MAT 12:38-42

The Sign of Jonah

38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."

39But he answered and said to them: "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.

40For just as Jonah was in the belly of the great sea creature three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

41Men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, for they repented at the proclamation of Jonah — and look, something greater than Jonah is here.

42A queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon — and look, something greater than Solomon is here."

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Jewish thought, the request for a 'sign' was often tied to prophetic validation. The scribes and Pharisees, steeped in a tradition where prophets like Elijah and Elisha performed miracles to authenticate their messages, sought a similar demonstration from Jesus. Their demand reflects a broader cultural expectation: signs were seen as divine endorsements of authority. Jesus’ response, invoking Jonah, would have resonated deeply. Jonah’s story was well-known, not just as a tale of survival but as a prophetic mission to Nineveh, a Gentile city. The 'sign of Jonah' points to Jesus’ death and resurrection, paralleling Jonah’s three days in the 'great fish' . For Jewish listeners, this would evoke themes of repentance and divine mercy, as Nineveh’s response to Jonah contrasted sharply with the skepticism of Jesus’ contemporaries. The mention of Nineveh also subtly critiques Israel’s failure to recognize God’s work in their midst.

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How other translations render this

MAT 12:38

KJV: Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
BSB: Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
Koinōnos: Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.

MAT 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:
BSB: Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
Koinōnos: But he answered and said to them: "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.

MAT 12:40

KJV: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
BSB: For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Koinōnos: For just as Jonah was in the belly of the great sea creature three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

MAT 12:41

KJV: The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because 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 rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, for they repented at the proclamation of Jonah — and look, something greater than Jonah is here.

MAT 12:42

KJV: The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost 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 this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
Koinōnos: A queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon — and look, something greater than Solomon is here.

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

Translator's notes

MAT 12:39

A generation:The word translated 'A generation' here refers to a specific group of people living at a particular time, often implying shared characteristics or moral qualities, rather than just a period of time.
adulterous:The term translated 'adulterous' here extends beyond marital infidelity to also describe spiritual unfaithfulness or disloyalty to God, often used metaphorically.

MAT 12:40

great fish:The word translated 'great fish' more broadly means any large sea creature or sea monster, not necessarily a specific type of fish.
heart:The word translated 'heart' in this context refers to the center of a person's being, encompassing their thoughts, emotions, will, and moral character, not just the physical organ.