LUK 19:28-40

The Triumphal Entry

28And having said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

29And it came about that when he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples,

30saying, "Go into the village ahead; entering it, you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it.

31And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' you will say this: 'The Lord has need of it.'"

32And those who were sent went and found it just as he had told them.

33And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

34And they said, "The Lord has need of it."

35And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.

36And as he was going, they were spreading their cloaks on the road.

37And as he was drawing near, already at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began rejoicing and praising God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,

38saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

39And some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples."

40And answering, he said, "I tell you, if these keep silent, the stones will cry out."

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Jewish context, the entry into Jerusalem on a colt would have carried profound messianic symbolism. Zechariah 9:9 prophesied a king coming humbly, riding on a donkey’s colt, evoking expectations of a Davidic Messiah who would restore Israel’s sovereignty. For Jesus’ contemporaries, this act signaled a claim to kingship, but in a manner subverting Roman imperial norms—where rulers entered cities on warhorses or chariots, displaying military power. The colt, unridden and untamed, symbolized purity and divine selection, aligning with Jewish purity codes and sacrificial practices. The crowd’s response, spreading cloaks and branches, echoed traditions of welcoming a king (2 Kings 9:13) and celebrating liberation, particularly during Passover, a time of heightened nationalistic fervor. The Pharisees’ objection to the disciples’ acclamation of Jesus as king reflects tensions with Roman authorities, who viewed such claims as seditious. This event would have been understood as a deliberate, provocative act, blending messianic hope with a challenge to Roman dominance.

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How other translations render this

LUK 19:28

KJV: And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
BSB: After Jesus had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
Koinōnos: And having said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

LUK 19:29

KJV: And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
BSB: As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent out two of His disciples,
Koinōnos: And it came about that when he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples,

LUK 19:30

KJV: Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
BSB: saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.
Koinōnos: saying, "Go into the village ahead; entering it, you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it.

LUK 19:31

KJV: And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
BSB: If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
Koinōnos: And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' you will say this: 'The Lord has need of it.'

LUK 19:32

KJV: And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.
BSB: So those who were sent went out and found it just as Jesus had told them.
Koinōnos: And those who were sent went and found it just as he had told them.

LUK 19:33

KJV: And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
BSB: As they were untying the colt, its owners asked, “Why are you untying the colt?”
Koinōnos: And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?

LUK 19:34

KJV: And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
BSB: “The Lord needs it,” they answered.
Koinōnos: And they said, "The Lord has need of it.

LUK 19:35

KJV: And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.
BSB: Then they led the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks over it, and put Jesus on it.
Koinōnos: And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.

LUK 19:36

KJV: And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.
BSB: As He rode along, the people spread their cloaks on the road.
Koinōnos: And as he was going, they were spreading their cloaks on the road.

LUK 19:37

KJV: And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
BSB: And as He approached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:
Koinōnos: And as he was drawing near, already at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began rejoicing and praising God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,

LUK 19:38

KJV: Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
BSB: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Koinōnos: saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!

LUK 19:39

KJV: And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
BSB: But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!”
Koinōnos: And some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples.

LUK 19:40

KJV: And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
BSB: “I tell you,” He answered, “if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out.”
Koinōnos: And answering, he said, "I tell you, if these keep silent, the stones will cry out.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

LUK 19:30

a colt:The word translated 'a colt' refers specifically to a young animal, often a donkey or horse, that has not yet been broken or ridden. This emphasizes its untamed nature and the unusualness of it being ridden.
has sat;:The term used here for 'has sat' implies a continuous state or a past action with ongoing results, suggesting that no one has ever sat on this colt before, making its use for Jesus even more significant.

LUK 19:37

[the] mighty works:The word translated 'mighty works' carries the sense of powerful deeds or demonstrations of power, often implying miraculous or supernatural acts. It highlights the divine power behind Jesus's actions.

LUK 19:38

<the>:The word translated 'King' here refers to a sovereign ruler, often with divine sanction or authority, emphasizing Jesus's royal status and rightful claim to leadership.