Bible Strands
Matthew 19:2
Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus has just departed Galilee for Judea beyond the Jordan (Matthew 19:1), and immediately a large crowd gathers while Pharisees prepare to test Him on divorce law (Matthew 19:3). He addresses this moment through action rather than speech.
The words — ἠκολούθησαν (ēkolouthēsan) translates as "followed," and ἐθεράπευσεν (etherapeusen) translates as "He healed." These verbs describe the crowd's movement toward Jesus and His immediate response to their physical needs.
The thread — Matthew 12:15 records the same pattern of crowds following Jesus and receiving healing. Matthew 4:23 and 9:35 document His earlier regional ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing without noting the following crowd.
Why it lands — The text places physical healing in the narrative sequence before theological debate, showing Jesus meeting immediate need while moving into new territory. Readers must acknowledge that His compassionate action precedes and grounds the doctrinal questions raised in the surrounding context.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
Cross-references
- Matthew 12:15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all,
- Matthew 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
- Matthew 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness.
- Matthew 14:35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding region. People brought all the sick to Him
- Matthew 15:30 Large crowds came to Him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and laid them at His feet, and He healed them.
- Mark 6:55 and ran through that whole region, carrying the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was.