Matthew 4:16

¹⁴ That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

¹⁵ The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

¹⁸ And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”
KJV: The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
WEB: the people who sat in darkness saw a great light; to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.”
ASV: The people that sat in darkness Saw a great light, And to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up.
DARBY: the people sitting in darkness has seen a great light, and to those sitting in [the] country and shadow of death, to them has light sprung up.
BLB: the people sitting in darkness saw a great light, and to those sitting in the region and shadow of death, a light dawned on them.”

ÅB: det folket som satt i mørke de har sett et stort lys,
og for dem som satt i dødens land og skygge har et lys brutt igjennom.»
OTB: folket som bor i mørket har sett et stort lys; over dem som bor i dødsskyggens land, har et lys gått opp.»
B1930: det folk som satt i mørke, har sett et stort lys, og for dem som satt i dødens land og skygge, for dem er et lys oprunnet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 9:2
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Read in context
Isaiah 42:6–7
I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
Read in context
Luke 1:78–79
Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
Read in context
Isaiah 60:1–3
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
Read in context
Micah 7:8
Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.
Read in context
Psalms 107:10–14
Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
Read in context
Luke 2:32
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Read in context
Amos 5:8
Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:
Read in context