Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: Matthew 12:39 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Mt 12:39 |
Strong Concordance |
But [1161] he answered [611] and said [2036] unto them [846], An evil [4190] and [2532] adulterous [3428] generation [1074] seeketh after [1934] a sign [4592]; and [2532] there shall no [3756] sign [4592] be given [1325] to it [846], but [1508] the sign [4592] of the prophet [4396] Jonas [2495]: |
| |
King James |
But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
But he answered and said unto them--"when the people were gathered thick together" (Luk 11:29).
An evil and adulterous generation--This latter expression is best explained by Jer 3:20, "Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord." For this was the relationship in which He stood to the covenant-people--"I am married unto you" (Jer 3:14).
seeketh after a sign--In the eye of Jesus this class were but the spokesmen of their generation, the exponents of the reigning spirit of unbelief.
and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Adulterous (μοιχαλὶς)
A very strong and graphic expression, founded upon the familiar Hebrew representation of the relation of God's people to him under the figure of marriage. See Psa 73:27; Isa 57:3 sqq.; Isa 62:5; Eze 23:27. Hence idolatry and intercourse with Gentiles were described as adultery; and so here, of moral unfaithfulness to God. Compare Jam 4:4 :; Rev 2:20 sqq. Thus Dante:
"Where Michael wrought
Vengeance upon the proud adultery."
Inf., vii., 12. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| An adulterous generation - Whose heart wanders from God, though they profess him to be their husband. Such adulterers are all those who love the world, and all who seek the friendship of it. Seeketh a sign - After all they have had already, which were abundantly sufficient to convince them, had not their hearts been estranged from God, and consequently averse to the truth. The sign of Jonah - Who was herein a type of Christ. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
An evil and adulterous generation - Or, race of people; for so γενεα should be translated here, and in most other places in the Gospels; for our Lord, in general, uses it to point out the Jewish people. This translation is a key to unlock some very obscure passages in the evangelists.
Seeketh after a sign - Or, seeketh another sign, (επιζητει), so I think this word should be translated. Our Lord had already given the Jews several signs; and here they desire sign upon sign.
Our Lord terms the Jews an adulterous race. Under the old covenant, the Jewish nation was represented as in a marriage contract with the Lord of hosts; as believers, in the new covenant, are represented as the spouse of Christ. All unfaithfulness and disobedience was considered as a breach of this marriage contract; hence the persons who were thus guilty are denominated adulterers and adulteresses. But, independently of this, there is the utmost proof, from their own writings, that in the time of our Lord they were most literally an adulterous race of people: for, at this very time, R. Jochanan ben Zacchai abrogated the trial by the bitter waters of jealousy, because so many were found to be thus criminal. See on Joh 8:3 (note). |
14 Turn [07725], O backsliding [07726] children [01121], saith [05002] the LORD [03068]; for I am married [01166] unto you: and I will take [03947] you one [0259] of a city [05892], and two [08147] of a family [04940], and I will bring [0935] you to Zion [06726]:
20 Surely [0403] as a wife [0802] treacherously [0898] departeth from her husband [07453], so have ye dealt treacherously [0898] with me, O house [01004] of Israel [03478], saith [05002] the LORD [03068].
29 And [1161] when the people [3793] were gathered thick together [1865], he began [756] to say [3004], This [3778] is [2076] an evil [4190] generation [1074]: they seek [1934] a sign [4592]; and [2532] there shall [1325] no [3756] sign [4592] be given [1325] it [846], but [1508] the sign [4592] of Jonas [2495] the prophet [4396].
20 Notwithstanding [235] I have [2192] a few things [3641] against [2596] thee [4675], because [3754] thou sufferest [1439] that woman [1135] Jezebel [2403], which [3588] calleth [3004] herself [1438] a prophetess [4398], to teach [1321] and [2532] to seduce [4105] my [1699] servants [1401] to commit fornication [4203], and [2532] to eat [5315] things sacrificed unto idols [1494].
4 Ye adulterers [3432] and [2532] adulteresses [3428], know ye [1492] not [3756] that [3754] the friendship [5373] of the world [2889] is [2076] enmity [2189] with God [2316]? whosoever [3739] [302] therefore [3767] will be [1511] [1014] a friend [5384] of the world [2889] is [2525] the enemy [2190] of God [2316].
27 Thus will I make thy lewdness [02154] to cease [07673] from thee, and thy whoredom [02184] brought from the land [0776] of Egypt [04714]: so that thou shalt not lift up [05375] thine eyes [05869] unto them, nor remember [02142] Egypt [04714] any more.
5 For as a young man [0970] marrieth [01166] a virgin [01330], so shall thy sons [01121] marry [01166] thee: and as the bridegroom [02860] rejoiceth [04885] over the bride [03618], so shall thy God [0430] rejoice [07797] over thee.
3 But draw near [07126] hither, ye sons [01121] of the sorceress [06049], the seed [02233] of the adulterer [05003] and the whore [02181].
27 For, lo, they that are far [07369] from thee shall perish [06]: thou hast destroyed [06789] all them that go a whoring [02181] from thee.
3 And [1161] the scribes [1122] and [2532] Pharisees [5330] brought [71] unto [4314] him [846] a woman [1135] taken [2638] in [1722] adultery [3430]; and [2532] when they had set [2476] her [846] in [1722] the midst [3319],