Matthew 11:23

And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

And {G2532} thou {G4771}, Capernaum {G2584}, which {G3588} art exalted {G5312} unto {G2193} heaven {G3772}, shalt be brought down {G2601} to {G2193} hell {G86}: for {G3754} if {G1487} the mighty works {G1411}, which {G3588} have been done {G1096} in {G1722} thee {G4671}, had been done {G1096} in {G1722} Sodom {G4670}, it would have remained {G302}{G3306} until {G3360} this day {G4594}.

And you, K'far-Nachum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Sh'ol!b For if the miracles done in you had been done in S'dom, it would still be in existence today.

And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.

And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt go down unto Hades: for if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day.

Commentary

In Matthew 11:23, Jesus pronounces a severe judgment upon the city of Capernaum, which had been a primary center of His ministry and the site of numerous miracles. Despite being privileged with His direct presence and powerful deeds, the city largely remained unrepentant. This verse underscores a profound biblical principle: greater privilege brings greater accountability.

Historical and Cultural Context

Capernaum was a thriving fishing town on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, making it an ideal base for Jesus' Galilean ministry. The Gospels record many of Jesus' miracles and teachings occurring there, including healing the centurion's servant, Peter's mother-in-law, and raising Jairus's daughter. The phrase "exalted unto heaven" refers not to its physical elevation, but to its immense spiritual privilege due to the extensive divine revelation and mighty works (Greek: dynameis) performed within its borders. This verse is part of a series of woes pronounced by Jesus on unrepentant cities (Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum) that witnessed His power but failed to believe.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Greater Light, Greater Judgment: The core message is that those who receive the most spiritual light and witness the most divine power will face a proportionally severe judgment if they reject it. Capernaum's spiritual advantages made its unbelief particularly egregious.
  • Unbelief Despite Evidence: The city's condemnation highlights the stubbornness of the human heart that can resist even overwhelming evidence of God's presence and power.
  • Sodom as a Benchmark: By comparing Capernaum's fate to Sodom, a city famously destroyed by God for its extreme wickedness (Genesis 19:24), Jesus emphasizes the gravity of rejecting divine grace. Sodom's sin was great, but Capernaum's rejection of the Messiah Himself was deemed worse, as Sodom never had such a clear manifestation of God's truth.
  • Prophetic Fulfillment: Historically, Capernaum eventually fell into ruin and was largely abandoned, fulfilling Jesus' prophecy of being "brought down to hell" (Greek: Hades, here signifying utter destruction or ruin, not necessarily the literal underworld).

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "hell" in the KJV is Hades (ᾅδης). While often referring to the realm of the dead, in this context, it signifies a complete reversal of fortune, from spiritual exaltation to utter desolation and ruin, a metaphorical fall into the deepest depths of judgment and oblivion. The "mighty works" are dynameis (δυνάμεις), referring to miraculous powers or deeds, emphasizing the supernatural nature of Jesus' actions.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a sober warning for all who have been exposed to God's truth and grace. It teaches that spiritual privilege comes with profound responsibility. We are accountable for how we respond to the light we have received, whether through the Gospel, the Bible, or the testimony of God's work in the world. Indifference or rejection in the face of clear revelation carries significant consequences. This principle is echoed elsewhere in Scripture, reminding us that to whom much is given, much will be required.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 4:46

    So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

  • John 4:54

    This [is] again the second miracle [that] Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

  • Isaiah 14:13

    For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

  • Isaiah 14:15

    Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

  • Matthew 4:13

    And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

  • Genesis 13:13

    But the men of Sodom [were] wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

  • Revelation 11:8

    And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
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