God’s Word Translation
Matthew 13:17
17I can guarantee this truth: Many prophets and many of God’s people longed to see what you see but didn’t see it, to hear what you hear but didn’t hear it.
Matthew 13:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
- New International Version (NIV)For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
- New King James Version (NKJV)for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Context of Matthew 13:17
15These people have become close-minded and hard of hearing. They have shut their eyes so that their eyes never see. Their ears never hear. Their minds never understand. And they never return to me for healing!’ 16“Blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear. I can guarantee this truth: Many prophets and many of God’s people longed to see what you see but didn’t see it, to hear what you hear but didn’t hear it. 18“Listen to what the story about the farmer means. 19Someone hears the word about the kingdom but doesn’t understand it. The evil one comes at once and snatches away what was planted in him. This is what the seed planted along the road illustrates.
Read all of Matthew 13Matthew 13:17 word by word
Ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι πολλοὶ προφῆται καὶ δίκαιοι ἐπεθύμησαν ἰδεῖν ἃ βλέπετε, καὶ οὐκ εἶδαν, καὶ ἀκοῦσαι ἃ ἀκούετε, καὶ οὐκ ἤκουσαν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- verilyἀμήνamēn · amenG281
- I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto youσύsu · youG4771
- Thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
- prophetsπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- righteousδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
- have desiredἐπιθυμέωepithumeō · to long forG1937
- to seeὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- ye seeβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
- notοὐou · noG3756
- to hearἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
Cross-references for Matthew 13:17
- Luke 10:24I can guarantee that many prophets and kings wanted to see and hear what you’ve seen and heard, but they didn’t.”
- John 8:56Your father Abraham was pleased to see that my day was coming. He saw it and was happy.”
- Ephesians 3:5In the past, this mystery was not known by people as it is now. The Spirit has now revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.
- Hebrews 11:13All these people died having faith. They didn’t receive the things that God had promised them, but they saw these things coming in the distant future and rejoiced. They acknowledged that they were living as strangers with no permanent home on earth.
- 1 Peter 1:10The prophets carefully researched and investigated this salvation. Long ago they spoke about God’s kindness that would come to you.
Commentaries on Matthew 13:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Many prophets and righteous men - These lived by and died in the faith of the promised Messiah: the fullness of the time was not then come for his manifestation in the flesh. See also on Matthew 13:11; (note).Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10-17Verses 10-17 Christ, in these verses, gives a “reason” why he used this manner of instruction. See also Mark 4:10-12; Luke 8:9-10. Matthew 13:11 The mysteries of the kingdom - The word “mystery,” in the Bible, properly means a thing that is “concealed,” or that “has been concealed.” It does not mean that the thing was “incomprehensible,” or even difficult to be understood. The thing might be “plain” enough if revealed, but it means simply that it “had”…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-17Jesus fulfilled what the prophets and Old Testament believers wanted to see and hear. He fulfills the Old Testament promises (see Isaiah 52:15; John 8:56; 1 Peter 1:10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired--rather, "coveted." to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them--Not only were the disciples blessed above the blinded just spoken of, but favored above the most honored and the best that lived under the old economy, who had but glimpses of the things of the new kingdom, just sufficient to kindle in…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 13:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 13
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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