to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
Parallel translations
- WEB that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
- KJV That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
- NKJV that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
- NASB This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled:
- NLT This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Matthew explains that Jesus' move fulfilled what Isaiah had spoken. It underscores that Jesus' ministry unfolds according to Scripture.
Overview
This is one of Matthew's characteristic fulfillment formulas, linking events in Jesus' life to Old Testament prophecy. The Gospel writer wants readers to see that nothing in Jesus' ministry is accidental; it is the unfolding of God's long-promised plan. The Messiah's choice of Galilee is itself a sign of His identity.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Isa 9:1–2Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:
- Matt 2:23and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
- Luke 24:44Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”
- Luke 22:37For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.”
- Matt 12:17–21This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
- Matt 2:15where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”
- Matt 1:22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
- Matt 26:56But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.
- John 19:28After this, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”
- John 19:36–37Now these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of His bones will be broken.”
- Matt 26:54But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”
- Matt 8:17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took on our infirmities and carried our diseases.”
- John 15:25But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 4:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.