Matthew 12 39

Matthew 12:39 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:

Matthew 12:39 nkjv

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

Matthew 12:39 niv

He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

Matthew 12:39 esv

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

Matthew 12:39 nlt

But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.

Matthew 12 verses

Matthew 12 39 Meaning

In Matthew 12:39, Jesus responds to a demand for a miraculous sign from a group of Pharisees and scribes. He identifies them as an "evil and adulterous generation," emphasizing their inherent spiritual corruption and unfaithfulness to God. Despite their request for more evidence, Jesus declares that no sign will be granted to them beyond the unique and profound "sign of the prophet Jonah." This statement serves as both a rebuke and a profound prophecy. It asserts that their current unbelief, despite overwhelming evidence of His divine power and authority, renders them unworthy of further spectacular displays. Instead, the ultimate sign will be His impending death, burial, and resurrection, which, like Jonah's three days in the belly of the great fish, would represent a divine intervention confirming His identity as the Messiah.

Matthew 12 39 Context

This verse appears after a direct confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes. In Matthew 12:22-24, Jesus had just performed a remarkable miracle, healing a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, leading the crowds to question if He was the "Son of David." The Pharisees, however, rejected this clear evidence and maliciously attributed Jesus' power to Beelzebul, the ruler of demons (Mt 12:24). Jesus directly refutes their blasphemous accusation, warning them against blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mt 12:31-37). Immediately following this, some scribes and Pharisees, undeterred by His earlier miracles and teachings, demand a further sign, one perhaps more aligned with their preconceived notions of a Messiah or to test Him. This demand reveals their hardened hearts, spiritual blindness, and refusal to acknowledge the abundant evidence already presented. Jesus' response is a stark rebuke, refusing their demand for a spectacular sign of their choosing, and instead offering a cryptic yet ultimately profound prophecy concerning His own death and resurrection. The historical context reflects a Jewish leadership deeply entrenched in tradition and self-righteousness, often prioritizing external ritual over internal spiritual truth, thus failing to recognize God's redemptive work directly before them.

Matthew 12 39 Word analysis

• But He answered and said to them,: This phrase emphasizes Jesus' direct, authoritative, and deliberate response. It shows a confrontational but instructional tone. He doesn't shy away from their challenge.
• 'An evil: Greek: πονηρὰ (ponēra). This term describes more than just moral badness; it denotes an inherent, active malevolence or corruption that opposes good and God's will. It refers to a deep spiritual sickness and malicious intent in their hearts.
• and adulterous: Greek: μοιχαλὶς (moichalis). This term literally means "adulteress." In a spiritual sense, particularly common in Old Testament prophetic literature (e.g., Hos, Jer, Ezek), it describes Israel's unfaithfulness to God through idolatry, chasing after other gods, or seeking human-derived validation and security rather than trusting in Him. Here, it signifies the religious leaders' betrayal of their covenant relationship with God by their spiritual rebellion and unbelief despite His presence among them.
• generation: Greek: γενεὰ (genea). Refers to the people of that contemporary era, particularly those who rejected Jesus and actively sought to discredit Him. It designates a moral and spiritual quality shared by this group rather than just a chronological timeframe.
• seeks: Greek: ἐπιζητεῖ (epizētei). This word implies an earnest, active, and persistent search or demand. Their "seeking" was not out of genuine desire for truth or belief, but rather out of a stubborn refusal to believe, desiring a sign that would either appease their unbelief or give them a reason to condemn Jesus.
• for a sign,: Greek: σημεῖον (sēmeion). A miraculous demonstration, a proof or attestation of divine power or truth. The Pharisees had already witnessed many signs (healings, exorcisms) but had refused to interpret them as divine. Their demand was not for evidence, but for a specific kind of sign they deemed acceptable, or simply to test God.
• but no sign will be given to it: This is a direct refusal and a declaration of God's boundary. No more superficial, theatrical, or disbeliever-appeasing signs will be provided. The period of overt, multiple public miracles to convince a stubborn heart is drawing to a close.
• except the sign of the prophet Jonah.': This reveals the ultimate, definitive, and last sign Jesus would offer. It redirects their expectation from a public spectacle to a specific historical event concerning Jesus Himself.
• the prophet Jonah: Connects Jesus' future event to an Old Testament prophecy, validating His claim to divine authority through fulfilled scripture and precedent. Jonah's story involved a miraculous preservation after three days and nights in a great fish, followed by a message leading to Nineveh's repentance.

• "An evil and adulterous generation": This is a strong prophetic indictment. "Evil" denotes their fundamental spiritual corruption, while "adulterous" uses an Old Testament metaphor to convey their covenant unfaithfulness to God. They were not merely seeking intellectual proof; they were disloyal to God Himself, analogous to a spouse betraying a marriage vow by seeking satisfaction elsewhere (in this case, in their own religious authority and traditions, rather than God's manifestation in Jesus). This echoes the severe condemnations found in books like Hosea, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, where Israel's unfaithfulness to the covenant was repeatedly termed spiritual adultery or harlotry. Their demand for a sign, rather than an embrace of the truth right before them, underscored this spiritual apostasy.
• "seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.": This clause reveals Jesus' response to their persistent unbelief. They were looking for a sign of their own choosing, possibly a spectacular celestial display (as implied in Mt 16:1), rather than accepting the transformative works Jesus was already performing. Jesus decisively denies their self-serving demand. The "sign of Jonah" becomes the singular, all-sufficient sign, directly related to His identity and mission. It is a sign not to satisfy their curiosity or pride, but to confront their unbelief with the undeniable truth of His resurrection, a sign available only after His suffering and death. This is God's sign, given on God's terms, not man's. It transcends mere wonder-working to reveal the ultimate act of God in salvation history.

Matthew 12 39 Bonus section

The concept of a "sign" (semeion) was significant in ancient Judaism, with some rabbinic traditions expecting a Messiah to perform great wonders. However, Jesus consistently pushed back against a demand for signs that stemmed from unbelief or a desire to test God. His emphasis was on genuine faith as the prerequisite for seeing God's kingdom. The "sign of Jonah" was not merely a miracle, but a prophetic parallel deeply rooted in their own scriptures, intended to provoke repentance similar to Nineveh's response to Jonah's preaching. Unlike the people of Nineveh, who repented at Jonah's preaching, this generation of Jews would face an even greater testimony in Jesus, and yet many would refuse to repent. This sets a precedent for understanding that faith is often called for despite not always having the 'signs' one might prefer, and the ultimate sign God gives might not be the one human beings expect or demand.

Matthew 12 39 Commentary

Matthew 12:39 presents a critical moment where Jesus, after being falsely accused and having demonstrated undeniable power, directly confronts the spiritual perversion of the religious leaders. Their demand for a further sign after having witnessed abundant miracles demonstrates their hardened hearts, deep-seated unbelief, and moral depravity, characterized as both "evil" in intention and "adulterous" in their spiritual disloyalty to God. This wasn't a humble request for understanding, but a demanding challenge intended to entrap or dismiss Jesus.

Jesus rejects their demand for more proofs designed to satisfy their skepticism. The many signs already given – the blind seeing, the lame walking, the demons cast out, the dead raised – were clear testimonies to His messianic identity and divine authority. Their inability or refusal to recognize these bespoke their profound spiritual blindness.

The "sign of Jonah" is the exclusive and final sign. It shifts the focus from external displays to Jesus' personal experience of death, burial, and resurrection. Just as Jonah's miraculous emergence from the fish signified divine intervention and a second chance for Nineveh, Jesus' resurrection after three days in the earth would be the ultimate, indisputable vindication of His claims, even for an unbelieving generation. This sign transcends mere proof; it embodies the essence of the gospel message and God's climactic act of redemption. It reveals that the ultimate truth about Jesus would not be found in continuous miraculous displays to appease their unbelief, but in His sacrificial death and powerful resurrection, a sign that demanded faith, not just intellectual assent.