Bible Strands
Matthew 4:13
Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus moves his residence from Nazareth to Capernaum immediately after learning of John the Baptist's imprisonment. This relocation occurs at the start of his Galilean ministry.
The words — καταλιπὼν (katalipōn) translates literally as "having left," and κατῴκησεν (katōkēsen) means "he dwelt." These Greek terms denote a completed departure followed by a settled, permanent habitation.
The thread — Matthew 4:14 directly links this geographic shift to the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy concerning Zebulun and Naphtali. Capernaum reappears as a ministry hub in Mark 1:21, John 4:46, and Matthew 11:23.
Why it lands — The text records a factual relocation to a coastal region before any prophetic application is drawn. Readers must accept that the narrative grounds divine action in specific, observable geography rather than abstract theology.
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 leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
Cross-references
- Mark 1:21 Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.
- John 4:46 So once again He came to Cana in Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. And there was a royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.
- Matthew 11:23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.
- John 6:24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to look for Him.
- John 6:59 Jesus said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
- Joshua 19:10 The third lot came up for the clans of the tribe of Zebulun: The border of their inheritance stretched as far as Sarid.
- Joshua 19:32 The sixth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Naphtali:
- Matthew 17:24 After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?”
- Luke 4:30 But Jesus passed through the crowd and went on His way.
- John 2:12 After this, He went down to Capernaum with His mother and brothers and His disciples, and they stayed there a few days.