Isaiah 9:2

Hebrew Bible

1 The gloom will be dispelled for those who were anxious. In earlier times he humiliated the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali; but now he brings honor to the way of the sea, the region beyond the Jordan, and Galilee of the nations. 2 (9:1) The people walking in darkness see a bright light; light shines on those who live in a land of deep darkness. 3 You have enlarged the nation; you give them great joy. They rejoice in your presence as harvesters rejoice; as warriors celebrate when they divide up the plunder. 4 For their oppressive yoke and the club that strikes their shoulders, the cudgel the oppressor uses on them, you have shattered, as in the day of Midian’s defeat.

Matthew 4:15

New Testament

13 While in Galilee, he moved from Nazareth to make his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled: 15Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles 16 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. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach this message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!”

 Notes and References

"... Many authors agree that Matthew's quotation of the Isaiah passage is an independent rendering which does not directly follow the Masoretic Text or the Septuagint. The main difference between Matthew 4:15 and the text of Isaiah is that Matthew omitted the description of the past contempt and the future hope of Galilee which are found in the Isaiah passage. But Matthew did retain all of the geographical references of the Isaiah passage. This reveals Matthew's special emphasis on the geographical significance of Jesus' ministry in Galilee. Matthew retained the words of Isaiah 9:2[1] in verse 16, but with a minor change and addition ..."

Kim, Young Jin Jesus and the Gentiles in the Gospel of Matthew: A Historical Study of the Redemption Motif (pp. 213-214) Doctor of Theology Dissertation, 114, 1992

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