God’s Word Translation
Matthew 27:40
40and said, “You were going to tear down God’s temple and build it again in three days. Save yourself! If you’re the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
Matthew 27:40 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
- New International Version (NIV)and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”
- English Standard Version (ESV)and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
- New King James Version (NKJV)and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
Context of Matthew 27:40
38At that time they crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and the other on his left. 39Those who passed by insulted him. They shook their heads and said, “You were going to tear down God’s temple and build it again in three days. Save yourself! If you’re the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41The chief priests together with the experts in Moses’ Teachings and the leaders made fun of him in the same way. They said, 42“He saved others, but he can’t save himself. So he’s Israel’s king! Let him come down from the cross now, and we’ll believe him.
Read all of Matthew 27Matthew 27:40 word by word
καὶ λέγοντες· ὁ καταλύων τὸν ναὸν καὶ ἐν τρισὶν ἡμέραις οἰκοδομῶν, σῶσον σεαυτόν· εἰ υἱὸς εἶ τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ κατάβηθι ἀπὸ τοῦ σταυροῦ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Thou that destroyestκαταλύωkataluō · to destroy/lodgeG2647
- the templeναόςnaos · templeG3485
- buildestοἰκοδομέωoikodomeō · to buildG3618
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- threeτρεῖςtreis tria · ThreeG5140
- daysἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
- saveσῴζωsōzō · to saveG4982
- thyselfσεαυτοῦseautou seautō seauton sautou sautō sauton · yourselfG4572
- Ifεἰei · ifG1487
- thou beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the Sonυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- come downκαταβαίνωkatabainō · to come/go downG2597
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the crossσταυρόςstauros · crossG4716
Cross-references for Matthew 27:40
- Genesis 37:19They said to each other, “Look, here comes that master dreamer!
- Revelation 11:10Those living on earth will gloat over the witnesses’ death. They will celebrate and send gifts to each other because these two prophets had tormented those living on earth.
- Matthew 26:61They stated, “This man said, ‘I can tear down God’s temple and rebuild it in three days.’ ”
- Luke 14:29Otherwise, if you lay a foundation and can’t finish the building, everyone who watches will make fun of you.
- John 2:19Jesus replied, “Tear down this temple, and I’ll rebuild it in three days.”
- Matthew 27:54An army officer and those watching Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the other things happening. They were terrified and said, “Certainly, this was the Son of God!”
- Matthew 4:3The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
- Matthew 26:63But Jesus was silent. Then the chief priest said to him, “Swear an oath in front of the living God and tell us, are you the Messiah, the Son of God?”
- 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.
- Luke 16:31“Abraham answered him, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses’ ⌞Teachings⌟ and the Prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone comes back to life.’ ”
Commentaries on Matthew 27:40
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 40Thou that destroyest - Who didst pretend that thou couldst have destroyed the temple, and built it up again in three days. This malicious torturing of our Lord's words has been noticed before. Cruelty is obliged to take refuge in lies, in order to vindicate its infamous proceedings. If thou be the Son of God - Or rather, ̔ A son of God, i.e. a peculiar favorite of the Most-High; not ̔ ̔ , The Son of God. "It is not to be conceived," says a learned man…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 40Thou that destroyest the temple - Meaning, Thou that didst boast that thou couldst do it. This was one of the things that had been falsely charged on him. It was intended for painful sarcasm and derision. If he could destroy the “temple,” they thought he might easily come down from the cross.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 35-44Verses 35-44 It was usual to put shame upon malefactors, by a writing to notify the crime for which they suffered. So they set up one over Christ's head. This they designed for his reproach, but God so overruled it, that even his accusation was to his honour. There were crucified with him at the same time, two robbers. He was, at his death, numbered among the transgressors, that we, at our death, might be numbered among the saints. The taunts and jeers he…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 40If You are the Son of God: This taunt reminds us of when the devil tempted Jesus at the start of his public ministry (Matthew 4:1–11). The devil tried to use the special status of Jesus to tempt him to avoid suffering (see also 16:21–23).Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 27:40
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 27
- 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
- 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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