King James Bible
"And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:"
Jesus departs from his hometown where he was raised, marking a pivotal transition from private life to public ministry. This move follows his rejection at Nazareth's synagogue, demonstrating that prophetic ministry often requires leaving familiar territory. Capernaum becomes Jesus' ministry headquarters—a strategic choice as a thriving fishing village and commercial hub on major trade routes. The verb 'dwelt' indicates this was not a brief visit but an established base for his Galilean mission. Matthew emphasizes the geographical specificity to connect Jesus' location with Isaiah's prophecy about light dawning in Galilee of the Gentiles. These tribal territories, devastated by Assyrian conquest centuries earlier, would now witness the Messiah's transformative presence.