29As the crowds were gathering, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. [11:30] For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. [11:31] The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon — and look, something greater than Solomon is here. [11:32] Men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they changed their minds at the proclamation of Jonah — and look, something greater than Jonah is here."
LUK 11:29-32
The Sign of Jonah
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Jewish thought, the 'sign' was understood as a divine authentication, often sought to validate a prophet's message or God's intervention. Jesus' reference to Jonah would have evoked the story of a prophet whose preaching led the Ninevites to repentance , a radical turning from their ways. The Queen of the South (the Queen of Sheba) and the Ninevites were Gentiles, yet they responded to God's wisdom and warning, contrasting sharply with 'this generation' , who, despite witnessing Jesus' works, remained unresponsive. The term 'evil' here suggests a morally corrupt and resistant attitude, not merely passive wrongdoing. For Jesus' audience, the mention of Jonah and Solomon would have carried weight as figures associated with divine wisdom and judgment. The comparison underscores the greater significance of Jesus' presence and message, yet the failure of 'this generation' to recognize it.
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How other translations render this
LUK 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.
- BSB
- As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.
- Koinōnos
- As the crowds were gathering, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.
LUK 11:30
- KJV
- For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
- BSB
- For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.
- Koinōnos
- For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
LUK 11:31
- KJV
- The 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.
- BSB
- The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
- Koinōnos
- The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon — and look, something greater than Solomon is here.
LUK 11:32
- KJV
- The 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.
- BSB
- The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.
- Koinōnos
- Men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they changed their minds at the proclamation of Jonah — and look, something greater than Jonah is here.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 11:29
- generation:The word translated 'generation' here refers to the entire group of people living at a particular time, often with a shared character or destiny, rather than just a family lineage.
- an evil:The term translated 'an evil' describes something that is not merely bad, but actively harmful, malicious, and morally corrupt, often with an underlying sense of toil or pain.
- a sign:The word translated 'a sign' refers to an extraordinary event or action that points to a deeper meaning or divine purpose, serving as a clear indicator or proof.
LUK 11:32
- they repented:The word translated 'they repented' means to change one's mind or purpose, leading to a change in behavior, often implying a deep regret for past actions and a turning towards a new way of life.