John 6:22

The people which stood on the other side - ἙϚηκως περαν της θαλασσης , Standing by the sea side. The people were not on the other side, i.e. in Perea, as our version states, but on that side where Bethsaida lay: see the notes on Matthew 14:25 , Matthew 14:34 , and on Mark 6:45 . The Greek word, περαν , says Bishop Pearce, seems to signify in Scripture sometimes on the side of, and sometimes on this side of: see Joshua 5:1 ; and 1 Maccabees 9:34. The Hebrew word אבר abar , signifies by the side: Exodus 28:26 , and is translated on this side in Deuteronomy 4:29 . It has the same meaning in the Septuagint, Deuteronomy 1:5 ; Deuteronomy 3:8 ; Deuteronomy 4:46 . περαν , says Vorstius, is the same with παρα , near to. This is evidently the meaning of the word in Matthew 4:15 ; as it appears, from what is said of the land of Zabulon and Nepthali, that by περαν is not meant beyond, but by the side of; because those two tribes inhabited the western side of Jordan, which was the side lying nearest to Judea and Galilee: see on Matthew 19:1 ; (note).