Matthew 14:35

KJV

And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} when the men {G435} of that {G1565} place {G5117} had knowledge {G1921} of him {G846}, they sent out {G649} into {G1519} all {G3650} that {G1565} country round about {G4066}, and {G2532} brought {G4374} unto him {G846} all {G3956} that were {G2192} diseased {G2560};

Complete Jewish Bible

When the people of the place recognized him, they sent word throughout the neighborhood and brought him everyone who was ill.

Berean Standard Bible

And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding region. People brought all the sick to Him

American Standard Version

And when the men of that place knew him, they sent into all that region round about, and brought unto him all that were sick;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 14:35 vividly depicts the immediate and widespread recognition of Jesus upon His arrival in Gennesaret, a fertile region on the Sea of Galilee. Having just crossed the water after miraculously feeding the five thousand and walking on the sea, Jesus' presence quickly became known to the local inhabitants. This verse highlights the profound impact of His established fame and compassionate healing ministry, as people from the entire surrounding area eagerly sought Him out, bringing all who suffered from various ailments for His touch.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows a series of profound demonstrations of Jesus' divine power and authority. In [Matthew 14:13-21](/matthew/14-13-21 "Matthew 14:13-21 - Feeding the Five Thousand"), Jesus miraculously feeds over five thousand people with only five loaves and two fish, showcasing His power over creation and His provision for humanity. This is followed by the astonishing account of [Jesus walking on water](/matthew/14-22-33 "Matthew 14:22-33 - Jesus Walks on Water"), where He calms a storm and reveals His mastery over nature, leading His disciples to worship Him, declaring, "Truly you are the Son of God" ([Matthew 14:33](/matthew/14-33 "Matthew 14:33 - Disciples Worship Jesus")). Having just landed in Gennesaret, a known and populated area, His arrival is not unnoticed. The events leading up to this verse establish Jesus' unparalleled reputation as a miracle worker and a figure of divine authority, setting the stage for the eager response of the people described in [Matthew 14:35](/matthew/14-35 "Matthew 14:35 - People Seek Jesus in Gennesaret").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Gennesaret was a highly fertile plain on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, known for its rich agriculture and dense population. Its strategic location made it a bustling hub of activity, with many towns and villages dotting the landscape. In first-century Judea and Galilee, disease and physical suffering were rampant, with limited medical knowledge or effective treatments. People often sought healing through various means, including religious figures, local healers, and even magical practices. Against this backdrop, reports of Jesus' miraculous healings would have spread like wildfire, creating immense hope among the afflicted. The cultural practice of bringing the sick to a renowned healer was common, but the scale and urgency described in this verse underscore the extraordinary nature of Jesus' reputation and the desperate hope He inspired.
* **Key Themes:** [Matthew 14:35](/matthew/14-35 "Matthew 14:35 - People Seek Jesus in Gennesaret") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel. Firstly, it reiterates **Jesus' Widespread Fame and Authority**. His renown had clearly transcended local boundaries, reaching "all that country round about," indicating that His identity and power were not merely acknowledged but deeply recognized by the populace. This widespread recognition underscores His divine authority, which was consistently demonstrated through His teachings and miracles, as seen in earlier accounts like His healing ministry throughout Galilee ([Matthew 4:23-25](/matthew/4-23-25 "Matthew 4:23-25 - Jesus' Ministry in Galilee")). Secondly, the verse highlights **Jesus' Consistent Compassionate Healing Ministry**. The people's immediate and collective action to bring "all that were diseased" to Him testifies to their profound belief in His ability and willingness to heal, which was a central aspect of His earthly mission to demonstrate God's love and power, and to usher in the kingdom of heaven. This act also showcases the **People's Faith and Hope**, as their urgency in seeking Him out reflects a deep-seated hope for physical restoration, finding solace and a potential cure in the presence of the Messiah.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **knowledge (Greek, _epiginṓskō'_):** From G1921. This word implies more than a superficial acquaintance; it signifies a deep and accurate recognition, a full acquaintance, or an acknowledgment. When the men "had knowledge of him," it suggests that they didn't just hear a rumor, but they genuinely recognized Jesus for who He was and what He could do, likely based on His preceding miracles and teachings. This recognition spurred their immediate and decisive action.
* **all (Greek, _pâs'_):: From G3956. This term, used twice in the verse ("all that country round about" and "all that were diseased"), emphasizes totality and universality. It highlights the comprehensive reach of Jesus' fame and the sheer volume of people who sought His healing. It's not just a few individuals or a single village, but the entire region and every afflicted person they could bring.
* **diseased (Greek, _kakōs'_):** From G2560. This adverb literally means "badly" or "grievously." When combined with the verb "were" (G2192, _échō_, meaning "to hold" or "to be in a state"), it forms the phrase "those who were in a bad state" or "had it badly." This broad term encompasses a wide spectrum of physical ailments, suffering, and infirmities, indicating Jesus' willingness and ability to heal all forms of human brokenness, not just specific conditions.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when the men of that place had knowledge of him,"**: Upon Jesus' arrival in Gennesaret, the local inhabitants quickly and accurately recognized Him. This recognition was not merely a casual awareness but a profound understanding of His identity and miraculous power, which had been demonstrated extensively throughout Galilee. Their prior knowledge of His reputation for healing and teaching fueled their immediate response.
* **"they sent out into all that country round about,"**: Driven by this recognition and hope, the people of Gennesaret took swift and decisive action. They dispatched messengers throughout the entire surrounding region, indicating the widespread nature of Jesus' fame and the collective desire to bring Him to those in need. This highlights the proactive and communal effort to access Jesus' healing power.
* **"and brought unto him all that were diseased;"**: As a direct result of their outreach, an overwhelming number of sick and suffering individuals were gathered and brought to Jesus. The use of "all" underscores the comprehensive scope of their effort and the universal nature of human suffering, which Jesus met with boundless compassion and power. This clause reveals the ultimate purpose of their actions: to present every afflicted person to the one they believed could bring healing.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 14:35 employs several **literary devices** to convey the profound impact of Jesus' ministry. The most prominent is **Hyperbole**, seen in the phrases "all that country round about" and "all that were diseased." While perhaps not literally every single person or every square inch of land, this exaggerated language powerfully emphasizes the vastness of Jesus' fame and the overwhelming number of people who sought His healing touch. It creates a vivid image of a region completely mobilized by hope. There is also a strong sense of **Emphasis** through the rapid sequence of events: Jesus' arrival, immediate recognition, swift outreach, and the subsequent bringing of the sick. This quick succession underscores the urgency and the magnetic draw of Jesus' presence. Furthermore, the narrative implicitly uses **Contrast** between the pervasive suffering and helplessness of "all that were diseased" and the singular, compassionate, and powerful presence of Jesus, who stands as the source of their hope and healing.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 14:35 powerfully underscores Jesus' divine authority and boundless compassion, revealing Him as the long-awaited Messiah who fulfills ancient prophecies concerning a healer and deliverer. The immediate and widespread response of the people in Gennesaret testifies to the palpable presence of God's kingdom breaking into the world through Jesus. His willingness to heal "all that were diseased" demonstrates God's profound concern for human suffering and His desire to restore wholeness, not just spiritually but physically. This act of healing is not merely a display of power but an embodiment of divine love, inviting all who are broken and afflicted to come to Him for relief and restoration. It foreshadows the ultimate healing and redemption that Jesus would accomplish through His atoning work, addressing the deepest sickness of humanity—sin.

* [Isaiah 53:4-5](/isaiah/53-4-5 "Isaiah 53:4-5 - The Suffering Servant")
* [Matthew 8:16-17](/matthew/8-16-17 "Matthew 8:16-17 - Jesus Heals Many")
* [Mark 6:53-56](/mark/6-53-56 "Mark 6:53-56 - Jesus Heals in Gennesaret")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 14:35 serves as a profound reminder of the enduring relevance and accessibility of Jesus' compassion and power. Just as the people of Gennesaret, upon recognizing Jesus, urgently sent word and brought their sick to Him, we are similarly invited to bring our own needs—whether physical ailments, emotional burdens, spiritual brokenness, or relational struggles—to the Lord. His compassion is not diminished, nor is His power limited by time or space. This passage encourages us to cultivate a posture of active faith, believing that Jesus is able and willing to meet us in our brokenness. Furthermore, it challenges believers to emulate the proactive zeal of the Gennesaret community. Having "knowledge of Him," we are called to be His ambassadors, making His name and saving power known in our own "country round about," so that others who are "diseased" by sin, suffering, or despair might also find hope, healing, and true life in Him. Our mission is to connect the suffering world to the Great Physician.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you need to bring your "diseased" parts—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—to Jesus for healing?**
* **How does the immediate and widespread response of the people in Gennesaret challenge your own urgency in seeking Jesus or making Him known?**
* **What does this passage reveal about Jesus' character that encourages you to trust Him more deeply with your burdens?**

### FAQ
**What does the phrase "had knowledge of him" signify about Jesus' reputation?**

Answer: The phrase "had knowledge of him" (Greek: _epiginṓskō_) signifies a deep and accurate recognition, not merely a casual acquaintance. It indicates that Jesus' identity, His miraculous power, and His compassionate ministry were already widely and profoundly understood throughout the region of Gennesaret. His fame had preceded Him, likely due to His numerous teachings and healings across Galilee, including the recent feeding of the five thousand ([Matthew 14:13-21](/matthew/14-13-21 "Matthew 14:13-21 - Feeding the Five Thousand")) and His dramatic walk on water ([Matthew 14:22-33](/matthew/14-22-33 "Matthew 14:22-33 - Jesus Walks on Water")). This widespread and accurate knowledge prompted the immediate and collective action of the people, who recognized Him as the one capable of bringing healing and relief.

**Why did the people bring "all that were diseased" to Jesus, and what does this reveal about His ministry?**

Answer: The people brought "all that were diseased" to Jesus because they had witnessed or heard compelling testimonies of His power to heal every kind of sickness and infirmity. In a world with limited medical solutions, Jesus represented a unique and powerful source of hope and restoration. The phrase "all that were diseased" (Greek: _kakōs echontas_, literally "those who had it badly") emphasizes the comprehensive nature of their suffering and, by extension, the comprehensive nature of Jesus' healing ministry. This reveals that Jesus' mission was deeply compassionate, extending to the physical suffering of humanity. His willingness to heal all who came to Him, regardless of their ailment, underscored His divine authority over sickness and death, demonstrating the tangible arrival of the Kingdom of God and fulfilling prophecies about the Messiah's redemptive work, such as those found in [Isaiah 53:4](/isaiah/53-4 "Isaiah 53:4 - He Bore Our Sicknesses")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 14:35, with its vivid portrayal of Jesus healing "all that were diseased," serves as a powerful microcosm of His broader redemptive work and points directly to His ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment. While His earthly ministry brought physical restoration to many, these acts of healing were tangible signs of a deeper, spiritual healing He came to accomplish. Jesus, the Great Physician, did not merely alleviate symptoms; He confronted the very root of human brokenness—sin—which is the ultimate "disease" plaguing humanity. His compassion for the physically afflicted in Gennesaret foreshadows His willingness to bear the spiritual infirmities of all mankind. The prophet Isaiah foretold that the Suffering Servant would "bear our griefs and carry our sorrows" ([Isaiah 53:4-5](/isaiah/53-4-5 "Isaiah 53:4-5 - The Suffering Servant")), a prophecy explicitly linked to Jesus' healing ministry in [Matthew 8:16-17](/matthew/8-16-17 "Matthew 8:16-17 - Jesus Heals Many")). Ultimately, Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection secured not just physical healing, but eternal spiritual healing and reconciliation with God, so that "by His stripes we are healed" ([1 Peter 2:24](/1_peter/2-24 "1 Peter 2:24 - Healing Through Christ's Wounds")). His earthly compassion in Gennesaret is a promise of the future reality in the new heavens and new earth, where He will wipe away every tear and "death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore" ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Suffering")), a complete and final fulfillment of His healing mission.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 4:24

And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Matthew 4:25

And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and [from] Decapolis, and [from] Jerusalem, and [from] Judaea, and [from] beyond Jordan.

Mark 6:55

And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

Mark 3:8

And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and [from] beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.

Mark 3:10

For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.

Mark 1:28

And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.

Mark 1:34

And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.