Devine Scripture

Matthew 4:22

What does Matthew 4:22 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 4:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 4:22 means

Like Simon and Andrew, James and John responded with the same profound and immediate obedience. They "straightway left the boat and their father" to follow Jesus. Their willingness to leave not only their means of income but also their family ties demonstrates an extraordinary and unwavering commitment to Christ, prioritizing His call above all else.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And they straightway left the boat and their father, and followed him.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And they straightway left the boat and their father, and followed him.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they went straight from the boat and their father and came after him.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and they, immediately, having left the boat and their father, did follow him.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they forthwith left their nets and father, and followed him.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and they, having left the ship and their father, immediately followed him.

Context

This verse completes the calling of James and John, directly detailing their immediate and radical response to Jesus' invitation. Their swift departure, even from their father, emphasizes the absolute nature of discipleship and mirrors the immediate obedience of Peter and Andrew. With four key disciples now called, the narrative will shift to Jesus' broader ministry activities.

v.21And going on from thence he saw two other brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

v.22This passage

v.23And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness among the people.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 9:59

    And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

  • Deuteronomy 33:9

    Who said of his father, and of his mother, I have not seen him; Neither did he acknowledge his brethren, Nor knew he his own children: For they have observed thy word, And keep thy covenant.

  • Luke 14:33

    So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

  • Mark 1:20

    And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.

  • Luke 14:26

    If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

  • Matthew 10:37

    He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

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