The Meaning of Matthew 4:20 Explained

Matthew 4:20

KJV: And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

YLT: and they, immediately, having left the nets, did follow him.

Darby: And they, having left their trawl-nets, immediately followed him.

ASV: And they straightway left the nets, and followed him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  they straightway  left  [their] nets,  and followed  him. 

What does Matthew 4:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 4:18-25 - Opening Works Of Mercy And Power
We must read the first chapter of John into the opening paragraph. Already the Lord had met with these first disciples in the Jordan valley; but they had returned to their homes and nets. Their prompt surrender was the result of the power over their hearts which the Master had already won. Their old craft was to be theirs still-only in a nobler form. The patience, courage, tact which had been elicited by their calling, were now to be enlisted in the service of souls.
The evangelist then groups together the broad features of the early Galilean ministry. It was a triumphal progress. Notice the reiteration of all, Matthew 4:23. The words struggle to convey the wide comprehensiveness of Christ's influence, even across the border. When the love of God came to our world in the person of Jesus, it immediately began to repair the havoc and damage which sin had caused. There was no hesitation or questioning where it was God's will to heal. Let us always take that for granted for ourselves and others. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 4

1  Jesus, fasting forty days,
3  is tempted by the devil and ministered unto by angels
12  He dwells in Capernaum;
17  begins to preach;
18  calls Peter and Andrew,
21  James and John;
23  teaches and heals all the diseased

What do the individual words in Matthew 4:20 mean?

- And immediately having left the nets they followed Him
οἱ δὲ εὐθέως ἀφέντες τὰ δίκτυα ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ

οἱ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
εὐθέως  immediately 
Parse: Adverb
Root: εὐθέως  
Sense: straightway, immediately, forthwith.
ἀφέντες  having  left 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀφίημι 
Sense: to send away.
δίκτυα  nets 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: δίκτυον  
Sense: a net.
ἠκολούθησαν  they  followed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀκολουθέω  
Sense: to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him.