Matthew 11 · Verse 23

Matthew 11:23

And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
Matthew 11:23, King James Version

Matthew 11:23 in other translations

BSBAnd you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.
WEBYou, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until today.
ASVAnd thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt go down unto Hades: for if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day.
YLT‘And thou, Capernaum, which unto the heaven wast exalted, unto hades shalt be brought down, because if in Sodom had been done the mighty works that were done in thee, it had remained unto this day;
DARBYAnd thou, Capernaum, who hast been raised up to heaven, shalt be brought down even to hades. For if the works of power which have taken place in thee, had taken place in Sodom, it had remained until this day.
BBEAnd you, Capernaum, were you not to be lifted up to heaven? you will go down into hell: for if the works of power which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been here to this day.
WebsterAnd thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

What does Matthew 11:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. And thou, Capernaum--(See on Mt 4:13). which art exalted unto heaven--Not even of Chorazin and Bethsaida is this said. For since at Capernaum Jesus had His stated abode during the whole period of His public life which He spent in Galilee, it was the most favored spot upon earth, the most exalted in privilege. shall be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom--destroyed for its pollutions. it would have remained until this day--having done no such violence to conscience, and so incurred unspeakably less guilt.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 23. And thou, Capernaum. Mt 4:13.

Which art exalted to heaven. This is an expression used to denote great privileges. He meant, that they were peculiarly favoured with instruction. The city was prosperous. It was successful in commerce. It was signally favoured by its wealth. Most of all, it was signally favoured by the presence, the preaching, and the miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here he spent a large part of his time in the early part of his ministry; and in Capernaum and its neighbourhood he performed his chief miracles.

Shalt be brought down to hell. This does not mean that all the people should go to hell; but that the city which had flourished so prosperously, should lose its prosperity, and occupy the lowest place among cities. The word hell is used here, not to denote a place of punishment in the future world, but a state of desolation and destruction as a city. It stands in contrast with the word heaven. As their being exalted to heaven did not mean that the people would all be saved, or dwell in heaven, so their being brought down to hell refers to the desolation of the city. Their privileges, honours, wealth, etc., should be taken away, and they should sink as low among cities as they had been before exalted. This has been strictly fulfilled. In the wars between the Jews and the Romans, Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum, etc., were so completely desolated that it is difficult to determine their former situation. It is not to be denied, also, that he threatened future punishment on those who rejected him. The truth inculcated is, that those who are peculiarly favoured must be punished accordingly if they abuse their privileges.

If the mighty works--had been done in Sodom. Mt 10:15. Sodom was destroyed on account of its great wickedness. Christ says, if his miracles had been done there, they would have repented, and consequently the city would not have been destroyed. As it was, it would be better for Sodom in the day of judgment than for Capernaum, for its inhabitants would not be called to answer for the abuse of so great privileges.

(w) "exalted" Isa 14:13-15, Lam 2:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 Thou, Capernaum - exalted unto heaven - A Hebrew metaphor, expressive of the utmost prosperity, and the enjoyment of the greatest privileges. This was properly spoken of this city, because that in it our Lord dwelt, and wrought many of his miraculous works. Shalt be brought down to hell - Perhaps not meaning, here, the place of torment, but rather a state of desolation. The original word is Hades, Αδης, from α, not, and ιδειν, to see; the invisible receptacle or mansion of the dead, answering to שאול sheol, in Hebrew; and implying often, 1st. the grave; 2dly. the state of separate souls, or unseen world of spirits, whether of torment, Luk 16:23, or, in general, Rev 1:18; Rev 6:8; Rev 20:13, Rev 20:14. The word hell, used in the common translation, conveys now an improper meaning of the original word; because hell is only used to signify the place of the damned. But, as the word hell comes from the Anglo-Saxon, helan, to cover, or hide, hence the tiling or slating of a house is called, in some parts of England (particularly Cornwall) heling, to this day; and the covers of books (in Lancashire) by the same name: so the literal import of the original word Αδης was formerly well expressed by it. Here it means a state of the utmost wo, and ruin, and desolation, to which these impenitent cities should be reduced. This prediction of our Lord was literally fulfilled; for, in the wars between the Romans and the Jews, these cities were totally destroyed, so that no traces are now found of Bethsaida, Chorazin, or Capernaum. See Bp. Pearce.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 11:16-24

Christ reflects on the scribes and Pharisees, who had a proud conceit of themselves. He likens their behaviour to children's play, who being out of temper without reason, quarrel with all the attempts of their fellows to please them, or to get them to join in the plays for which they used to assemble. The cavils of worldly men are often very trifling and show great malice. Something they have to urge against every…

Read the full comment on Matthew 11:16-24 →

Matthew 11:23 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532
σὺsuyou yourselfG4771
Καφαρναούμ,KapharnaoumCapernaum,G2584
μὴmēsurely notG3361
ἕωςhe'ōstoG2193
οὐρανοῦouranouheavenG3772
ὑψωθήσῃ;hupsōthēsēwill be exalted?G5312
ἕωςhe'ōstoG2193
ᾅδουhadouHadesG86
καταβήσῃ,katabēsēwill go down!G2597
ὅτιhotiForG3754
εἰeiifG1487
ἐνeninG1722
ΣοδόμοιςSodomoisSodomG4670
ἐγενήθησανegenēthēsanhappenedG1096
αἱhaitheG3588
δυνάμειςdunameismiraclesG1411
αἱhaithatG3588
γενόμεναιgenomenaiwere happeningG1096
ἐνeninG1722
σοί,soiyou,G4771
ἔμεινενemeinenit remainedG3306
ἂνanthen wouldG302
μέχριmechriuntilG3360
τῆςtēstheG3588
σήμερον.sēmeronday.G4594

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 11:23

  • Isaiah 14:13-15

    For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

  • John 4:46-54

    So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. …

  • Matthew 4:13

    And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

  • Genesis 13:13

    But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.

  • Revelation 11:8

    And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

  • Ezekiel 31:16-17

    I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth. They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.

  • 2 Peter 2:4-9

    For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: …

  • Genesis 19:24-25

    Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

  • Matthew 16:18

    And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

  • Obadiah 1:4

    Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.

  • Jude 1:7

    Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

  • Lamentations 2:1

    How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger!

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Capernaum.
4:13; 8:5; 17:24; Lu 4:23; Joh 4:46-54
which art.
Isa 14:13-15; La 2:1; Eze 28:12-19; 31:16,17; Ob 1:4; Lu 14:11
2Pe 2:4-9
in Sodom.
Ge 13:13; 19:24,25; Eze 16:48-50; Jude 1:7; Re 11:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 11:22

    But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

  • Matthew 11:23

    And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

  • Matthew 11:24

    But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

Read all of Matthew 11

Matthew 11:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y tú, Capernaum, que eres levantada hasta el cielo, hasta los infiernos serás abajada; porque si en los de Sodoma fueran hechas las maravillas que han sido hechas en ti, hubieran quedado hasta el día de hoy.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et toi, Capernaüm, qui as été élevée jusqu’au ciel, tu seras abaissée jusque dans le hadès; car si les miracles qui ont été faits au milieu de toi avaient été faits dans Sodome, elle serait demeurée jusqu’à aujourd’hui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und du, Kapernaum, die du bis zum Himmel erhöht worden bist, bis zum Hades wirst du hinabgestoßen werden. Denn wenn in Sodom die Wunderwerke geschehen wären, die in dir geschehen sind, es wäre geblieben bis auf den heutigen Tag.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et tu Capharnaum, numquid usque in cælum exaltaberis? usque in infernum descendes, quia si in Sodomis factæ fuissent virtutes quæ factæ sunt in te, forte mansissent usque in hanc diem.