Matthew 12:39

biblecontext

{ "verseID": "Matthew.12.39", "source": "Ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Γενεὰ πονηρὰ καὶ μοιχαλὶς σημεῖον ἐπιζητεῖ· καὶ σημεῖον οὐ δοθήσεται αὐτῇ, εἰ μὴ τὸ σημεῖον Ἰωνᾶ τοῦ προφήτου:", "text": "He *de* *apokritheis* *eipen* to them, *Genea* *ponēra* and *moichalis* *sēmeion* *epizētei*; and *sēmeion* not *dothēsetai* to it, except the *sēmeion* of *Iōna* the *prophētou*:", "grammar": { "*de*": "postpositive conjunction - but/and", "*apokritheis*": "aorist, passive, participle, nominative, masculine, singular - having answered", "*eipen*": "aorist, active, indicative, 3rd singular - said", "*Genea*": "nominative, feminine, singular - generation", "*ponēra*": "nominative, feminine, singular - evil/wicked", "*moichalis*": "nominative, feminine, singular - adulterous", "*sēmeion*": "accusative, neuter, singular - sign", "*epizētei*": "present, active, indicative, 3rd singular - seeks", "*dothēsetai*": "future, passive, indicative, 3rd singular - will be given", "*Iōna*": "genitive, masculine, singular - of Jonah", "*prophētou*": "genitive, masculine, singular - of the prophet" }, "variants": { "*apokritheis*": "having answered/having replied", "*eipen*": "said/spoke", "*Genea*": "generation/race/family", "*ponēra*": "evil/wicked/corrupt", "*moichalis*": "adulterous/unfaithful", "*sēmeion*": "sign/miracle/wonder", "*epizētei*": "seeks/demands/looks for", "*dothēsetai*": "will be given/will be granted", "*prophētou*": "prophet/one who speaks for God" } }

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Γενεὰ πονηρὰ καὶ μοιχαλὶς σημεῖον ἐπιζητεῖ· καὶ σημεῖον οὐ δοθήσεται αὐτῇ, εἰ μὴ τὸ σημεῖον Ἰωνᾶ τοῦ προφήτου:

Transliteration

He de apokritheis eipen to them, Genea ponēra and moichalis sēmeion epizētei; and sēmeion not dothēsetai to it, except the sēmeion of Iōna the prophētou:

Grammar Details

• *de*: postpositive conjunction - but/and
• *apokritheis*: aorist, passive, participle, nominative, masculine, singular - having answered
• *eipen*: aorist, active, indicative, 3rd singular - said
• *Genea*: nominative, feminine, singular - generation
• *ponēra*: nominative, feminine, singular - evil/wicked
• *moichalis*: nominative, feminine, singular - adulterous
• *sēmeion*: accusative, neuter, singular - sign
• *epizētei*: present, active, indicative, 3rd singular - seeks
• *dothēsetai*: future, passive, indicative, 3rd singular - will be given
• *Iōna*: genitive, masculine, singular - of Jonah
• *prophētou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of the prophet

Word Meanings

• *apokritheis*: having answered/having replied
• *eipen*: said/spoke
• *Genea*: generation/race/family
• *ponēra*: evil/wicked/corrupt
• *moichalis*: adulterous/unfaithful
• *sēmeion*: sign/miracle/wonder
• *epizētei*: seeks/demands/looks for
• *dothēsetai*: will be given/will be granted
• *prophētou*: prophet/one who speaks for God

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  But He answered them, 'An evil and unfaithful generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.'

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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:

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  But he answered and said to them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and no sign shall be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah:

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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:

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet:

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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:

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  He answered and sayde to the: The evyll and advoutrous generacio seketh a signe but ther shall no signe be geve to the saue the signe of the Prophete Ionas.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And he answered and saide vnto the: This euell and aduouterous generacion seketh a token: and there shal no token be geuen the, but the token of the prophete Ionas.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But he answered and said to them, An euill and adulterous generation seeketh a signe, but no signe shall be giuen vnto it, saue that signe of the Prophet Ionas.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But he aunswered and sayde to them. The euyll and adulterous generation seketh a signe, and there shall no signe be geuen to it, but the signe of the prophete Ionas.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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:›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And he answering said to them, `A generation, evil and adulterous, doth seek a sign, and a sign shall not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet:

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet:

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But he, answering, said to them, An evil and false generation is looking for a sign; and no sign will be given to it but the sign of the prophet Jonah:

• World English Bible (2000)

  But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  But he answered them,“An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

Referenced Verses

• Matt 16:4 : 4 { "verseID": "Matthew.16.4", "source": "Γενεὰ πονηρὰ καὶ μοιχαλὶς σημεῖον ἐπιζητεῖ· καὶ σημεῖον οὐ δοθήσεται αὐτῇ, εἰ μὴ τὸ σημεῖον Ἰωνᾶ τοῦ προφήτου. Καὶ καταλιπὼν αὐτούς, ἀπῆλθεν.", "text": "*Genea* *ponēra* and *moichalis* *sēmeion* *epizētei*; and *sēmeion* not *dothēsetai* to it, *ei mē* the *sēmeion* of *Iōna* the *prophētou*. And *katalipōn* them, he *apēlthen*.", "grammar": { "*Genea*": "nominative singular feminine - generation", "*ponēra*": "nominative singular feminine - evil/wicked", "*moichalis*": "nominative singular feminine - adulterous", "*sēmeion*": "accusative singular neuter - sign", "*epizētei*": "present active indicative, 3rd person singular - seeks after/demands", "*dothēsetai*": "future passive indicative, 3rd person singular - will be given", "*ei mē*": "conditional negative expression - except/if not", "*Iōna*": "genitive singular masculine - Jonah", "*prophētou*": "genitive singular masculine - prophet", "*katalipōn*": "aorist active participle, nominative singular masculine - having left", "*apēlthen*": "aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular - he departed/went away" }, "variants": { "*Genea*": "generation/race/family", "*ponēra*": "evil/wicked/corrupt", "*moichalis*": "adulterous/unfaithful", "*epizētei*": "seeks after/demands/requires", "*katalipōn*": "having left/abandoned/forsaken", "*apēlthen*": "departed/went away" } }
• Luke 11:29-32 : 29 { "verseID": "Luke.11.29", "source": "¶Τῶν δὲ ὄχλων ἐπαθροιζομένων, ἤρξατο λέγειν, Ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη πονηρά ἐστιν: σημεῖον ἐπιζητεῖ· καὶ σημεῖον οὐ δοθήσεται αὐτῇ, εἰ μὴ τὸ σημεῖον Ἰωνᾶ τοῦ προφήτου.", "text": "And the *ochlōn epathroizomenōn*, he *ērxato legein*, The *genea hautē ponēra* is: *sēmeion epizētei*; and *sēmeion* not *dothēsetai* to it, except the *sēmeion* of *Iōna* the *prophētou*.", "grammar": { "*ochlōn*": "noun, genitive masculine plural - crowds/multitudes", "*epathroizomenōn*": "present passive participle, genitive masculine plural - being gathered together/crowding around", "*ērxato*": "aorist indicative middle, 3rd person singular - began", "*legein*": "present active infinitive - to say/speak", "*genea*": "noun, nominative feminine singular - generation", "*hautē*": "demonstrative pronoun, nominative feminine singular - this", "*ponēra*": "adjective, nominative feminine singular - evil/wicked", "*sēmeion*": "noun, accusative neuter singular - sign/wonder", "*epizētei*": "present indicative active, 3rd person singular - seeks eagerly/demands", "*dothēsetai*": "future indicative passive, 3rd person singular - will be given", "*Iōna*": "proper noun, genitive masculine singular - Jonah", "*prophētou*": "noun, genitive masculine singular - prophet" }, "variants": { "*ochlōn*": "crowds/multitudes/throngs", "*epathroizomenōn*": "gathering together/crowding around/pressing together", "*genea*": "generation/race/age", "*ponēra*": "evil/wicked/corrupt", "*sēmeion*": "sign/wonder/miracle", "*epizētei*": "seeks eagerly/demands/requires", "*prophētou*": "prophet/one who speaks for god" } } 30 { "verseID": "Luke.11.30", "source": "Καθὼς γὰρ ἐγένετο Ἰωνᾶς σημεῖον τοῖς Νινευΐταις, οὕτως ἔσται καὶ ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ.", "text": "For just as *kathōs* *egeneto* *Iōnas* a *sēmeion* to the *Nineutais*, thus *estai* also the *Huios* of the *anthrōpou* to this *genea tautē*.", "grammar": { "*kathōs*": "comparative conjunction - just as/according as", "*egeneto*": "aorist indicative middle, 3rd person singular - became/was", "*Iōnas*": "proper noun, nominative masculine singular - Jonah", "*sēmeion*": "noun, nominative neuter singular - sign/wonder", "*Nineutais*": "proper noun, dative masculine plural - Ninevites/people of Nineveh", "*estai*": "future indicative middle, 3rd person singular - will be", "*Huios*": "noun, nominative masculine singular - Son", "*anthrōpou*": "noun, genitive masculine singular - man/human", "*genea*": "noun, dative feminine singular - generation", "*tautē*": "demonstrative pronoun, dative feminine singular - this" }, "variants": { "*kathōs*": "just as/according as/even as", "*egeneto*": "became/was/happened to be", "*sēmeion*": "sign/wonder/miraculous indicator", "*Huios tou anthrōpou*": "Son of Man/Human One", "*genea*": "generation/age/race" } } 31 { "verseID": "Luke.11.31", "source": "Βασίλισσα νότου ἐγερθήσεται ἐν τῇ κρίσει μετὰ τῶν ἀνδρῶν τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης, καὶ κατακρινεῖ αὐτούς: ὅτι ἦλθεν ἐκ τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς ἀκοῦσαι τὴν σοφίαν Σολομῶνος· καὶ, ἰδού, πλεῖον Σολομῶνος ὧδε.", "text": "*Basilissa notou egerthēsetai* in the *krisei* with the *andrōn* of this *geneas tautēs*, and *katakrinei* them: because she *ēlthen* from the *peratōn* of the *gēs* to *akousai* the *sophian* of *Solomōnos*; and, *idou*, greater than *Solomōnos* here.", "grammar": { "*Basilissa*": "noun, nominative feminine singular - queen", "*notou*": "noun, genitive masculine singular - south", "*egerthēsetai*": "future indicative passive, 3rd person singular - will be raised up/will arise", "*krisei*": "noun, dative feminine singular - judgment/act of judging", "*andrōn*": "noun, genitive masculine plural - men", "*geneas*": "noun, genitive feminine singular - generation", "*tautēs*": "demonstrative pronoun, genitive feminine singular - this", "*katakrinei*": "future indicative active, 3rd person singular - will condemn", "*ēlthen*": "aorist indicative active, 3rd person singular - came/went", "*peratōn*": "noun, genitive neuter plural - ends/extremities", "*gēs*": "noun, genitive feminine singular - earth/land", "*akousai*": "aorist active infinitive - to hear", "*sophian*": "noun, accusative feminine singular - wisdom", "*Solomōnos*": "proper noun, genitive masculine singular - Solomon", "*idou*": "interjection - behold/look", "*pleion*": "comparative adjective, nominative neuter singular - more/greater" }, "variants": { "*Basilissa notou*": "Queen of the South/Queen of Sheba", "*egerthēsetai*": "will rise up/will stand up/will be raised", "*krisei*": "judgment/tribunal/trial", "*andrōn*": "men/males/husbands", "*katakrinei*": "will condemn/will pass judgment against", "*peratōn tēs gēs*": "ends of the earth/remotest parts of the land", "*sophian*": "wisdom/skill/intelligence", "*pleion*": "more/greater/something greater" } } 32 { "verseID": "Luke.11.32", "source": "Ἄνδρες Νινευῒ ἀναστήσονται ἐν τῇ κρίσει μετὰ τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης, καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτήν: ὅτι μετενόησαν εἰς τὸ κήρυγμα Ἰωνᾶ· καὶ, ἰδού, πλεῖον Ἰωνᾶ ὧδε.", "text": "*Andres Nineuï anastēsontai* in the *krisei* with this *geneas tautēs*, and *katakrinousin* it: because they *metenoēsan* at the *kērugma* of *Iōna*; and, *idou*, greater than *Iōna* here.", "grammar": { "*Andres*": "noun, nominative masculine plural - men", "*Nineuï*": "proper noun, genitive - Nineveh", "*anastēsontai*": "future indicative middle, 3rd person plural - will rise up/stand up", "*krisei*": "noun, dative feminine singular - judgment", "*geneas*": "noun, genitive feminine singular - generation", "*tautēs*": "demonstrative pronoun, genitive feminine singular - this", "*katakrinousin*": "future indicative active, 3rd person plural - will condemn", "*metenoēsan*": "aorist indicative active, 3rd person plural - repented/changed their minds", "*kērugma*": "noun, accusative neuter singular - preaching/proclamation", "*Iōna*": "proper noun, genitive masculine singular - Jonah", "*idou*": "interjection - behold/look", "*pleion*": "comparative adjective, nominative neuter singular - more/greater" }, "variants": { "*Andres Nineuï*": "Men of Nineveh/Ninevites", "*anastēsontai*": "will rise up/will stand up/will be resurrected", "*krisei*": "judgment/tribunal/trial", "*katakrinousin*": "will condemn/will judge against", "*metenoēsan*": "repented/changed their minds/turned from sin", "*kērugma*": "preaching/proclamation/message", "*pleion*": "more/greater/something greater" } }
• Jas 4:4 : 4 { "verseID": "James.4.4", "source": "Μοιχοὶ καὶ μοιχαλίδες, οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ἡ φιλία τοῦ κόσμου ἔχθρα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν; ὃς ἂν οὖν βουληθῇ φίλος εἶναι τοῦ κόσμου ἐχθρὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ καθίσταται.", "text": "*Moichoi* and *moichalides*, not you *oidate* that the *philia* of the *kosmou echtra* of the *Theou estin*? whoever therefore may *boulēthē philos einai* of the *kosmou echthros* of the *Theou kathistatai*.", "grammar": { "*Moichoi*": "nominative, masculine, plural - adulterers", "*moichalides*": "nominative, feminine, plural - adulteresses", "*oidate*": "perfect active indicative, 2nd plural - know/understand", "*philia*": "nominative, feminine, singular - friendship/love", "*kosmou*": "genitive, masculine, singular - world/universe/ornamentation", "*echtra*": "nominative, feminine, singular - enmity/hostility", "*Theou*": "genitive, masculine, singular - God", "*estin*": "present active indicative, 3rd singular - is", "*boulēthē*": "aorist passive subjunctive, 3rd singular - desire/wish/intend", "*philos*": "nominative, masculine, singular - friend/beloved", "*einai*": "present active infinitive - to be", "*echthros*": "nominative, masculine, singular - enemy/hostile", "*kathistatai*": "present middle/passive indicative, 3rd singular - becomes/is appointed" }, "variants": { "*Moichoi*": "adulterers/unfaithful ones", "*moichalides*": "adulteresses/unfaithful women", "*oidate*": "know/understand/perceive", "*philia*": "friendship/love/affection", "*kosmou*": "world/universe/worldly system", "*echtra*": "enmity/hostility/hatred", "*boulēthē*": "wishes/desires/intends", "*philos*": "friend/beloved/dear one", "*echthros*": "enemy/hostile/opposed", "*kathistatai*": "becomes/is constituted/is established" } }
• Mark 8:38 : 38 { "verseID": "Mark.8.38", "source": "Ὃς γὰρ ἂν ἐπαισχυνθῇ με καὶ τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ μοιχαλίδι καὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ· καὶ ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπαισχυνθήσεται αὐτὸν, ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ Πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἁγίων.", "text": "Whoever for might be *epaischynthē* me and the *emous* *logous* in the *genea* this the *moichalidi* and *hamartōlō*; also the *Huios* of *anthrōpou* will be *epaischynthēsetai* him, when he might *elthē* in the *doxē* of the *Patros* of him with the *angelōn* the *hagiōn*.", "grammar": { "*epaischynthē*": "verb, aorist passive subjunctive, 3rd person singular - he might be ashamed of", "*emous*": "adjective, masculine accusative plural - my", "*logous*": "noun, masculine accusative plural - words", "*genea*": "noun, feminine dative singular - generation", "*moichalidi*": "adjective, feminine dative singular - adulterous", "*hamartōlō*": "adjective, feminine dative singular - sinful", "*Huios*": "noun, masculine nominative singular - Son", "*anthrōpou*": "noun, masculine genitive singular - of man", "*epaischynthēsetai*": "verb, future passive indicative, 3rd person singular - he will be ashamed of", "*elthē*": "verb, aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person singular - he might come", "*doxē*": "noun, feminine dative singular - glory", "*Patros*": "noun, masculine genitive singular - of Father", "*angelōn*": "noun, masculine genitive plural - of angels", "*hagiōn*": "adjective, masculine genitive plural - holy" }, "variants": { "*epaischynthē*": "he might be ashamed of/embarrassed by", "*emous*": "my/mine", "*logous*": "words/sayings/statements", "*genea*": "generation/age/race", "*moichalidi*": "adulterous/unfaithful", "*hamartōlō*": "sinful/sinning", "*Huios*": "Son/descendant", "*anthrōpou*": "of man/humanity", "*epaischynthēsetai*": "he will be ashamed of/embarrassed by", "*elthē*": "he might come/arrive", "*doxē*": "glory/splendor/majesty", "*Patros*": "of Father/parent", "*angelōn*": "of angels/messengers", "*hagiōn*": "holy/set apart/sacred" } }
• Isa 57:3 : 3 { "verseID": "Isaiah.57.3", "source": "וְאַתֶּ֥ם קִרְבוּ־הֵ֖נָּה בְּנֵ֣י עֹנְנָ֑ה זֶ֥רַע מְנָאֵ֖ף וַתִּזְנֶֽה׃", "text": "*wə-ʾattem* *qirbû-hēnnāh* *bənê* *ʿōnənāh* *zeraʿ* *mənāʾēp* *wattizneh*.", "grammar": { "*wə-ʾattem*": "conjunctive waw + 2nd person masculine plural pronoun - and you", "*qirbû-hēnnāh*": "qal imperative, masculine plural + adverb - draw near here", "*bənê*": "noun, masculine, plural construct - sons of", "*ʿōnənāh*": "feminine noun from root related to divination/sorcery", "*zeraʿ*": "noun, masculine, singular construct - seed/offspring of", "*mənāʾēp*": "piel participle, masculine, singular - one who commits adultery", "*wattizneh*": "conjunctive waw + qal imperfect, 3rd feminine singular with waw consecutive - and she prostituted herself" }, "variants": { "*ʿōnənāh*": "sorceress/female diviner/witch", "*zeraʿ*": "seed/offspring/descendant/posterity", "*mənāʾēp*": "adulterer/one who commits adultery", "*wattizneh*": "and she played the harlot/committed fornication/was unfaithful" } }