Matthew 4:14

14 that it should be fulfilled, that was said by Esaias, the prophet, saying,

Matthew 4:14 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 14, 15. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken
Christ's dwelling in Capernaum accomplished a prophecy of the prophet ( Isaiah 9:1 Isaiah 9:2 ) and he went and dwelt there, that it might be fulfilled which he had spoken: the meaning of which prophecy is ^F24, that as those parts of the land of Israel, there mentioned, had suffered much by Tiglathpileser, who had carried them captive, ( 2 Kings 15:29 ) and is "the vexation" referred to; so they should be honoured, and made very glorious, by the presence and conversation of the Messiah among them, and which now had its literal fulfilment: for Christ now came and dwelt in Capernaum, which lay between the lands and upon the borders both of Zabulon and Nephthalim; was situated by the sea of Tiberias, beyond Jordan, and in, "Galilee of the nations"; the upper Galilee, which had in it people of other nations besides Jews. The ancient Jews expected the Messiah to make his first appearance in Galilee; which expectation must be grounded on this prophecy; for so they say ^F25 expressly,

``the king Messiah shall be revealed (lylgd aerab) , "in the land of Galilee."''

And in another place ^F26 explaining ( Isaiah 2:19 ) they paraphrase it thus,

``"for fear of the Lord"; this is the indignation of the whole world: and for the "glory of his majesty"; this is the Messiah; when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth, when he shall arise and be revealed (lylgd aerab) , "in the land of Galilee": because that this is the first place to be destroyed in the holy land; therefore he shall be revealed there the first of all places.''

Here Jesus, the true Messiah, made his first appearance publicly; here he called his disciples, and began his ministry.

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 See my treatise upon the "Prophecies of the Messiah" p. 147, &c.
F25 Zohar in Gen. fol. 74. 3.
F26 Ib. in Exod. fol. 3. 3. & 88. 3.

Matthew 4:14 In-Context

12 But when Jesus had heard that John was taken, he went into Galilee.

13 And he left the city of Nazareth, and came [And the city of Nazareth left, he came], and dwelt in the city of Capernaum, beside the sea, in the coasts [in the ends] of Zabulon and Nephthalim,

14 that it should be fulfilled, that was said by Esaias, the prophet, saying,

15 The land of Zabulon and the land of Nephthalim, the way of the sea over Jordan, of Galilee of heathen men,

16 the people that walked in darknesses saw great light [the people that dwelt in darknesses saw great light], and while men sat in the country of [the] shadow of death, light arose to them [light is sprung to them].