesians 5:8 - ye were 1 Peter 2:9 - who 2 Peter 1:19 - a light 1 John 2:8 - the darkness
Cross-References
And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
And the Lord was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.
For through the anger of the Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord .
So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord , and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
The people which sat in darkness,.... The inhabitants of Galilee, who sat or "walked", as in Isaiah; that is, continued in spiritual darkness, in ignorance, blindness, error, and infidelity, "saw great light"; Christ himself, who came a light into the world; he conversed with them, preached unto them, and opened the eyes of their understandings to behold his glory, and to know him, and salvation by him.
And to them which sat in the region and shadow of death: the same persons who sit in darkness, sit also in the region of death; for such are dead in trespasses and sins: where there is no spiritual light, there is no spiritual life, and such are in danger of the second death; but the happiness of these people was, that to them "light is sprung up", like the rising sun, and this without their asking or seeking for: Christ, the sun of righteousness, arose upon them, without any desert, desire, or expectation of theirs, with healing in his wings; and cured them of their darkness and deadness, turned them from darkness to light, and caused them to pass from death to life. "Light" is not only a character under which Christ frequently goes in the New Testament, see John 1:4 but is one of the names by which the Messiah was known under the Old Testament; see Daniel 2:22 and which the Jews give unto him: says R, Aba a Serungia, "and the light dwelleth with him"; this is the king Messiah. The note of R. Sol. Jarchi on these words, "send forth thy light", is, the king Messiah; who is compared to light, according to Psalms 132:17 the days of the Messiah are by them said to b be ימי אורה "days of light"; and so these Galilaeans found them to be; as all do, to whom the Gospel of Christ comes with power and demonstration of the Spirit. And these days of light first begun in the land of Zabulon which, according to Philo the Jew c, was
"sumbolon fwtov, "a symbol of light"; since (adds he) its name signifies the nature of night; but, the night removing, and departing, light necessarily arises.''
As did, in a spiritual sense, here, when Christ the light arose.
a Bereshith Rabba, fol. 1. 3. & Echa Rabbati, fol. 50. 2. b Baal Hatturim in Gen. fol. 2. 2. c De Somniis, p. 1113.
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 4:16. The people which sat in darkness — This is quoted from Isaiah 9:2, where, instead of sitting, the prophet used the word walked. The evangelist might on purpose change the term, to point out the increased misery of the state of these persons. Sitting in darkness expresses a greater degree of intellectual blindness, than walking in darkness does. In the time of Christ's appearing, the people were in a much worse state than in the time of the prophet, which was nearly 700 years before; as, during all this period, they were growing more ignorant and sinful.
The region and shadow of death — These words are amazingly descriptive. A region of death - DEATH'S country, where, in a peculiar manner, Death lived, reigned, and triumphed, subjecting all the people to his sway.
Shadow of death — σκια θανατου, used only here and in Luke 1:79, but often in the Old Covenant, where the Hebrew is צל מות tsal maveth, It is not easy to enter fully into the ideal meaning of this term. As in the former clause, death is personified, so here. A shadow is that darkness cast upon a place by a body raised between it and the light or sun. Death is here represented as standing between the land above mentioned, and the light of life, or Sun of righteousness; in consequence of which, all the inhabitants were, involved in a continual cloud of intellectual darkness, misery, and sin. The heavenly sun was continually eclipsed to them, till this glorious time, when Jesus Christ, the true light, shone forth in the beauty of holiness and truth. Christ began his ministry in Galilee, and frequented this uncultivated place more than he did Jerusalem and other parts of Judea: here his preaching was peculiarly needful; and by this was the prophecy fulfilled.
