New English Translation
Matthew 20:21
21He said to her, “What do you want?” She replied, “Permit these two sons of mine to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”
Matthew 20:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
- New International Version (NIV)“What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”
Context of Matthew 20:21
19and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged severely and crucified. Yet on the third day, he will be raised.” 20Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling down she asked him for a favor. He said to her, “What do you want?” She replied, “Permit these two sons of mine to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23He told them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right and at my left is not mine to give. Rather, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
Read all of Matthew 20Matthew 20:21 word by word
Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· τί θέλεις; λέγει αὐτῷ· εἰπὲ ἵνα καθίσωσιν οὗτοι οἱ δύο υἱοί μου εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν σου καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- he saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto herαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Whatτίςtis · which?G5101
- wilt thouθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- She saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- twoδύοduo · twoG1417
- sonsυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
- may sitκαθίζωkathizō · to seatG2523
- the oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
- onἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- thyσύsu · youG4771
- right handδεξιόςdexios · rightG1188
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- the leftεὐώνυμοςeuōnumos · left/southG2176
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
Cross-references for Matthew 20:21
- Matthew 20:32Jesus stopped, called them, and said, “What do you want me to do for you?”
- 1 Kings 3:5One night in Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream. God said, “Tell me what I should give you.”
- Esther 5:3The king said to her, “What is on your mind, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even as much as half the kingdom will be given to you!”
- Mark 6:22When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.”
- Mark 10:36He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”
- Luke 18:41“What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, let me see again.”
- John 15:7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you.
- Matthew 18:1At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
- Matthew 19:28Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth: In the age when all things are renewed, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
- Jeremiah 45:5Are you looking for great things for yourself? Do not look for such things. For I, the Lord, affirm that I am about to bring disaster on all humanity. But I will allow you to escape with your life wherever you go.”’”
- Mark 10:37They said to him, “Permit one of us to sit at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.”
- Luke 22:24A dispute also started among them over which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
- Romans 12:10Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another.
- Philemon 1:2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house.
- 1 Kings 2:19So Bathsheba visited King Solomon to speak to him on Adonijah’s behalf. The king got up to greet her, bowed to her, and then sat on his throne. He ordered a throne to be brought for the king’s mother, and she sat at his right hand.
- Psalms 45:9Princesses are among your honored guests, your bride stands at your right hand, wearing jewelry made with gold from Ophir.
Commentaries on Matthew 20:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Grant that these my two sons - James and John. See Mark 15:40. In the preceding chapter, Matthew 19:28, our Lord had promised his disciples, that they should sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes. Salome, probably hearing of this, and understanding it literally, came to request the chief dignities in this new government for her sons; and it appears it was at their instigation that she made this request, for Mark, Mark 10:35, informs us that…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20-28Verses 20-28 See also Mark 10:35-45. Matthew 20:20 Then came to him give mother of Zebedee‘s children - This was probably Salome, Mark 15:40; Mark 16:1. With her sons - The names of these sons were James and John, Mark 10:35 Mark says they came and made the request. That is, they made it, as appears from Matthew, through the medium of their mother; they requested her to ask it for them. It is not improbable that she was an ambitious woman, and was…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-28Verses 20-28 The sons of Zebedee abused what Christ said to comfort the disciples. Some cannot have comforts but they turn them to a wrong purpose. Pride is a sin that most easily besets us; it is sinful ambition to outdo others in pomp and grandeur. To put down the vanity and ambition of their request, Christ leads them to the thoughts of their sufferings. It is a bitter cup that is to be drunk of; a cup of trembling, but not the cup of the wicked. It is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Jesus had already promised positions of authority in God’s kingdom to the disciples (Matthew 19:28). The request of the two brothers came from selfish desire to be important, without concern for the suffering the Messiah would soon face (see Matthew 23:6; Luke 14:7–11).Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 20:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 20
- 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
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