In verses 15 and 16, the writer quotes the prophet Isaiah to show that Jesus' ministry in Galilee was a fulfillment of prophecy.
# This happened
This refers to Jesus going to live in Capernaum.
# what was said
This can be stated in active form. AT: "what God said" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
# The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali ... Galilee of the Gentiles!
All of these territories describe the same area. This can be translated as a complete sentence. AT: "In the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali ... in the territory of Galilee live many Gentiles!"
# toward the sea
This is the Sea of Galilee.
# The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light
Here "darkness" refers to moral darkness or sin, which separates people from God. And, "light" refers to God's true message that saves people from their sin. This is the image of people who were without hope now having hope coming from God. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
# to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, upon them has a light arisen
This basically has the same meaning as the first part of the sentence. Here "region and shadow of death" refers to spiritual death or a separation from God. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
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