Matthew 4:13 · Bible study
Matthew 4:13 Commentary: Why Jesus Left Nazareth for Capernaum
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus left rejected Nazareth for Capernaum, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy about Zebulun and Naphtali. A study of geography, rejection, and God's plan.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus moves his base of operations from rejected Nazareth to Capernaum, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy for Zebulun and Naphtali.
- Key words: καταλιπὼν (decisive leaving), κατῴκησεν (settled dwelling), Capernaum (“village of comfort”), Zebulun and Naphtali.
- Main debate: The precise site of Capernaum (Tell Hum vs. Khan Minyeh) and whether the primary reason for leaving Nazareth was rejection or strategic planning.
- Theological theme: God’s sovereignty in geography and the fulfillment of prophecy through a seemingly ordinary relocation.
- Best use: Teaching on God’s guidance through circumstances and Scripture, or a sermon series on Jesus’ Galilean ministry.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
WEB World English Bible 2000
Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
KJV King James Version 1769
And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali:
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and having left Nazareth, having come, he dwelt at Capernaum that is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtalim,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
and having left Nazareth, he went and dwelt at Capernaum, which is on the sea-side in the borders of Zabulon and Nepthalim,
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And leaving the city Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capharnaum on the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and of Nephthalim;
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y dejando á Nazaret, vino y habitó en Capernaum, ciudad marítima, en los confines de Zabulón y de Nephtalim:
E deixando Nazaré, veio a morar em Cafarnaum, cidade marítima, nos limites de Zebulom e Naftali,
Il quitta Nazareth, et vint demeurer à Capernaüm, située près de la mer, dans le territoire de Zabulon et de Nephthali,
Und verließ die Stadt Nazareth, kam und wohnte zu Kapernaum, das da liegt am Meer, im Lande Sebulon und Naphthali,
En Nazareth verlaten hebbende, is komen wonen te Kapernaum, gelegen aan de zee, in de landpale van Zebulon en Nafthali;
E, lasciata Nazaret, venne ad abitare in Capernaum, città sul mare, ai confini di Zabulon e di Neftali,
A opuściwszy Nazaret, przyszedł, i mieszkał w Kapernaum, które jest nad morzem w granicach Zabulonowych i Neftalimowych;
и, оставив Назарет, пришел и поселился в Капернауме приморском, в пределах Завулоновых и Неффалимовых,
後又 離開 拿撒勒，往迦百農 去，就住 在那裡。那地方 靠海，在 西布倫 和 拿弗他利 的邊界上。
And going away from Nazareth, he came and made his living-place in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the country of Zebulun and Naphtali:
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Matthew 4:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators from multiple traditions agree on the basic meaning of this verse. Jesus deliberately left Nazareth; Adam Clarke notes the Greek compound καταλιπὼν implies he “utterly forsook” his hometown after the Nazarenes rejected him (Luke 4:29). He then settled in Capernaum, a city on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, within the ancient tribal territories of Zebulun and Naphtali. Both Clarke and Barnes observe that Capernaum became “his own city” (Matthew 9:1) and the primary base for his Galilean ministry. The geographical detail is crucial because it sets up the quotation from Isaiah 9:1, 2 in the next verses: the very region that had experienced darkness and judgment would be the first to see the light of Christ. Matthew Henry and Calvin emphasize that this move was not accidental but a deliberate fulfillment of prophecy.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Historical rejection view: Luke 4:16–30 records Nazareth’s violent rejection, making this move a natural outcome of that event.
- Prophetic fulfillment view: Matthew explicitly ties the move to Isaiah 9:1–2, suggesting the priority of fulfilling Scripture over other reasons.
What is clear: Jesus left Nazareth and settled in Capernaum, and Matthew presents this relocation as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Reason for leaving Nazareth | Jesus left Nazareth because of rejection by the townspeople (Luke 4:29). | Some commentators emphasize this as the sole reason, while others (e.g., Cambridge, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) add that Capernaum’s strategic location and mixed population also factored in. |
| Location of Capernaum | Capernaum was on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, within the tribal regions of Zebulun and Naphtali. | The exact site is disputed: Robinson identifies it with Khan Minyeh; Thomson and others with Tell Hum. No consensus among scholars. |
| Fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy | Matthew presents Jesus’ move as fulfilling Isaiah 9:1, 2, which promised light to the darkened region of Galilee. | Some see the fulfillment as direct and geographical (the tribes mentioned); others (e.g., Calvin, Lange) argue it is typological or applies the language of deliverance to the messianic age. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The move from Nazareth to Capernaum takes place immediately after John the Baptist’s imprisonment (Matthew 4:12). Jesus “withdrew into Galilee,” but instead of returning to his hometown, he chose a different city. Nazareth, a small village in lower Galilee, had been his residence for about thirty years. There he had announced his messianic mission in the synagogue, only to face such violent rejection that the crowd tried to throw him off a cliff (Luke 4:16, 30). The Greek verb καταλιπὼν, a compound of κατά (intensive) and λείπω, suggests a complete, decisive departure.
Capernaum sat on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, on the boundary between the ancient tribal territories of Zebulun and Naphtali (Joshua 19:10, 16, 32, 39). It was a border town with a mixed population of Jews and Gentiles, sometimes called “Galilee of the Gentiles.” This made it a strategic hub for Jesus’ itinerant ministry: a busy fishing and trading center with ready access to the lake and major roads. The Cambridge Bible notes its “considerable traffic” and large Gentile element. Jewish tradition later spoke bitterly of Capernaum, perhaps because of its association with Jesus and his followers (Gill cites rabbinic texts). The city became the site of many miracles, the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, the centurion’s servant, the paralytic lowered through the roof, and was called “his own city.” Its precise location remains debated between Tell Hum and Khan Minyeh, but its identity as Jesus’ Galilean base is secure.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The reading is consistent across major manuscripts.
Reception History
This verse has been used by preachers to illustrate Christ’s response to rejection and his deliberate choice of a base for evangelism. Early church writers saw the move as a proof that the gospel travels from the familiar to the frontier. Pilgrims and geographers have long debated the exact location of Capernaum, citing this verse as a key clue. In the Reformation, commentators like Calvin and Matthew Henry emphasized the prophetic fulfillment, seeing it as God’s sovereignty over history. The verse continues to comfort believers who face rejection, showing that God redirects his people into places of greater purpose.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Leaving Nazareth, Jesus does not stay where he is rejected. His departure is not retreat but redirection. The same verb (καταλιπὼν) can describe a purposeful abandonment, not a fearful escape.
- Settling in Capernaum, Jesus chooses a strategic location on the shore of Galilee, a crossroads of trade and travel. He makes his home among a mixed population, signaling that his mission reaches beyond pious insiders.
- Fulfilling prophecy, Matthew draws a straight line from Isaiah’s words about Zebulun and Naphtali to Jesus’ residence. God had promised light for a darkened region, and Jesus brings that light by living there.
Five-point outline
- Rejection, Nazareth’s unbelief prompts the move. Even Jesus faced closed doors.
- Relocation, The move is geographic but also missional: Capernaum offers a wider audience.
- Residence, The aorist κατῴκησεν (“he dwelt”) implies a settled habitation, not a brief visit.
- Region, Zebulun and Naphtali anchor the story in Old Testament promise and tribal history.
- Fulfillment, The move completes what Isaiah spoke: light dawns in the darkest corner of the land.
Illustration hooks
- A family relocating after being let go from a church or job, wondering if God has a new assignment.
- A college student choosing a campus not because it is prestigious but because it places them where people need connection.
- A business owner moving a storefront from a quiet street to a busy intersection, not for profit alone, but for reach.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God care about where I live or work, or is that just practical?
- When should I leave a situation where I am not wanted, and when should I stay?
- How can my ordinary move to a new place be part of God’s larger purpose?
Leading a Discussion
This verse shows Jesus making a decisive move that fulfilled ancient prophecy. As you read, consider what it means for God to direct his people to specific places for specific purposes.
Discussion questions
- What does the verb “leaving” (καταλιπὼν) tell you about Jesus’ attitude toward Nazareth? How does the intensifying prefix κατά- change the force?
- Why does Matthew include the geographical reference to the sea and the tribal territories? What does he want readers to notice?
- Read Luke 4:16, 30. What happened at Nazareth that made this move necessary? How does Jesus handle rejection here compared to later in his ministry?
- How does Capernaum compare to Nazareth in terms of population and openness? What does this say about where Jesus chose to invest his time?
- Matthew says this move fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy. Does that mean Jesus planned it as a checklist item, or did God work through ordinary circumstances?
- What does this passage teach about God’s concern for “dark” regions, places of spiritual need or mixed populations?
- If you have ever moved for work, family, or ministry, how might God have been guiding you to a “Capernaum” of your own?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Joshua 19:10 | The third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families. The border of their inheritance was to Sarid. |
| Joshua 19:16 | This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages. |
| Joshua 19:32 | The sixth lot came out for the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families. |
| Joshua 19:39 | This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities with their villages. |
| Matthew 11:23 | You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until today. |
| Matthew 17:24 | When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins came to Peter, and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the didrachma?” |
| Mark 1:21 | They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. |
| Luke 4:23 | He said to them, “Doubtless you will tell me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in your hometown.’” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights that the Greek word for "leaving" carries an intensive prefix, meaning Jesus utterly abandoned Nazareth. He did so because the city had completely rejected his message and even tried to kill him. Capernaum then became his regular home, the main center for his public ministry.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that Jesus made Capernaum his base of ministry after being rejected in Nazareth, and he highlights the uncertainty surrounding the city's exact location. He contrasts scholarly opinions on the site, then emphasizes that despite this, Capernaum's role is clear from the many healings Jesus performed there.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin defends Matthew's use of Isaiah's prophecy, arguing that the prophet foretold a severe judgment on Zebulun and Naphtali followed by a great deliverance. That deliverance, Calvin says, is precisely what Jesus brought when he moved to the region, making the quotation fitting and not forced.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator highlights that Jesus moved from a quiet, secluded mountain town to a busy, populous commercial center. Nazareth was a retired home, while Capernaum was essentially the manufacturing district of Palestine, a frontier town with heavy traffic and a large Gentile population.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And leauing Nazareth, went and dwelt in Capernaum, which is neere the sea in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim,
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights the irony that Capernaum means village of consolation, since the Consolation of Israel himself lived there. He then notes that later Jewish writings speak bitterly of the city, likely because it was Christ's dwelling place and contained some who believed in him.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB argues that "leaving Nazareth" does not mean Jesus departed from a place where He had been living, but rather that He passed by it without settling there. He then gives several practical reasons for choosing Capernaum as His base: several disciples lived there, it had a mixed population less prone to bigotry, and its coastal location made travel convenient.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that Jesus’ move to Capernaum was no retreat but a
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights that Jesus began preaching in Galilee specifically after hearing of John's imprisonment, showing that Christ takes note of his people's suffering and orders his movements accordingly. He also stresses that Christ himself first published the salvation he would accomplish, demonstrating how deeply committed he was to the work.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley emphasizes that Jesus left Nazareth not as a routine move but because the people had completely rejected his message and even tried to kill him. For Wesley, the departure marks a decisive break following their violent refusal of his word.