Matthew 4:25

1st century AD Palestine showing the areas mentioned in this verse

Matthew 4:25 is the twenty-fifth, and final, verse of the fourth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. This verse is part of a brief summary of and introduction to Jesus' ministry in Galilee, which will be recounted in the next several chapters. This verse lists the many locations from which people came to see Jesus.

The original Koine Greek, according to Westcott and Hort, reads:

και ηκολουθησαν αυτω οχλοι πολλοι απο της γαλιλαιας και δεκαπολεως

και ιεροσολυμων και ιουδαιας και περαν του ιορδανου

In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:

And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from

Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

The World English Bible translates the passage as:

Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem,

Judea and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

For a collection of other versions see BibRef Matthew 4:25

This verse reaffirms the author of Matthew's affinity for geography, and especially place names, as previously seen throughout Matthew 2 and in Matthew 4:13. This verse lists the places from which people came to follow Jesus. These are:

• Galilee, Jesus' homeland where he is preaching at this time
• The Decapolis, literally "the Ten Towns", largely Gentile Greek cities
• Jerusalem, the political and spiritual capital of the region
• Judaea, the heartland of the Jews to the south of Galilee
• Peraea, an area to the east of the Jordan River

With the mention of Syria in the previous verse this covers the entirety of the Holy Land, with the notable exception of Samaria. Throughout his gospel the author of Matthew seems to view that area in a negative light, as in Matthew 10:5.

References

• Albright, W.F. and C.S. Mann. "Matthew." The Anchor Bible Series. New York: Doubleday & Company, 1971.
• France, R.T. The Gospel According to Matthew: an Introduction and Commentary. Leicester: Inter-Varsity, 1985.