καὶ ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ ὄχλοι πολλοὶ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας καὶ Δεκαπόλεως καὶ Ἱεροσολύμων καὶ Ἰουδαίας καὶ πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου
Matthew 4:25 records the early and rapidly growing popularity of Jesus as his ministry begins. The Greek text paints a picture of a broad, regional response—crowds gathering from Jewish and mixed territories alike. The structure emphasizes the vastness and diversity of those who came to hear and see him.
Grammatical Foundations
καὶ ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ—“And they followed him.” The verb ἠκολούθησαν is aorist active indicative, 3rd person plural from ἀκολουθέω—“to follow.” The aorist tense indicates a completed action: large groups actively and decisively began following him. αὐτῷ is the dative singular pronoun referring to Jesus, the one being followed.
ὄχλοι πολλοί—“many crowds.” ὄχλοι (crowds) is nominative masculine plural, and πολλοί (many) functions attributively, emphasizing both the number and massiveness of the groups. The plural of “crowd” suggests multiple groups, not just one unified throng.
ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας καὶ Δεκαπόλεως καὶ Ἱεροσολύμων καὶ Ἰουδαίας καὶ πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου—“from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and beyond the Jordan.” Each location is governed by ἀπό (“from”), specifying the wide geographic span:
- Γαλιλαίας — Jewish territory where Jesus began preaching
- Δεκαπόλεως — Greek for “Ten Cities,” a largely Gentile region east of the Jordan
- Ἱεροσολύμων — Jerusalem, the religious center
- Ἰουδαίας — Judea, the broader southern region including Jerusalem
- πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου — “beyond the Jordan,” referring to the Transjordan area
The cumulative list underlines that Jesus’ fame and appeal were not limited to one class, ethnicity, or region—it crossed traditional boundaries.
Exegetical and Theological Implications
This verse hints at the universal scope of Jesus’ mission even in its early stages. Although he was sent to the “lost sheep of Israel,” the geography already foreshadows a mission that reaches Gentiles (e.g., Decapolis, Transjordan). The crowds following Jesus signify hunger for the kingdom message across traditional political and religious borders.
The grammatical simplicity of ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ paired with the sweeping regional enumeration underscores both the accessibility and the compelling authority of Jesus. No barriers—geographic, cultural, or religious—could contain the news of his arrival.
Linguistic and Historical Perspectives
ἀκολουθέω in Gospel narratives often carries a double meaning: physically following and spiritually committing. Here it likely emphasizes the physical crowds, but Matthew will later develop the theme into true discipleship.
Δεκαπόλις (Decapolis) refers to a league of ten cities with Greek cultural influence. Its inclusion shows that even Hellenistic territories found themselves drawn toward the Jewish Messiah figure. Similarly, πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου points to the East, signaling breadth toward traditionally marginalized lands.
Table: Verbal and Structural Features in Matthew 4:25
| Text | Greek Verb / Phrase | Form | Function / Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt 4:25 | ἠκολούθησαν | Aorist active indicative, 3rd person plural | “They followed”; describes decisive action of the crowds |
| Matt 4:25 | ὄχλοι πολλοί | Nominative masculine plural noun + adjective | “Many crowds”; highlights the large and diverse groups |
| Matt 4:25 | ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας… πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου | Prepositional phrase | “From Galilee… beyond the Jordan”; details broad geographic origin |
The Verse as a Paradigm of Koine Greek Richness
Matthew 4:25 shows how Koine Greek can capture dynamic historical moments with compact clarity. Through one participle, one verb, and a series of prepositional phrases, the text conveys excitement, movement, and broadening influence. The simplicity of the Greek allows the grandeur of the moment to shine—a Messiah whose call drew the multitudes from every corner of the land.
