Definition: The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, [by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down that verse! It’s a really important one in the Bible and it tells us where Jesus started his ministry. Here’s what it means, explained simply: Basically, Jesus began his journey traveling through these areas. Let's unpack it piece by piece: Matthew 4: This is from Matthew, which is one of the four Gospels (the books about Jesus’ life). 4:15: That’s the title. It’s a specific verse number. “The land of Zabulon…” – This refers to a place in Israel called Zabulon. It was a region near Tel Aviv. “…and the land of Nephthalim, [by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan…” – This is where it gets a little more complex. “Naphthalim” means "the land of the valley" and it’s located in the east side of the Dead Sea, near the Jordan River. So, this part tells us Jesus started his travels beyond the Jordan River. “Galilee of the Gentiles” – This is the key part! “Galilee” was a region in the north of Israel that was mostly inhabited by Jewish people. "The Gentiles" refers to people outside of Israel – meaning, non-Jews like Romans and other travelers. So, putting it all together: Jesus began his ministry (traveling and teaching) in the area that’s now called Galilee, which is located in northern Israel, but it was situated just beyond the Jordan River, a place that was previously largely inhabited by Jewish people – and that's where he started to reach out to those who weren't already part of the Jewish community. Why is this important? This verse is considered significant because it marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, meaning his time of teaching, healing, and performing miracles. It shows how Jesus was starting to reach out to a wider audience than just the people in Israel. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Give you more context about this time period in history?