Matthew 16:4

Matthew 16:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
• New International Version (NIV)A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.
• English Standard Version (ESV)An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed.
• New King James Version (NKJV)A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.

Context of Matthew 16:4

2He replied, “When evening comes you say, ‘It will be good weather because the sky is red.’ 3And in the morning, ‘Today will be stormy because the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to read the appearance of the sky, but you can’t read the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away. 5The disciples reached the other shore, and they had forgotten to take bread. 6Then Jesus told them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Matthew 16:4 word by word

γενεὰ πονηρὰ καὶ μοιχαλὶς σημεῖον ἐπιζητεῖ· καὶ σημεῖον οὐ δοθήσεται αὐτῇ εἰ μὴ τὸ σημεῖον Ἰωνᾶ καὶ καταλιπὼν αὐτοὺς ἀπῆλθεν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• A wickedπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• adulterousμοιχαλίςmoichalis · adulterousG3428
• generationγενεάgenea · generationG1074
• seeketh afterἐπιζητέωepizēteō · to seek afterG1934
• a signσημεῖονsēmeion · signG4592
• there shallδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• noοὐou · noG3756
• unto itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• ·εἰei · if: notG1487
• butμήmē · notG3361
• the signὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• of the prophetπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
• JonasἸωνᾶςIōnas · JonahG2495
• he leftκαταλείπωkataleipō · to leave behindG2641
• and departedἀπέρχομαιaperchomai · to go awayG565

Cross-references for Matthew 16:4

• Matthew 12:39He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
• Mark 8:12Sighing deeply in his spirit, he said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
• Acts 2:40With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”
• Jonah 1:17The Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
• Luke 11:29As the crowds were increasing, he began saying, “This generation is an evil generation. It demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.
• Matthew 15:14Leave them alone! They are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
• Genesis 6:3And the Lord said, “My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt. Their days will be 120 years.”
• Hosea 4:17Ephraim is attached to idols; leave him alone!
• Hosea 9:12Even if they raise children, I will bereave them of each one. Yes, woe to them when I depart from them!
• Mark 5:17Then they began to beg him to leave their region.
• Acts 18:6When they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his clothes and told them, “Your blood is on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

Commentaries on Matthew 16:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Wicked and adulterous generation - The Jewish people are represented in the Sacred Writings as married to the Most High; but, like a disloyal wife, forsaking their true husband, and uniting themselves to Satan and sin. Seeketh after a sign, , seeketh sign upon sign, or, still another sign. Our blessed Lord had already wrought miracles sufficient to demonstrate both his Divine mission and his divinity; only one was farther necessary to take away the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-4Verses 1-4 See also Mark 8:11-12. The Pharisees also, and the Sadducees - See the notes at Matthew 3:7. Tempting - That is, trying him - feigning a desire to see evidence that he was the Messiah, but with a real desire to see him make the attempt to work a miracle and fail, so that they might betray him and ruin him. A sign from heaven - Some miraculous appearance in the sky. Such appearances had been given by the prophets; and they supposed, if he was…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-12After being welcomed among the Gentiles (non-Jews), Jesus returned to his own people. There he faced rejection again.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 16:4

• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Jonah
• Pharisees
• Reproof
• Sign
• Symbols and Similitudes

In the dictionaries

• Adulterous
• Bind
• Blood
• Gain
• Gate
• Hell
• Leaven
• Loose
• Miracle
• Pharisees

Commentaries on Matthew 16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings