SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:16
el pueblo asentado en tinieblas, vio gran luz; y a los asentados en regin de sombra de muerte, luz les esclareci.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 4:16
Verse 16. The people which sat in darkness] This is quoted from Isa. ix. 2, where, instead of sitting, the prophet used the word walked. The evangelist might on purpose change the term, to point out the increased misery of the state of these persons. Sitting in darkness expresses a greater degree of intellectual blindness, than walking in darkness does. In the time of Christ's appearing, the people were in a much worse state than in the time of the prophet, which was nearly 700 years before; as, during all this period, they were growing more ignorant and sinful. The region and shadow of death] These words are amazingly descriptive. A region of death-DEATH'S country, where, in a peculiar manner, Death lived, reigned, and triumphed, subjecting all the people to his sway.
Shadow of death] skia qanatou, used only here and in Luke i. 79, but often in the Old Covenant, where the Hebrew is twm lx tsal maveth, It is not easy to enter fully into the ideal meaning of this term. As in the former clause, death is personified, so here. A shadow is that darkness cast upon a place by a body raised between it and the light or sun. Death is here represented as standing between the land above mentioned, and the light of life, or Sun of righteousness; in consequence of which, all the inhabitants were, involved in a continual cloud of intellectual darkness, misery, and sin. The heavenly sun was continually eclipsed to them, till this glorious time, when Jesus Christ, the true light, shone forth in the beauty of holiness and truth. Christ began his ministry in Galilee, and frequented this uncultivated place more than he did Jerusalem and other parts of Judea: here his preaching was peculiarly needful; and by this was the prophecy fulfilled.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-17 - It is just with God to take the gospel and the means of grace, from those that slight them and thrust them away. Christ will not stay lon where he is not welcome. Those who are without Christ, are in the dark They were sitting in this condition, a contented posture; they chose i rather than light; they were willingly ignorant. When the gospel comes light comes; when it comes to any place, when it comes to any soul, i makes day there. Light discovers and directs; so does the gospel. The doctrine of repentance is right gospel doctrine. Not only the auster John Baptist, but the gracious Jesus, preached repentance. There is still the same reason to do so. The kingdom of heaven was not reckone to be fully come, till the pouring out of the Holy Spirit afte Christ's ascension.
Greek Textus Receptus
ο 3588 T-NSM λαος 2992 N-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM καθημενος 2521 5740 V-PNP-NSM εν 1722 PREP σκοτει 4655 N-DSN ειδε 1492 5627 V-2AAI-3S φως 5457 N-ASN μεγα 3173 A-ASN και 2532 CONJ τοις 3588 T-DPM καθημενοις 2521 5740 V-PNP-DPM εν 1722 PREP χωρα 5561 N-DSF και 2532 CONJ σκια 4639 N-DSF θανατου 2288 N-GSM φως 5457 N-NSN ανετειλεν 393 5656 V-AAI-3S αυτοις 846 P-DPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
16. The people which sat (o kaqlhmenov); Wyc., dwelt. The article with the participle (lit., the people, the one sitting) signifying something characteristic or habitual: the people whose characteristic it was to sit in darkness. This thought is emphasized by repetition in a stronger form; sitting in the region and shadow of Death. Death is personified. This land, whose inhabitants are spiritually dead, belongs to Death as the realm of his government.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:16 {Saw a great light} (fws eiden mega). Matthew quotes #Isa 9:1f., and applies the words about the deliverer from Assyria to the Messiah. "The same district lay in spiritual darkness and death and the new era dawned when Christ went thither" (McNeile). Light sprang up from those who were sitting in the region and shadow of death (en chorai kai skiai qanatou). Death is personified.
