Zebulun and Naphtali are placed in apposition with Galilee, and they are located toward the sea (Good News Translation “on the road to the sea”), across the Jordan. This last phrase (across the Jordan) normally refers to the east bank of the Jordan River, seen by someone standing on the west bank; here, however, the reference is to the western side, where the territories of Zebulun and Naphtali are located.

The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, as in verse 13, may be translated as “the regions of…,” “the territories of…,” or “the territory of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali.”

These areas are toward the sea. Translators may have to specify which sea. If so, they should say “toward the sea of Galilee” or “on the way to the sea of Galilee.”

For across the Jordan, translators often put “across the Jordan River” or “on the other side of the Jordan River,” or they can say “on the west side of the Jordan River.”

Galilee of the Gentiles is translated “Galilee, land of the Gentiles” by Good News Translation. The noun Galilee comes from the Hebrew, which means “circle” or “district.” In New Testament times “Galilee of the Gentiles” meant “the district of the non-Jews.” Galilee was on the edge of Israelite territory. Galilee of the Gentiles can be expressed as “Galilee, where the non-Jews live” or “Galilee, the territory where the non-Jews stay.” Note that “non-Jews” is the usual translation of “Gentiles.” There were also Jews living there—it was not an area exclusively for Gentiles. It may be good to say “where there are non-Jews living” or “where non-Jews also live.”

All of this verse is talking about the same place. The territories of Zebulun and Naphtali are the same area as the territory of Galilee where the non-Jews live. In some languages, to avoid giving the impression that they are different territories, translators have “territories of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, which are on the way to the sea of Galilee, on the other side of the Jordan River, that territory of Galilee where there are non-Jews.”

A more difficult problem for many translators is that it is often impossible to address territories as if they were people. Translators can say “You who live in the territories of Zebulun and Naphtali….” But it may be necessary to use indirect speech: “The prophet spoke to the people who live in the territories of Zebulun and Naphtali, on the way to the sea of Galilee, on the other side of the River Jordan, that territory where the non-Jews live. He said, ‘The people who sat in darkness….’ ”

The people (verse 16) are the Jews. Verse 15 refers to Jesus’ ministry to the non-Jews, whereas verse 16 indicates that he brings light to his own people who live in darkness.

Light, which signifies salvation, is now applied by Matthew to Jesus. Among the Jews both concepts (light and dawned) would have held a saving significance.

Some translators have wanted to say “you people who sat in darkness….” However, since the people of verse 16 are the Jews, then it should say “The people who….” Sat means “lived” or “were located.”

Darkness does not refer to physical darkness like night, but rather to spiritual and moral darkness. Not all cultures use or understand this figure of speech, and translators say “moral darkness,” “darkness of sin,” or “The people who lived like they were in darkness, they couldn’t see the right way to live.”

Light, it then follows, is the salvation God brings to his people. Again, for languages where the lightness and darkness figures of speech are not known, translators will say “have seen the light of God’s salvation,” “the light God gives,” or “God has shown them a new life which is like a light to them.”

To live (or sit) in the region and shadow of death refers to the condition of people who are spiritually dead. To live apart from God is like having no life at all: “For those who were living without having real life” or “For those people whose lives didn’t have the life God gives.”

As we pointed out, light and dawned would both refer to the salvation God gives: “God’s salvation has come to them like the light of dawn,” “God has brought them light,” “God’s light has risen in them.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .