MAT 4:16 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) The people sitting in darkness
⇔ saw a powerful light,
⇔ and those sitting in a land under the shadow of death
⇔ had a light rise over them.’

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT the people sitting in darkness
⇔  have seen a great light,
⇔  and to the ones sitting in the region and shadow of death,
⇔  upon them has a light arisen.”

UST The people who live in those regions sin and despair. They are like people who sit in dark places.
⇔ However, God will rescue them. They will be like people who see a bright light.
⇔ Again, the people in those regions suffer and die. They are like people who sit in a dangerous place without any light.
⇔ However, God will save them. It will be as if a light shines on them.”

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.”[fn]

BLB the people sitting in darkness have seen a great light, and to those sitting in the land and shadow of death, a light has dawned on them."

AICNT The people sitting in darkness saw a great light, and for those sitting in the region and shadow of death, a light has risen for them.”[fn]

4:16, Isaiah 9:1-2

OEB The people who were living in darkness
⇔ have seen a great light,
⇔ and, for those who were living in the shadow-land of death,
⇔ a light has dawned!”

WEBBE 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.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET 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.”

LSV The people that is sitting in darkness saw a great light, and to those sitting in a region and shadow of death—light arose to them.”

FBV The people living in darkness saw a great light; the light of dawn has shined on those living in the land of the shadow of death.”[fn]

4:16 Quoting Isaiah 9:1-2.

TCNT the people sitting in darkness
⇔ have seen a great light,
⇔ and on those sitting in the region and shadow of death
⇔ light has dawned.”

T4T Although the people there will be like people who sit in a dark place [MET], they will suddenly perceive clearly a new teaching, as people who have seen a big light shining on them [MET] perceive everything clearly. The people who are located in a dangerous [MET] region will suddenly perceive clearly what God teaches, as people on whom a light shines perceive things clearly [MET, DOU].

LEB • the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
• and the ones who sit in the land and shadow of death,
• a light has dawned on them.”[fn]

4:14 A quotation from Isa 9:1|link-href="None"

BBE The people who were in the dark saw a great light, and to those in the land of the shade of death did the dawn come up.

Moff The people who sat in darkness saw a great light,
⇔ yea light dawned on those who sat in the land and the shadow of death.

Wymth The people who were dwelling in darkness have seen a brilliant light; and on those who were dwelling in the region of the shadow of death, on 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.

DRA The people that sat in darkness, hath seen great light: and to them that sat in the region of the shadow of death, light is sprung up.

YLT the people that is sitting in darkness saw a great light, and to those sitting in a region and shadow of death — light arose to them.'

Drby — 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.

RV The people which sat in darkness Saw a great light, And to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up.

SLT The people sitting in darkness saw a great light; and to them sitting in the room and shadow of death, light has sprung up to them.

Wbstr The people who sat in darkness, saw great light; and to them who sat in the region and shades of death, light hath arisen.

KJB-1769 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.

KJB-1611 The people which sate in darkenesse, saw great light: and to them which sate in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung vp.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps The people, which sate in darknesse, sawe great lyght: And to them whiche sate in the region and shadowe of death, lyght is sprong vp.
(The people, which sat in darkness, saw great light: And to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprang up.)

Gnva The people which sate in darkenes, sawe great light: and to them which sate in the region, and shadowe of death, light is risen vp.
(The people which sat in darkness, saw great light: and to them which sat in the region, and shadow of death, light is risen up. )

Cvdl the people which sat in darknes, sawe a greate lyght, & to them which sat in the region & shadowe of deeth, lyght is begone to shyne.
(the people which sat in darknes, saw a great light, and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, light is begone to shine.)

TNT the people which sat in darknes sawe greate lyght and to them which sate in the region and shadowe of deeth lyght is begone to shyne.
(the people which sat in darkness saw great light and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is begone to shine. )

Wycl the puple that walkide in derknessis saye greet liyt, and while men satten in the cuntre of shadewe of deth, liyt aroos to hem.
(the people that walked in darkness say great light, and while men satten in the country of shadow of death, light aroos to hem.)

Luth das Volk, das in Finsternis saß, hat ein großes Licht gesehen, und die da saßen am Ort und Schatten des Todes, denen ist ein Licht aufgegangen.
(the people, the in darkness sat, has a large light(n) seen, and the there sat in/at/on_the place/location and shadow/shade the death, those is a light(n) opened.)

ClVg populus, qui sedebat in tenebris, vidit lucem magnam: et sedentibus in regione umbræ mortis, lux orta est eis.][fn]
(the_people, who/which was_sitting in/into/on darkness, he_saw the_light great: and sedentibus in/into/on region shadows of_death, light arose it_is to_them.] )

4.16 Populus. AUG. Populus iste qui prior ductus est in captivitatem, et in tenebris vitiorum erat, prior lucem prædicationis Christi vidit. Deinde in omnes Evangelium disseminatum est. Unde sequitur: Habitantibus in regione. Umbræ mortis. Mors est in inferno. Umbra hujus mortis sunt peccata, quæ nunquam sine morte. Qui ergo vult fugere mortem, vitet umbram.

4.16 Populus. AUG. Populus this who/which prior leadership it_is in/into/on captivity, and in/into/on darkness of_vices was, prior the_light preaching of_Christ he_saw. Then/Next in/into/on everyone the_Gospel disseminatum it_is. From_where/who follows: Habitantibus in/into/on region. Umbræ of_death. Mors it_is in/into/on hell. Umbra of_this of_death are sins, which never/certainly_not without death. Who therefore wants to_flee death, vitet shadow.

UGNT ὁ λαὸς ὁ καθήμενος ἐν σκοτίᾳ φῶς εἶδεν μέγα, καὶ τοῖς καθημένοις ἐν χώρᾳ καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτου, φῶς ἀνέτειλεν αὐτοῖς.
(ho laos ho kathaʸmenos en skotia fōs eiden mega, kai tois kathaʸmenois en ⱪōra kai skia thanatou, fōs aneteilen autois.)

SBL-GNT ὁ λαὸς ὁ καθήμενος ἐν ⸀σκοτίᾳ ⸂φῶς εἶδεν⸃ μέγα, καὶ τοῖς καθημένοις ἐν χώρᾳ καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτου φῶς ἀνέτειλεν αὐτοῖς.
(ho laos ho kathaʸmenos en ⸀skotia ⸂fōs eiden⸃ mega, kai tois kathaʸmenois en ⱪōra kai skia thanatou fōs aneteilen autois.)

RP-GNT ὁ λαὸς ὁ καθήμενος ἐν σκότει εἶδεν φῶς μέγα, καὶ τοῖς καθημένοις ἐν χώρᾳ καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτου, φῶς ἀνέτειλεν αὐτοῖς.
(ho laos ho kathaʸmenos en skotei eiden fōs mega, kai tois kathaʸmenois en ⱪōra kai skia thanatou, fōs aneteilen autois.)

TC-GNT ὁ λαὸς ὁ καθήμενος ἐν [fn]σκότει
⇔ [fn]εἶδε φῶς μέγα,
⇔ καὶ τοῖς καθημένοις ἐν χώρᾳ καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτου,
⇔ φῶς ἀνέτειλεν αὐτοῖς.
(ho laos ho kathaʸmenos en skotei
⇔ eide fōs mega,
⇔ kai tois kathaʸmenois en ⱪōra kai skia thanatou,
⇔ fōs aneteilen autois. )

4:16 σκοτει ¦ σκοτια SBL TH WH

4:16 ειδε φως ¦ φως ειδε CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:12–17: Jesus began preaching in Galilee

After Jesus’ temptation, he left the district of Judea and went to his home in the town of Nazareth, which is in the district of Galilee (2:22–23). Later he moved from Nazareth to the town of Capernaum (4:12–13).

In this section, Matthew again showed how Jesus’ life fulfilled the words of a prophet (4:14–16). This section shows that the main idea that Jesus preached in this early part of his work was: “Turn away from your sins, because the kingdom of heaven is near” (4:17 in the GNT).

Here are some other headings for this section:

Jesus began his work in Galilee

The ministry of Jesus began

There are brief parallel passages for this section in Luke 4:14–15 and Mark 1:14–15.

Paragraph 4:12–16

In this paragraph, Matthew told his readers how Jesus fulfilled one of Isaiah’s prophecies. He returned to the province of Galilee and moved to the town of Capernaum.

4:16

Before you translate 4:16, there are several issues to consider:

Issue 1: Parallelism

Verse 4:16 is a Hebrew form of poetry called a parallelism. In a parallelism, an idea is repeated. In this particular parallelism, different words are used in the second part of the verse, but they have the same basic meaning as the words in the first part.

The parallel parts in 4:16a–b that are similar in meaning are shown here:

^16a the people living in darkness have seen a great light,

^16b on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned

In some languages, people will think that the parallel parts in 4:16 describe different things. In other words, they will think that the clause “the people living in darkness” and the clause “those living in the land of the shadow of death” describe different groups of people. They will think that the clause “have seen a great light” and the clause “a light has dawned” describe two different things.

If that is true in your language, you should:

Indicate that both expressions refer to the same thing. For example:
^16athe people living in darkness have seen a great light;
^16b I repeat, a light has dawned on those living in the land of the shadow of death
Combine the parallel parts. For example:
a great light has dawned on the people living in the land of darkness and death

Issue 2: Metaphor

In addition, this verse uses metaphors of darkness and light. In the Bible, darkness and light are common metaphors. Darkness is a metaphor for sin and its effects: misery, destruction, punishment, folly, ignorance (lack of knowledge of God), and death. Light is a metaphor for God and the Messiah and the good things that the Lord gives: prosperity, wisdom, knowledge of God, life, joy, happiness, laughter, hope, justice, truth, spiritual and material redemption, salvation, revelation, God’s presence, God’s glory, and God’s favor.

Since this is a quote from the Old Testament, it is recommended that you translate this verse using the same metaphors. But it may be necessary to add some additional words to make their meaning clear.

4:16a

the people living in darkness have seen a great light;

the people who are living there in darkness have seen a bright/powerful light;
You people who are sitting in the darkness of sin will see the bright light of the Messiah.

the people living in darkness have seen a great light: This clause is the first part of the parallelism. It has the same meaning as 4:16b.

This clause contains two metaphors. Parts of these metaphors are implicit.

In the first metaphor, people who are sinful are compared to people who dwell/live in darkness. They are similar in that neither group of people can see things properly. People who live in spiritual darkness have difficulty seeing/recognizing their sin. They cannot see the truth.

In the second metaphor, the Messiah is compared to a great light. They are similar in that both show something. The Messiah shows people the way to salvation and eternal life.

Here are some other ways to translate these metaphors:

Keep the metaphors, but explain them in the text. For example:
the people who live in spiritual/moral darkness have seen the great light of the Messiah
the people who live in the darkness of sin have seen the great light of the Messiah
Change the metaphors to similes. For example:
People who sin are like people who live in darkness. When they see the Messiah, it is like they have seen a great light.
the people there live in sin. It is like they are living in darkness. But now they have seen the Messiah. It is like they have seen a great light
Translate the metaphors literally but explain them in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:
The “people living in darkness” refers figuratively to those who are sinful. They are like people walking around in the dark. The “great light” refers figuratively to the Messiah and his gospel. When Jesus came, the people finally saw the truth.

the people: The phrase the people refers to all the people who live in the land described in 4:15. It does not just refer to the Gentiles who are mentioned in 4:15c.

living: The Greek word that the BSB translates as living is literally “sitting.” For example:

the people who sat in darkness (RSV)

This Greek word is a figurative way to say “live.” This word refers to people “inhabiting” a house or a town or a country for a long time. So some English versions prefer the word “dwelling/living” rather than “sitting” which implies a temporary situation.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

dwelling (ESV)

sit (NET)

stay

have seen: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as have seen is past tense. It can also be translated as “saw.”

Isaiah wrote this prophecy hundreds of years before Jesus came to earth. But God spoke the words of this prophecy in the past tense as if viewing this event after Jesus began his work. In addition, Matthew wrote this book some years after Jesus went to heaven. So it may be natural in your language to follow the Greek and use the past tense here, like the BSB.

However, some English versions view this event from Isaiah’s time. So they use the future tense. For example:

will see (GNT)

You should use the tense or aspect that is most natural in your language.

a great light: The phrase a great light refers figuratively to God’s truth as revealed in Jesus, the Messiah, and his gospel.

In this context, the word great refers to something bright. It does not refer to something large.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

bright light (CEV)

4:16b

on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”

on the ones/people living in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has risen.”
the light of the Messiah has risen/shined on those who live in the land where people are under a cloud of death.”
To repeat, the Messiah will come to give spiritual light to those in spiritual darkness.”

on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned: This clause is the second part of the parallelism. It has the same meaning as 4:16a.

This clause contains two metaphors. Parts of these metaphors are implicit.

In the first metaphor, people who cannot recognize the truth are compared to those living in the land of the shadow of death. They are similar in that neither group of people can see things properly. People who cannot see spiritually cannot recognize the truth or their own sin.

In the second metaphor, the Messiah is compared to the sun. Just as the sun rises and shines on the earth, Jesus reveals the truth so that people can see it.

Here are some other ways to translate these metaphors:

Keep the metaphors, but explain them in the text. For example:
These people cannot see the truth. It is as if they are living in the region and the shadow of death. But the light of the Messiah has dawned/shone on these people.
Change the metaphors to similes. For example:
The Messiah is like a light that has dawned on those people who cannot see the truth. It is as if they are living in the region and shadow of death.
Translate the metaphors literally but explain them in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:
The “those living in the land of the shadow of death” refers to people who are living in danger, fear, and hopelessness. It refers figuratively to people who are living in sin and cannot see/recognize the truth. The phrase “a light has dawned” refers figuratively to the Messiah and his gospel. When Jesus came, sinful people finally saw the truth.

living in the land of the shadow of death: The phrase in the land of the shadow of death is a figure of speech.This particular figure of speech is called a hendiadys. The two nouns “land” and “shadow” can be rephrased as a noun and a modifying phrase, for example “the land which has the shadow of death.” See Translation Problems A to Z, Hendiadys. This figure of speech can be restated as “the land where death casts its shadow.” Living in the shadow of death refers to living close to death. This is figurative language that refers to a land where people live in constant danger, fear, and hopelessness. It is a land of spiritual darkness.The phrase “shadow of death” comes from a Hebrew word in the Old Testament. It occurs in places like Isaiah 9:2, from where this quote is taken, and Psalm 23:4. In the past, English versions translated this word as “shadow of death.” However, it is now recognized that a better translation of this word is “deep darkness.” In Isaiah 9:2, the ESV translates this clause as “those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness.” In Isaiah 9:2 the BSB has translates this clause as “those living in the land of the shadow of death.” In Psalm 23:4, the ESV has retained the familiar “valley of the shadow of death” in the translation, but in a footnote says “or the valley of deep darkness.” The BSB has also retained the familar “the valley of the shadow of death” in Psalm 23:4 but has a footnote that says “or the valley of deep darkness.” The NIV 2011 translates Psalm 23:4 as “the darkest valley.” Whether it is translated as “shadow of death” or “deepest darkness,” it refers to spiritual darkness that was enlightened by the Messiah. This clause is parallel to “living in darkness” in 4:16a.

In some languages, it is not possible to talk about death having a shadow or living in death’s shadow. If that is true in your language, here are some other ways to translate this clause:

living in the land of death and darkness

living in a land that is as if under clouds of death

living in the land of spiritual darkness

living close to death/danger and in darkness

Remember that this clause is parallel to “living in darkness” in 4:16a. So your translation of this clause should also have the idea of darkness in it.

a light has dawned: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as a light has dawned is literally “a light has risen.” This clause refers to the sun rising and shining on everything on the earth. As mentioned above, it represents Jesus revealing God’s truth to people.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

A light has risen (GW)

a light has shined (NLT)

As mentioned above for the verb “has shined,” some English versions use the future tense. They view this event from Isaiah’s time. For example:

a light will shine (CEV)

Because this is a quotation from the prophet Isaiah, you should keep the figure of light if at all possible.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

ὁ λαὸς ὁ καθήμενος ἐν σκοτίᾳ φῶς εἶδεν μέγα, καὶ τοῖς καθημένοις ἐν χώρᾳ καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτου, φῶς ἀνέτειλεν αὐτοῖς

¬which (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ λαός ὁ καθήμενος ἐν σκοτίᾳ φῶς εἶδεν μέγα καί τοῖς καθημένοις ἐν χώρᾳ καί σκιᾷ θανάτου φῶς ἀνέτειλεν αὐτοῖς)

These two clauses mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. Hebrew poetry was based on this kind of repetition, and it would be good to show this to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. However, if it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the phrases with a word other than and in order to show that the second phrase is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: [the people sitting in darkness have seen a great light; yes, to the ones sitting in the region and shadow of death, upon them has a light arisen]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

Here Isaiah refers to sin, trouble, and hopelessness as if they were darkness and the shadow of death. He refers to God’s deliverance and salvation as if it were a great light. If possible, preserve these metaphors or express them in simile form. Alternate translation: [the people sitting in spiritual darkness have seen the great light of God’s salvation, and to the ones sitting in the region and shadow where there is spiritual death, upon them the light of God’s deliverance has arisen]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὁ καθήμενος & τοῖς καθημένοις

¬which sitting & ˱to˲_the_‹ones› sitting

Here, Isaiah refers to living as if it were sitting. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable word or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [dwelling … to the ones dwelling]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν σκοτίᾳ

in darkness

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of darkness, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [where it is dark]

Note 5 topic: translate-tense

εἶδεν & φῶς ἀνέτειλεν

saw & ˓a˒_light rose

Isaiah uses the past tense here in order to refer to something that will certainly happen in the future. If it would not be natural to do that in your language, you could use the future tense. Alternate translation: [will see … will a light arise]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

χώρᾳ καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτου

˓a˒_land (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ λαός ὁ καθήμενος ἐν σκοτίᾳ φῶς εἶδεν μέγα καί τοῖς καθημένοις ἐν χώρᾳ καί σκιᾷ θανάτου φῶς ἀνέτειλεν αὐτοῖς)

Here, Isaiah is using the possessive form to describe a region and a shadow, or darkness, that is characterized by death. If this is not clear in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the deadly region and the deathly shadow] or [the region and shadow characterized by death]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

θανάτου

˱of˲_death

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of death, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [that are deadly]

Parallel MAT 4:16

Section 4:12–17: Jesus began preaching in Galilee

Paragraph 4:12–16

4:16

4:16a

4:16b