Matthew 12:21 kjv
And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
Matthew 12:21 nkjv
And in His name Gentiles will trust."
Matthew 12:21 niv
In his name the nations will put their hope."
Matthew 12:21 esv
and in his name the Gentiles will hope."
Matthew 12:21 nlt
And his name will be the hope
of all the world."
Matthew 12 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 42:1 | Behold My Servant, Whom I uphold... I have put My Spirit upon Him... | Prophecy of the Servant, context for Mt 12:17 |
| Isa 42:4 | He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law. | Source prophecy, 'wait' (LXX 'hope') for Him |
| Isa 11:10 | In that day there shall be a Root of Jesse... To Him the Gentiles shall seek... | Prophecy of Gentiles seeking Messiah |
| Isa 49:6 | "I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth." | Messiah as light and salvation for Gentiles |
| Luke 2:32 | A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel. | Simeon's prophecy of Jesus's universal role |
| Acts 10:45 | And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. | Historical fulfillment, HS poured on Gentiles |
| Acts 11:18 | When they heard these things, they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life." | Jewish acknowledgment of Gentile inclusion |
| Acts 13:47 | For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'" | Paul quoting Isa 49:6, extending salvation |
| Acts 15:7 | Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe." | Peter confirms God's choice for Gentiles |
| Rom 9:30 | What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness... | Gentiles obtain righteousness through faith |
| Rom 10:12 | For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. | No distinction in salvation for all who call |
| Rom 10:13 | For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." | Salvation promised to all who call on Lord's name |
| Rom 15:9 | ...that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy; as it is written: "For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name." | Gentiles glorifying God for mercy (Ps 18:49) |
| Rom 15:10 | And again he says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!" | Gentiles rejoice with Israel (Deu 32:43) |
| Rom 15:11 | And again: "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!" | Gentiles praise the Lord (Ps 117:1) |
| Rom 15:12 | And again, Isaiah says: "There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope." | Direct echo of Matt 12:21, quoting Isa 11:10 |
| Gal 3:8 | And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." | Gospel includes Gentiles from Abraham's time |
| Eph 2:11 | Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh... | Reminder of Gentile exclusion, now inclusion |
| Eph 2:13 | But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ. | Gentiles brought near through Christ's blood |
| Eph 3:6 | that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel. | Gentiles are fellow heirs in Christ |
| Col 1:27 | To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. | Christ among Gentiles, hope of glory |
| Phil 2:9 | Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, | Jesus's exalted name, to which all submit |
Matthew 12 verses
Matthew 12 21 Meaning
Matthew 12:21 prophesies that "in His name shall the Gentiles trust," signifying the universal reach of the Messiah's mission. It proclaims that non-Jewish nations, distinct from Israel, will place their hope and confidence in Jesus's character, authority, and person. This verse underscores the divine plan for salvation to extend beyond the covenant people of Israel to all peoples of the earth, offering them reconciliation and a relationship with God through faith in Christ.
Matthew 12 21 Context
Matthew 12:21 is a direct quotation from Isaiah 42:1-4, which describes the quiet, gentle, and just character of the Servant of the Lord, whose influence will reach worldwide. In Matthew, this verse appears after a series of confrontations between Jesus and the Pharisees concerning Sabbath observance and accusations of His power being from Beelzebub. Jesus responds by withdrawing, avoiding public fanfare (He "would not quarrel nor cry out"), yet continuing to heal multitudes (Matt 12:15-16). This quote from Isaiah is used by Matthew to show that Jesus's actions — His withdrawal from confrontation and His merciful healing ministry to the many, rather than public declaration or aggressive triumph — are not a sign of weakness but a fulfillment of messianic prophecy. This demonstrates that His true strength lies in His divine mission to bring hope to all nations through quiet service and justice, fulfilling the long-awaited expectation that the Gentiles would find their salvation and trust in the Messiah. It implicitly counters the narrow, nationalistic view of the Messiah prevalent among some Jewish groups.
Matthew 12 21 Word analysis
- And (Καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction, connecting this prophetic fulfillment to Jesus's previous actions of withdrawal and healing. It marks a transition to explain the divine reason and ultimate outcome of His seemingly subdued approach.
- in his name (ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ - en tō onomati autou):
- ἐν (en): "in, by, with." Denotes instrumentality or the sphere of activity.
- τῷ (tō): Definite article, "the."
- ὀνόματι (onomati): Dative singular of onoma (ὄνομα), meaning "name." In biblical context, a person's "name" represents their entire character, authority, reputation, identity, presence, and very being. To "trust in His name" means to trust in everything that Jesus is – His divine nature, His saving power, His messianic identity, and His atoning work. It's a comprehensive reliance on Him. This is distinct from merely using a verbal label.
- αὐτοῦ (autou): Genitive singular masculine pronoun, "of Him."
- shall the Gentiles (τὰ ἔθνη - ta ethnē):
- τὰ (ta): The definite article, "the."
- ἔθνη (ethnē): Nominative plural of ethnos (ἔθνος), meaning "nations, peoples, gentiles." This is a crucial term, indicating all non-Jewish peoples. Its inclusion highlights the expansive, universal nature of Jesus's mission, breaking free from the exclusive ethnic and religious boundaries that many first-century Jews expected the Messiah to uphold. It emphasizes that salvation is for humanity beyond Israel.
- trust (ἐλπιοῦσιν - elpiousin):
- Future active indicative of elpizō (ἐλπίζω), meaning "to hope," "to expect," "to place confidence in," "to trust."
- The Septuagint (LXX) translation of Isaiah 42:4 uses elpizō for the Hebrew yakhilū (יַיְחִילוּ), which means "to wait patiently," "to hope for," or "to long for." Matthew's choice reflects the LXX and reinforces the idea of confident reliance and anticipation. It signifies an active placing of faith and confident expectation, rather than a passive waiting. This trust encompasses not just intellectual assent but also active dependence and reliance on Him.
- This "trust" implies belief in His message and obedience to His call.
Words-group Analysis:
- "And in his name": This phrase underlines the focal point of faith and the ultimate source of salvation. The authority, power, and identity of the Messiah Himself are the object of trust for all nations. It is not just by His name, but in the very essence of His being.
- "shall the Gentiles trust": This powerfully declares the outcome of the Messiah's ministry. It reveals a future reality where those who were formerly excluded from God's covenant promises (the nations) will willingly embrace and rely upon Jesus. This prophetic statement becomes a foundational truth for the global expansion of Christianity.
Matthew 12 21 Bonus Section
- The Septuagint (LXX) played a crucial role here, as Matthew quotes the Greek translation of Isaiah 42:4 rather than the Hebrew Masoretic Text. The Hebrew says "the coastlands shall wait for His law," while the LXX (and Matthew) renders it as "in His name shall the Gentiles trust/hope." This shows that early Jewish and Christian understanding recognized the expansive reach of the Messiah and how trust in Him superseded merely waiting for a new law.
- This verse counters a prevalent messianic expectation among many Jews for a nationalist, political liberator. Instead, Jesus is presented as a Suffering Servant who quietly fulfills prophecies and universally draws people to Himself, focusing on internal change rather than external power struggles.
Matthew 12 21 Commentary
Matthew 12:21 provides a succinct yet profound statement about the nature and scope of Jesus's messianic mission, fulfilling an ancient prophecy from Isaiah. Following Jesus's gentle retreat and continued healing amidst pharisaic opposition, this verse illustrates that His strength is not in forceful display but in His quiet, merciful power that draws all people. The core message is the universality of salvation: God's redemptive plan, personified in Jesus, extends beyond Israel to embrace all "Gentiles." Their "trust" signifies a hopeful reliance, a confident expectation placed entirely "in His name"—that is, in His very person, authority, and divine nature as the long-awaited Christ. This verse served as a theological anchor for the early church's outreach to non-Jews, legitimizing the inclusion of all peoples into the family of God through faith in Jesus.