Texts in Conversation
The Greek Septuagint translation of Isaiah says people were “walking” in darkness and commanded to “see” light. Matthew 4 changes this to people “sitting” in darkness who “saw” light, blending both Greek and Hebrew versions to shape the narrative.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
LXX Isaiah 9:1
Septuagint
1 people walking in darkness, see a great light: you that dwell in the region and shadow of death, a light shall shine upon you. 2 The multitude of the people which you have brought down in your joy, they shall even rejoice before you as they that rejoice in harvest, and as they that divide the captured goods. 3 Because the yoke that was laid upon them has been taken away, and the rod that was on their neck: for the Lord has broken the rod of the exactors, as in the day of Madiam.
Matthew 4:16
New Testament
14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled: 15 “Land 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!” 18 As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen).
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Notes and References
"... Matthew 4:16 also differs from the LXX version of Isaiah 9:2. Matthew 4:16 contains καθήμενος ('sitting') instead of πορευόμενος ('walking'). According to the LXX, the people are “walking” in darkness. In Matthew 4:16, the people are “sitting” in darkness. Matthew 4:16 also uses the indicative form of ὁράω, εἶδεν ('saw'), instead of the imperative ἴδετε ('see'). Matthew’s version just reports that the people in darkness saw a great light. The LXX commands them to see a great light. Like Matthew, 1QIsa, and the Masoretic text states that the people saw (ראו) a great light. So, Matthew 4:16 resembles 1QIsa and the Masoretic text more than the LXX by using the indicative form of ὁράω ('to see') ..."
Winchester, Christopher
Thematic Association in the Gospel of Matthew: Situating Exegesis in the Gospel of Matthew in its Second Temple Context
(p. 223) University of Edinburgh, 2017
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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