Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 4:14-15

"that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles," — Matthew 4:14-15 (ASV)

That it might be fulfilled, etc. This passage is recorded in Isaiah 9:1-2. Matthew has given the sense, but not the exact words of the prophet.

By the way of the sea. This means near the sea, or in the vicinity of the sea.

Beyond Jordan. This does not mean to the east of the Jordan, as the phrase sometimes denotes, but rather in the vicinity of the Jordan, or perhaps near the sources of the Jordan. See Deuteronomy 1:1; Deuteronomy 4:49.

Galilee of the Gentiles. Galilee was divided into upper and lower Galilee. Upper Galilee was called Galilee of the Gentiles because it was occupied chiefly by Gentiles. It was in the neighborhood of Tyre, Sidon, etc. The word Gentiles includes, in the Scriptures, all who are not Jews. It means the same as nations, or, as we would say, the heathen nations.