Luke 11 29

Luke 11:29 kjv

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.

Luke 11:29 nkjv

And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, "This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.

Luke 11:29 niv

As the crowds increased, Jesus said, "This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.

Luke 11:29 esv

When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.

Luke 11:29 nlt

As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, "This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah.

Luke 11 verses

Luke 11 29 Meaning

In Luke 11:29, Jesus confronts the increasing crowds who seek additional miraculous proof of His identity and authority. He unequivocally declares the current generation as "evil" for its insatiable demand for spectacular signs, a demand rooted in spiritual blindness and unbelief, not sincere seeking. He asserts that no further sign will be granted to them, except for "the sign of Jonah," which is a profound prophetic reference to His own death, burial, and triumphant resurrection. This final and decisive sign serves as the ultimate proof of His divine power and judgment, yet requires faith to truly comprehend and accept.

Luke 11 29 Context

Luke 11:29 appears immediately after Jesus casts out a demon from a mute man, which prompts both astonishment and accusations from some that He performs miracles by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons (Luke 11:14-15). Jesus refutes these claims by arguing that a divided kingdom cannot stand and asserts that He casts out demons by the finger of God (Luke 11:16-26). He then responds to a woman who blesses His mother by stating, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" (Luke 11:27-28). It is in this atmosphere of diverse reactions—from genuine wonder to outright skepticism and spiritual superficiality—that the "crowds" grow, seeking further, more definitive, perhaps even politically motivated, signs.

The historical and cultural context illuminates the "evil generation" assessment. First-century Judaism was expectant of the Messiah, but often looked for a powerful, conquering king who would liberate Israel from Roman rule through overt, world-changing displays of divine power (a "sign from heaven"). The spiritual leadership, particularly the Pharisees and Sadducees (as seen in parallel accounts like Matt 12 and 16), frequently demanded signs not out of a sincere search for truth, but to trap Jesus, disqualify Him, or dictate how God should act. Jesus’ refusal to grant the requested signs constitutes a direct polemic against this spiritually arrogant and demanding mindset. He implied that their desire for a sign was a perverse manifestation of unbelief, seeking to impose their will on God rather than humble themselves before His undeniable presence and power already evident in His person and ministry.

Luke 11 29 Word analysis

• When the crowds were increasing (ὄχλων δὲ ἐπαυξανομένων, ochlōn de epauxanomenōn): While it may seem positive that the crowds were growing, Jesus' immediate strong declaration suggests that the increase was not necessarily in true faith. Instead, it indicates a greater clamor, perhaps more skepticism, or an increase in superficial curiosity rather than genuine discipleship. It sets the scene for Jesus' pointed assessment of their spiritual state.
• he began to say (ἤρξατο λέγειν, ērxato legein): This phrase signals a significant and deliberate pronouncement, a new segment of Jesus' teaching aimed at correcting a widespread spiritual issue among the people present.
• “This generation (ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη, hē genea hautē): Refers directly to the people of that era who witnessed Jesus' ministry firsthand. It encompasses not just the hostile leadership but also the common people who shared the same spiritual deficiencies, characterized by unbelief, stubbornness, and resistance to God’s direct revelation in Christ.
• is an evil generation. (γενεὰ πονηρά ἐστιν, genea ponēra estin): The Greek word ponēra (πονηρά) goes beyond simple "badness" to imply active malice, wickedness, and spiritual corruption. It suggests a generation that is not merely ignorant but willfully perverse, exhibiting an inherent inclination towards evil and active opposition to God's truth. This refers to their moral disposition and their rejection of divine light.
• It seeks for a sign, (σημεῖον οὐ δοθήσεται αὐτῇ, sēmeion ou dothēsetai autē): The term sēmeion (σημεῖον) denotes a sign or miraculous proof. The crowds desired a dramatic, definitive display, often of the kind they expected from a Messiah. This was a request not rooted in humble inquiry but in a demanding, challenging spirit, despite already witnessing many profound demonstrations of God’s power and authority.
• but no sign will be given to it (σημεῖον οὐ δοθήσεται αὐτῇ, sēmeion ou dothēsetai autē): This is a strong and definitive refusal. Jesus rejects their terms for faith. He will not provide signs on demand to satisfy their curious, unbelieving, or adversarial desires. God's truth is not subject to human demands for verification.
• except the sign of Jonah. (εἰ μὴ τὸ σημεῖον Ἰωνᾶ, ei mē to sēmeion Iōna): This phrase provides the sole exception and reveals the ultimate, non-negotiable sign. This sign is uniquely profound because it involves death, burial, and resurrection, events that demand faith for proper interpretation and acceptance. It serves as God's decisive, final attestation to Jesus' authority and identity.

• "This generation is an evil generation": This phrase highlights the pervasive spiritual perversity and hardened hearts prevalent among many of Jesus' contemporaries. Despite witnessing undeniable divine acts and hearing transformative teachings, they remained spiritually blind, valuing worldly expectations over spiritual truth. Their "evil" was evidenced by their persistent demand for signs while refusing to acknowledge the signs already manifest in Christ Himself.
• "It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah": This group of words encapsulates Jesus' unwavering stance against the prevailing unbelief. He dismisses their superficial and demanding quest for external validation. The only sign promised is His own death, burial, and resurrection—a profound and scandalous event that would serve as both divine judgment upon the "evil generation" and the ultimate proof of His Messianic identity and authority. This singular sign contrasts with any theatrical display they desired, challenging them to confront the reality of His work over their preconceived notions.

Luke 11 29 Bonus section

The "sign of Jonah" goes beyond a mere miraculous escape. Jonah's experience in the fish was a terrifying ordeal of judgment, a living burial that brought him to the brink of Sheol before divine intervention delivered him. His subsequent mission to Nineveh was predicated on this very deliverance, leading to the city's repentance. In parallel, Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection constitute God's definitive judgment on sin and triumph over death, serving as the ultimate call to repentance for "this generation" and all humanity. This means the sign of Jonah is not just a prophetic type of Jesus' bodily resurrection, but also intrinsically linked to His authoritative call to repentance. The failure of "this generation" to repent despite "something greater than Jonah" among them would solidify their judgment, highlighted by the fact that the pagan Ninevites repented at Jonah's far less glorious message.

Luke 11 29 Commentary

Luke 11:29 powerfully encapsulates Jesus' assessment of the spiritual condition of many of His contemporaries. Their demand for a sign, even amidst the multitude of miracles and authoritative teachings already witnessed, betrayed a profound spiritual dullness and an inherent wickedness (ponēra). This "evil generation" was not simply mistaken; it was morally corrupt in its willful refusal to acknowledge God’s presence and work directly before them in Jesus. Jesus categorically refused to pander to their skepticism or their desire for a spectacle that suited their preconceptions. Instead, He offered the definitive "sign of Jonah," which exclusively points to His impending death, burial for three days, and subsequent resurrection. This ultimate sign, hidden in its typological form in the Old Testament, was not an appeasement of their demands but God's final, climactic act of revelation and redemption. It serves as both a sign of profound judgment on unbelief and a supreme beacon of salvation, requiring a radical shift in perspective and genuine faith for acceptance. This underscores that true belief rests on Christ's atoning work and triumph over death, not on sensational displays.