Matthew
“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.”
Matthew 4:16
Matthew 4:16 (KJV) speaks to hope, despair, and hope in Christ — words set in Matthew, the Gospel that presents Jesus as the promised King. It is the kind of verse worth reading slowly, more than once, and carrying with you through the day.
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Verses that sit beside this one
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”
Isaiah 9:2“To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:79“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
John 8:12“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”
Psalms 42:5“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
John 1:5“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
Psalms 42:11
Common questions
What does Matthew 4:16 mean?
In the King James Version, Matthew 4:16 reads: "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." The verse speaks to hope, despair, and hope in Christ. To read it well, take it in the flow of Matthew 4 rather than on its own, and let the words settle slowly — reading it aloud, or turning it into a short prayer, is often what makes its meaning land.
Is Matthew 4:16 in the King James Version?
Yes. "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." is Matthew 4:16 in the King James Version (KJV), found in Matthew chapter 4.
What are some related Bible verses to Matthew 4:16?
Verses that sit beside Matthew 4:16 include Isaiah 9:2, Luke 1:79, and John 8:12. Reading them alongside Matthew 4:16 deepens the theme of hope.
How can I pray with Matthew 4:16?
Read Matthew 4:16 slowly, take a breath, and turn it into a short prayer in your own words — thanking God for what it promises, or asking for what it points to. Keep it somewhere you will see it today, and let it be a companion rather than a task to finish.