Matthew 12:41

Matthew 12:41 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
• New International Version (NIV)The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

Context of Matthew 12:41

39He responded, “The people of an evil and unfaithful era look for a miraculous sign. But the only sign they will get is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40Just as Jonah was in the belly of a huge fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. The men of Nineveh will stand up with you at the time of judgment and will condemn you, because they turned to God and changed the way they thought and acted when Jonah spoke his message. But look, someone greater than Jonah is here! 42The queen from the south will stand up at the time of judgment with you. She will condemn you, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon’s wisdom. But look, someone greater than Solomon is here! 43“When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it goes through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find any.

Matthew 12:41 word by word

Ἄνδρες Νινευῖται ἀναστήσονται ἐν τῇ κρίσει μετὰ τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτήν, ὅτι μετενόησαν εἰς τὸ κήρυγμα Ἰωνᾶ· καὶ ἰδοὺ πλεῖον Ἰωνᾶ ὧδε.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The menἀνήρanēr · manG435
• of NinevehΝινευΐτηςNineuitēs · NineviteG3536
• shall riseἀνίστημιanistēmi · to ariseG450
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• judgmentὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• judgmentκρίσιςkrisis · judgmentG2920
• withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• generationγενεάgenea · generationG1074
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• shall condemnκατακρίνωkatakrinō · to condemnG2632
• itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• they repentedμετανοέωmetanoeō · to repentG3340
• atεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the preachingκήρυγμαkērugma · preachingG2782
• of JonasἸωνᾶςIōnas · JonahG2495
• beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• a greaterπλείων, πλεῖονpleiōn pleion pleon · greaterG4119
• hereὧδεhōde · hereG5602

Cross-references for Matthew 12:41

• Luke 11:32The men of Nineveh will stand up at the time of judgment with the people living today. Since the men of Nineveh turned to God and changed the way they thought and acted when Jonah spoke his message, they will condemn the people living today. But look, someone greater than Jonah is here!
• Matthew 12:42The queen from the south will stand up at the time of judgment with you. She will condemn you, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon’s wisdom. But look, someone greater than Solomon is here!
• Isaiah 54:17No weapon that has been made to be used against you will succeed. You will have an answer for anyone who accuses you. This is the inheritance of the Lord’s servants. Their victory comes from me,” declares the Lord.
• Jeremiah 3:11Then the Lord said to me, “Unfaithful Israel was less guilty than treacherous Judah.
• Ezekiel 16:51“ ‘Samaria didn’t commit half the sins you did. You have done many more disgusting things than they ever did. Because of all the disgusting things that you have done, you make your sisters look innocent.
• Romans 2:27The uncircumcised man who carries out what those laws say will condemn you for not following them. He will condemn you in spite of the fact that you are circumcised and have those laws in writing.
• Hebrews 11:7Faith led Noah to listen when God warned him about the things in the future that he could not see. He obeyed God and built a ship to save his family. Through faith Noah condemned the world and received God’s approval that comes through faith.
• Matthew 12:39He responded, “The people of an evil and unfaithful era look for a miraculous sign. But the only sign they will get is the sign of the prophet Jonah.
• Matthew 16:4“Evil and unfaithful people look for a miraculous sign. But the only sign they will be given is that of Jonah.” Then he left them standing there and went away.
• Matthew 17:17Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and corrupt generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!”
• Matthew 23:36I can guarantee this truth: The people living now will be held accountable for all these things.
• Jonah 3:5The people of Nineveh believed God. They decided to fast, and everyone, from the most important to the least important, dressed in sackcloth.
• Matthew 12:6I can guarantee that something greater than the temple is here.
• John 3:31“The person who comes from above is superior to everyone. I, a person from the earth, know nothing but what is on earth, and that’s all I can talk about. The person who comes from heaven is superior to everyone
• John 4:12You’re not more important than our ancestor Jacob, are you? He gave us this well. He and his sons and his animals drank water from it.”
• John 8:53Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets have also died. Who do you think you are?”

Commentaries on Matthew 12:41

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 41The men of Nineveh shell rise in judgment - The voice of God, threatening temporal judgments, caused a whole people to repent, who had neither Moses nor Christ, neither the law nor the prophets; and who perhaps never had but this one preacher among them. What judgment may not we expect, if we continue impenitent, after all that God has bestowed upon us? A greater than Jonas is here - , for , something more. The evidence offered by Jonah sufficed to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38-42Verses 38-42 We would see a sign from thee - See Luke 11:16, Luke 11:29-32. A “sign” commonly signifies a miracle - that is, a sign that God was with the person or had sent him. Compare the notes at Isaiah 7:11. Luke adds that this was done “tempting him;” that is, trying him, doubting if he had the power to do it. If these persons had been present with him for any considerable time, they had already seen sufficient proofs that he was what he claimed to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 38-45Verses 38-45 Though Christ is always ready to hear and answer holy desires and prayers, yet those who ask amiss, ask and have not. Signs were granted to those who desired them to confirm their faith, as Abraham and Gideon; but denied to those who demanded them to excuse their unbelief. The resurrection of Christ from the dead by his own power, called here the sign of the prophet Jonah, was the great proof of Christ's being the Messiah. As Jonah was three…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 41-42One greater: Jesus is greater than the temple (Matthew 12:6), the prophet Jonah, and King Solomon. So, rejecting him brings more severe judgment on this "wicked and adulterous generation" (12:39).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4141. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, &c.--The Ninevites, though heathens, repented at a man's preaching; while they, God's covenant-people, repented not at the preaching of the Son of God--whose supreme dignity is rather implied here than expressed.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 12:41

• Conviction
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Jonah
• Judgment
• Responsibility

In the dictionaries

• Nineveh
• Nineveh, Ninevite
• Adulterous
• Condemn
• Desolation
• Idle
• Jonas
• Judgment
• Restore
• Sin

Commentaries on Matthew 12

• 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