KJV: 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:
YLT: 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;
Darby: But he, answering, said to them, A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and a sign shall not be given to it save the sign of Jonas the prophet.
ASV: 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:
| Ὁ | - |
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Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| ἀποκριθεὶς | answering |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἀποκρίνομαι Sense: to give an answer to a question proposed, to answer. |
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| εἶπεν | He said |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: λέγω Sense: to speak, say. |
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| αὐτοῖς | to them |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Root: αὐτός Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself. |
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| Γενεὰ | A generation |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: γενεά Sense: fathered, birth, nativity. |
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| πονηρὰ | evil |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: πονηρός Sense: full of labours, annoyances, hardships. |
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| μοιχαλὶς | adulterous |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: μοιχαλίς Sense: an adulteress. |
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| σημεῖον | a sign |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: σημεῖον Sense: a sign, mark, token. |
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| ἐπιζητεῖ | seeks for |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἐπιζητέω Sense: to enquire for, seek for, search for, seek diligently. |
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| σημεῖον | a sign |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: σημεῖον Sense: a sign, mark, token. |
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| δοθήσεται | will be given |
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Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular Root: διδῶ Sense: to give. |
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| αὐτῇ | to it |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Feminine 3rd Person Singular Root: αὐτός Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself. |
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| σημεῖον | sign |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: σημεῖον Sense: a sign, mark, token. |
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| Ἰωνᾶ | of Jonah |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: Ἰωνᾶς Sense: the fifth minor prophet, the son of Amittai, and a native of Gath-hepher and lived during the reign of Jeroboam II, king of Israel. |
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| προφήτου | prophet |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: προφήτης Sense: in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things. |
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Greek Commentary for Matthew 12:39
They had broken the marriage tie which bound them to Jehovah (Plummer). See Psalm 73:27; Isaiah 57:3.; Isaiah 62:5; Ezekiel 23:27; James 4:4; Revelation 2:20. What is “the sign of Jonah?” [source]
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 Psalm 73:27; Isaiah 57:3 sqq.; Isaiah 62:5; Ezekiel 23:27. Hence idolatry and intercourse with Gentiles were described as adultery; and so here, of moral unfaithfulness to God. Compare James 4:4:; Revelation 2:20 sqq. Thus Dante:“Where Michael wroughtVengeance upon the proud adultery.”Inf., vii., 12. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 12:39
Same words in Matthew 12:39 except του προπητου tou prophētou a real doublet. [source]
Matthew 16:4 has simply ου δοτησεται ou dothēsetai plain negative with the future passive indicative. Mark has ει ei instead of ου ou which is technically a conditional clause with the conclusion unexpressed (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1024), really aposiopesis in imitation of the Hebrew use of ιμ im This is the only instance in the N.T. except in quotations from the lxx (Hebrews 3:11; Hebrews 4:3, Hebrews 4:5). It is very common in the lxx. The rabbis were splitting hairs over the miracles of Jesus as having a possible natural explanation (as some critics do today) even if by the power of Beelzebub, and those not of the sky (from heaven) which would be manifested from God. So they put up this fantastic test to Jesus which he deeply resents. Matthew 16:4 adds “but the sign of Jonah” mentioned already by Jesus on a previous occasion (Matthew 12:39-41) at more length and to be mentioned again (Luke 11:32). But the mention of the sign of Jonah was “an absolute refusal of signs in their sense” (Bruce). And when he did rise from the dead on the third day, the Sanhedrin refused to be convinced (see Acts 3 to 5). [source]
See on adulterous. Matthew 12:39. [source]
Luke does not give here the burial and resurrection of Jesus of which Jonah‘s experience in the big fish was a type (Matthew 12:39), but that is really implied (Plummer argues) by the use here of “shall be given” (δοτησεται dothēsetai) and “shall be” (εσται estai), for the resurrection of Jesus is still future. The preaching of Jesus ought to have been sign enough as in the case of Jonah, but the resurrection will be given. Luke‘s report is much briefer and omits what is in Matthew 12:41. [source]
Future active indicative of χρηματιζω chrēmatizō old verb, to receive a name as in Acts 11:26, from χρημα chrēma business, from χραομαι chraomai to use, then to give an oracle, etc. An adulteress (μοιχαλις moichalis). Late word, in Plutarch, lxx. See note on Matthew 12:39. If she be joined Third class condition, “if she come to.” So that she is no adulteress (tou mē einai autēn moichalida). It is a fact that εαν γενηται tou and the infinitive is used for result as we saw in Romans 1:24. Conceived result may explain the idiom here. [source]
Late word, in Plutarch, lxx. See note on Matthew 12:39. [source]
The feminine term is the general designation of all whom James here rebukes. The apostate members of the church are figuratively regarded as unfaithful spouses; according to the common Old-Testament figure, in which God is the bridegroom or husband to whom his people are wedded. See Hosea 2, Hosea href="/desk/?q=ho+3:1-5&sr=1">Hosea 3:1-5, 4; Isaiah 54:5; Isaiah 62:4, Isaiah 62:5. Also, Matthew 12:39; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7; Revelation 21:9. [source]