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 4:24KJV
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Matthew 4:24 (KJV)

What does Matthew 4:24 mean?

Matthew 4:24 describes how news about Jesus spread widely, reaching all of Syria, and as a result, many people brought to him those who were suffering from various illnesses, pains, demonic possession, mental disturbances, and paralysis, and Jesus healed them all. This verse highlights both the wide reach of Jesus’s reputation and the range of suffering people brought to him for help.

In this part of Matthew, the writer is narrating the early days of Jesus’s public ministry. The verse shows that Jesus’s actions—especially his healings—quickly became known beyond the immediate area of Galilee, drawing people from distant regions. The list of conditions mentioned points to the seriousness and variety of needs people believed Jesus could address, showing the hope and desperation of the crowds.

The Greek behind Matthew 4:24

  • The word for “fame” (ἀκοή, akoe) often means “report” or “news,” suggesting that it was not just reputation but active word-of-mouth spreading what Jesus was doing.
  • The phrase “possessed with devils” uses the word δαιμονιζόμενοι (daimonizomenoi), which refers to people believed to be under the influence or control of evil spirits—a common understanding of unexplained suffering in that time.
  • The word for “lunatick” (σεληνιαζόμενοι, selēniazomenoi) literally means “moonstruck” and was used for people with symptoms like seizures, possibly what we would now call epilepsy. This shows how ancient people described certain illnesses.
  • “Palsy” (παραλυτικοί, paralytikoi) refers to those with paralysis or severe physical disability, indicating that people with both mental and physical conditions were brought to Jesus.

Why Matthew 4:24 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that Jesus’s ministry was only local; it shows that his influence quickly reached a much larger area, even outside Jewish regions.
  • The detailed list of afflictions emphasizes that Jesus’s healing was not limited to one kind of problem but included a wide range of physical, mental, and spiritual suffering.
  • Matthew 4:24 sets the stage for the crowds that follow Jesus in the next chapters, explaining why so many people gathered to hear him teach and seek his help.

Where else these words appear

“lunatick” Greek G4583 · used in 2 verses

  • Matthew 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

“torments” Greek G931 · used in 3 verses

  • Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
  • Luke 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

“Syria” Greek G4947 · used in 8 verses

  • Luke 2:2 ( And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
  • Acts 15:41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
  • Acts 20:3 And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

“palsy” Greek G3885 · used in 9 verses

  • Matthew 8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
  • Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
  • Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.