4:13a

Leaving Nazareth: The noun Nazareth is the name of Jesus’ hometown. It was a small town in the district of Galilee. It is implied that Jesus first went there. Then he left that town. You may want to include some of the implied information. For example:

⌊He went to the town of⌋ Nazareth, ⌊and later⌋ he left
-or-

⌊He first went and stayed in his hometown of⌋ Nazareth. ⌊Then⌋ he left

went and lived in Capernaum: The noun Capernaum is the name of another town in the district of Galilee. Jesus moved to Capernaum and it became his home.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

moved to Capernaum (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
went and settled in Capernaum (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
went to stay in ⌊the town of⌋ Capernaum

4:13b

which is by the sea: The phrase by the sea is the first of two phrases that describe where the town of Capernaum was located. Capernaum was by/beside the Sea of Galilee.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

This town was beside Lake Galilee (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (God’s Word)

the sea: The phrase the sea refers to the largest freshwater lake in Israel. It is the Sea of Galilee. This lake is about 21 kilometers long and 11 kilometers wide. If your language has different words for “lake/sea” based on its size, this information may help you decide which word to use.

The Sea of Galilee is a body of freshwater, not saltwater. The word “sea” is often associated with saltwater. But it can also refer to a lake of freshwater, as is the case in this passage. Several other versions, such as the New International Version, say “lake.”

If your language has a separate word or phrase for a freshwater lake, you will want to use it here. In languages that do not have a word for “sea/lake,” you may be able to use a descriptive phrase. For example:

the big pond/water
-or-
large water
-or-
wide/large river

4:13c

in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali: The phrase in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali is the second of two phrases that describe where the town of Capernaum was located. Capernaum was in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali.

The nouns Zebulun and Naphtali are the names of two of the tribes/clans of Israel. The land that belonged to these two clans covered some of the same area as the district of Galilee.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in the region/area of Zebulun and Naphtali

-or-

⌊It/Capernaum was⌋ in the land that belonged to the descendants/clans of Zebulun and Naphtali

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