New International Version
Matthew 20:21
21“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.”
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.
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)“What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”
Context of Matthew 20:21
19and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” 20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. “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.” 22“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. 23Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have 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 and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
- 1 Kings 3:5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
- Esther 5:3Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”
- Mark 6:22When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.”
- Mark 10:36“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
- Luke 18:41“What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
- John 15:7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
- Matthew 18:1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
- Matthew 19:28Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, 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 45:5Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.’ ”
- Mark 10:37They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
- Luke 22:24A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.
- Romans 12:10Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
- Philemon 1:2also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:
- 1 Kings 2:19When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat down at his right hand.
- Psalms 45:9Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of 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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