Matthew 11:23 (GNV)

Passage

And thou, Capernaum, which art lifted vp vnto heauen, shalt be brought downe to hell: for if the great workes, which haue bin done in thee, had bene done among them of Sodom, they had remained to this day.

Nearby Context

Matthew 11:21 Woe be to thee, Chorazin: Woe be to thee, Bethsaida: for if ye great workes, which were done in you, had bene done in Tyrus and Sidon, they had repented long agone in sackecloth and ashes.

Matthew 11:22 But I say to you, It shalbe easier for Tyrus and Sidon at the day of iudgement, then for you.

Matthew 11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art lifted vp vnto heauen, shalt be brought downe to hell: for if the great workes, which haue bin done in thee, had bene done among them of Sodom, they had remained to this day.

Matthew 11:24 But I say vnto you, that it shall be easier for them of the land of Sodom in the day of iudgement, then for thee.

Matthew 11:25 At that time Iesus answered, and saide, I giue thee thankes, O Father, Lord of heauen and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and men of vnderstanding, and hast opened them vnto babes.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "thou", "capernaum", "lifted", "vnto", "heauen", "shalt", "brought", and "downe". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "thou" and "capernaum", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "But I say to you It shalbe..." into verse 24's "But I say vnto you that it...", so "thou" and "capernaum" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "thou" and "capernaum" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.