38
ThenΤότεsomeτινεςof the scribesτῶν γραμματέωνandκαὶPhariseesΦαρισαίωνansweredἀπεκρίθησανhim,αὐτῷsaying,λέγοντες“Teacher,Διδάσκαλεwe wantθέλομενto seeἰδεῖνa signσημεῖονfromἀπὸyou.”σοῦ
Matthew 12:38
Study it in the app“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.””
With the Greek beneath
Matthew 12:38, word by word
- ThenΤότεTote
then
Then, at that time.
Where else “Tote” appears- of the scribesγραμματέωνgrammateōn
scribe
A teacher who copied and explained the law of Moses.
Where else “grammateōn” appears- PhariseesΦαρισαίωνPharisaiōn
Pharisee
Pharisee: a member of a Jewish group that kept the law of Moses and the traditions of its teachers strictly.
Where else “Pharisaiōn” appears- answeredἀπεκρίθησανapekrithēsan
answer
To say something back to the one who spoke or asked.
Where else “apekrithēsan” appears- sayingλέγοντεςlegontes
say
To express something in words to others.
Where else “legontes” appears- “TeacherΔιδάσκαλεDidaskale
teacher
Teacher, one who teaches.
Where else “Didaskale” appears- we wantθέλομενthelomen
want
To have the desire or the resolve for something.
Where else “thelomen” appears- to seeἰδεῖνidein
see
To perceive with sight, to look and notice what is in front.
Where else “idein” appears- a signσημεῖονsēmeion
sign
A miracle that shows God's power.
Where else “sēmeion” appears
Parallel passages
Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.
The sign of Jonah
A similar saying; scholars discuss whether it is the same saying in another setting or a repeated one.
See them side by side
Matthew 12:38-42
38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” 39But he answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 40For just as Jonah was in the belly of the sea monster three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. 41The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they changed their minds at the proclamation of Jonah; and look, something greater than Jonah is here. 42The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and look, something greater than Solomon is here.
29And as the crowds were gathering, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man also be one to this generation. 31The queen of the South will be raised at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and look, something greater than Solomon is here. 32The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they changed their minds at the proclamation of Jonah, and look, something greater than Jonah is here.
The context
37for by your words you will be declared righteous, and by your words you will be condemned.”
38 · This verse (above)
39But he answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
To study Matthew 12 in a group
1. What it says
How did Jesus answer the Pharisees when they criticized his disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath (vv. 3–8)?
2. What it means
What does “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice” mean in Jesus' reply (v. 7)?
3. How I live it
Jesus says the mouth speaks from the heart's abundance (v. 34). Which of your words today would you like to guard?