Matthew 16 28

Matthew 16:28 kjv

Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Matthew 16:28 nkjv

"Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

Matthew 16:28 niv

"Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Matthew 16:28 esv

Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Matthew 16:28 nlt

And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom."

Matthew 16 verses

Matthew 16 28 Meaning

Matthew 16:28 conveys Jesus' solemn declaration that some among His immediate audience would witness a manifestation of His kingly power before their death. This declaration, though debated in its precise fulfillment, primarily points to a powerful display of Christ's royal glory and authority, a preview of His coming kingdom. The most common understanding identifies this event with the Transfiguration, which immediately follows in Matthew chapter 17. Other interpretations connect it to the Resurrection, Pentecost, or the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, all of which showcased Christ's establishing power.

Matthew 16 28 Context

Matthew 16:28 concludes a pivotal discourse in Jesus' ministry. It immediately follows Peter's profound confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God (Mt 16:16). This confession marks a turning point, as Jesus then, for the first time, reveals His coming suffering, death, and resurrection (Mt 16:21). Peter's rebuke of this prediction, followed by Jesus' sharp correction ("Get thee behind me, Satan"), highlights the tension between common messianic expectations of an earthly king and the true path of a suffering servant. Jesus then issues a strong call to discipleship, emphasizing self-denial, cross-bearing, and the ultimate value of one's soul over worldly gain (Mt 16:24-27). This verse, Matthew 16:28, serves as a word of encouragement and assurance to the disciples amidst the challenging teaching about suffering and sacrifice. It promises that before some of them die, they will witness a profound manifestation of the kingdom's reality and Christ's glory, reinforcing the truth of His messianic identity and the eventual triumph of His rule.

Matthew 16 28 Word analysis

• Verily (Ἀμὴν - Amen): A Hebrew affirmation, adopted into Greek. It means "truly," "certainly," or "so be it." Here, it signifies a solemn, emphatic declaration, highlighting the certainty and importance of the statement that follows.
• I say (λέγω - legō): Emphasizes Jesus' divine authority as the speaker, conveying an absolute truth.
• unto you (ὑμῖν - humin): Directly addressing His disciples present at that moment, indicating the immediacy and personal nature of the promise.
• There be some standing here (εἰσίν τινες τῶν ὧδε ἑστώτων - eisin tines tōn hōde hestōtōn): Specifies that the fulfillment of the prophecy will occur within the lifetime of certain individuals within His direct audience. This phrase is key to narrowing the interpretive possibilities.
• shall not taste (οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται - ou mē geusōntai): A strong double negative in Greek, emphasizing absolute certainty ("shall surely not taste"). "Taste of death" is a common Semitic idiom for experiencing death (cf. Heb 2:9).
• of death (θανάτου - thanatou): The literal experience of dying. The phrase implies they will see the promised event before they pass away.
• till they see (ἕως ἂν ἴδωσιν - heōs an idōsin): Marks the endpoint of the "not tasting death." The "seeing" implies a literal or clear perception, not merely an abstract concept.
• the Son of man (τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου - ton huios tou anthrōpou): Jesus' preferred self-designation, deeply rooted in Old Testament prophecy, especially Dan 7:13-14, where the "Son of Man" comes with clouds and is given dominion, glory, and an everlasting kingdom. It signifies both His humanity and His divine, kingly authority.
• coming (ἐρχόμενον - erchomenon): A present participle, indicating a continuous or imminent "coming" or manifestation. This "coming" is not necessarily the final, glorious return at the end of time (though it foreshadows it) but rather a manifestation of His kingly authority or a decisive act in His sovereign reign.
• in his kingdom (ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ - en tē basileia autou): The manner or sphere of His coming. It's a display of His royal rule and dominion. This could refer to the dawning or clear demonstration of the kingdom that Jesus was inaugurating, not necessarily its final, full establishment.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Verily I say unto you: This phrase establishes a powerful emphasis, drawing the listeners' full attention to a truth of utmost significance and certainty directly from Jesus' mouth. It's a marker of divine authority and infallibility.
• There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death: This group of words sets a temporal and spatial limit. The event described must occur within the lifespan of at least some of Jesus' contemporary hearers. This immediacy rules out interpretations that solely rely on the distant Second Coming of Christ, leading scholars to look for fulfillments shortly after the statement.
• till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom: This is the core of the promise and the source of interpretive variety. "Seeing the Son of Man coming" refers to a tangible, perceivable manifestation of Jesus' kingly authority and the reality of His reign. "In his kingdom" denotes that this "coming" is intrinsically linked to the establishment or display of His divine rule, which had already begun. The "coming" here is understood not as a literal physical journey, but as an active manifestation of His kingly power, perhaps in glory or in judgment, within the timeline set by the preceding phrase.

Matthew 16 28 Bonus section

The concept of "seeing" can refer not only to physical sight but also to spiritual perception or understanding. In this context, it could imply that the disciples would grasp the true spiritual nature and power of Jesus' kingdom. The "coming" of the Son of Man is multifaceted in Scripture, encompassing His incarnation, Transfiguration, Resurrection, the pouring out of the Spirit, the establishment of the Church, judgments upon historical powers (like Jerusalem in A.D. 70), and His final glorious return. Matthew 16:28 focuses on an earlier manifestation, emphasizing the imminence of Christ's kingdom reality and power to those who first heard His words. This promise served as a crucial encouragement, underscoring that the demanding path of discipleship ultimately leads to participation in an eternal and glorious kingdom. It assured them that while the physical suffering of the Messiah was real, it would quickly be followed by a powerful vindication and revelation of His divine authority.

Matthew 16 28 Commentary

Matthew 16:28 is one of Jesus' most enigmatic statements, primarily understood as a promise of an imminent, tangible manifestation of His kingdom. The dominant interpretation among scholars and across Christian tradition points to the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36) as its primary fulfillment. This event occurred "after six days" and involved Peter, James, and John – indeed, "some standing here" – witnessing Jesus' divine glory, accompanied by Moses and Elijah, speaking of His exodus, and a voice from heaven affirming Him as God's beloved Son. This was a clear, visible display of Christ's heavenly rule and divine Sonship, a preview of His glorious kingly reign, fitting the description of seeing the "Son of man coming in his kingdom."

Other significant interpretations exist. Some consider the verse a prophecy of the Resurrection and Pentecost, arguing that the resurrection established Christ's absolute rule (Rom 1:4), and Pentecost ushered in the empowered Church, spreading the Gospel which is the advance of God's kingdom on earth (Acts 2:1-4; 1 Cor 4:20). Others, particularly among partial preterists, connect this "coming in his kingdom" to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in A.D. 70. This event, they argue, marked the definitive end of the Old Covenant order and the full establishment of Christ's New Covenant kingdom, executed through judgment (cf. Mt 24). This historical catastrophe could be seen as Christ's "coming" in judgment, confirming His authority to execute judgment upon those who rejected Him. While the final Second Coming is acknowledged in other passages, the specific "some standing here" phrasing points to an event that happened within that generation. Ultimately, the verse affirms that Jesus' reign is not a distant, abstract reality but began to be powerfully displayed soon after His ministry and continues to expand through history, even before His final return.