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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Matthew 12:38–40

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
¶ Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
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:
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

15 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 38

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:22Rank 1 from verse 38
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    22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

  2. Mark 8:11–12Rank 2 from verse 38
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    11And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

    12And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

  3. John 2:18Rank 3 from verse 38
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    18¶ Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

  4. Luke 11:16Rank 4 from verse 38
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    16And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.

  5. Luke 11:29Rank 5 from verse 38
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    29¶ And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.

From verse 39

  1. Matthew 16:4Rank 1 from verse 39
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    4A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

  2. Luke 11:29–32Rank 2 from verse 39
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    29¶ And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.

    30For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

    31The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

    32The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

  3. Isaiah 57:3Rank 3 from verse 39
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    3¶ But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore.

  4. James 4:4Rank 4 from verse 39
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    4Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

  5. Mark 8:38Rank 5 from verse 39
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    38Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

From verse 40

  1. Jonah 1:17Rank 1 from verse 40
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    17¶ Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

  2. Matthew 27:63–64Rank 2 from verse 40
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    63Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

    64Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

  3. John 2:19Rank 3 from verse 40
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    19Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

  4. Matthew 16:21Rank 4 from verse 40
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    21¶ From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

  5. Matthew 17:23Rank 5 from verse 40
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    23And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 12:38

COMBINED MEANING

certain

↗

1. A particular person, thing, place, time, amount, or number not named or not further specified; also some members or portion of a group. 2. Sure, settled, true, reliable, or known beyond doubt.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

answered

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of answer, meaning to reply, respond, or give account.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

master

↗

One possessing authority, ownership, command, supervision, or superior skill: an owner, employer, household head, teacher, leader, ship commander, or lord.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

see

↗

Sense 1: To perceive or behold with the eyes or in a vision. Sense 2: To observe, examine, discover, ascertain, consider, understand, know, or recognize. Sense 3: To visit, meet, converse with, or be in the presence of. Sense 4: To experience, undergo, endure, or enjoy. Sense 5: To attend to, take care, ensure, or beware.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 12:39

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

answered

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of answer, meaning to reply, respond, or give account.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

evil

↗

Sense 1: Moral wickedness, sin, wrong, or corruption. Sense 2: Harm, misery, calamity, adversity, or punishment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

adulterous

↗

Sense 1: Guilty of or characterized by adultery. Sense 2: Figuratively, unfaithful to God and corrupt.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

after

↗

1. Later than or following in time or order. 2. Behind. 3. In pursuit of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

prophet

↗

A person who declares or bears a message as divinely inspired, including one who foretells, whether truly or falsely.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Cawdrey 1604 · Skeat 1893

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 12:40

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

Son

↗

A title of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Son of man.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

heart

↗

Sense 1: The bodily organ. Sense 2: The inward person: the mind, will, affections, conscience, or moral character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

earth

↗

Sense 1: The world in distinction from heaven. Sense 2: Dry land, ground, soil, or dust. Sense 3: A land, region, or its inhabitants.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

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Surrounding Verses

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37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

38¶ Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Selected passage

39But 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:

Selected passage

40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Selected passage

41The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

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