1Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tested by the slanderer. [4:2] And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. [4:3] And the tester came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." [4:4] But he answered and said, "It is written: 'A person shall not live by bread alone, but by every utterance that comes from the mouth of God.'" [4:5] Then the slanderer took him into the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple [4:6] and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will lift you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" [4:7] Jesus said to him, "Again it is written: 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" [4:8] Again the slanderer took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, [4:9] and said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." [4:10] Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, slanderer! For it is written: 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'" [4:11] Then the slanderer left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.
MAT 4:1-11
The Temptation of Jesus
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Jewish context, the wilderness was a place of testing and divine encounter, recalling Israel’s 40 years of wandering. Fasting for 40 days mirrored Moses’ fast on Sinai (Exodus 34:28) and Elijah’s journey to Horeb (1 Kings 19:8), signaling Jesus’ role as a prophetic figure fulfilling Israel’s story. The devil , a term meaning 'slanderer' or 'accuser,' embodies the adversarial force opposing God’s purposes. The temptations target Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, challenging Him to misuse His authority for self-preservation (stones to bread), spectacle (temple pinnacle), and power (kingdoms of the world). Each response quotes Deuteronomy, anchoring Jesus’ obedience in Israel’s covenant faithfulness. The pinnacle of the temple, a highly visible public space, would have been familiar to listeners as a site of religious and political significance. The devil’s offer of worldly kingdoms reflects the Roman imperial context, where power was often gained through compromise or force.
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How other translations render this
MAT 4:1
- KJV
- Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
- BSB
- Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
- Koinōnos
- Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tested by the slanderer.
MAT 4:2
- KJV
- And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
- BSB
- After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.
- Koinōnos
- And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
MAT 4:3
- KJV
- And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
- BSB
- The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
- Koinōnos
- And the tester came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.
MAT 4:4
- KJV
- But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
- BSB
- But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
- Koinōnos
- But he answered and said, "It is written: 'A person shall not live by bread alone, but by every utterance that comes from the mouth of God.'
MAT 4:5
- KJV
- Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
- BSB
- Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple.
- Koinōnos
- Then the slanderer took him into the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple
MAT 4:6
- KJV
- And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
- BSB
- “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”
- Koinōnos
- and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will lift you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'
MAT 4:7
- KJV
- Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
- BSB
- Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
- Koinōnos
- Jesus said to him, "Again it is written: 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'
MAT 4:8
- KJV
- Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
- BSB
- Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
- Koinōnos
- Again the slanderer took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory,
MAT 4:9
- KJV
- And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
- BSB
- “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”
- Koinōnos
- and said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.
MAT 4:10
- KJV
- Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
- BSB
- “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
- Koinōnos
- Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, slanderer! For it is written: 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'
MAT 4:11
- KJV
- Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
- BSB
- Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.
- Koinōnos
- Then the slanderer left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 4:1
- to be tempted:The word translated 'to be tempted' can mean to test with the intent to discover something, or to tempt with the intent to entice someone to do wrong. The context determines which nuance is in view.
- devil.:The term translated 'devil' literally means 'slanderer' or 'accuser.' This highlights a key aspect of this figure's character and activity.
MAT 4:4
- declaration:The word translated 'declaration' refers to a spoken word or utterance, often emphasizing the act of speaking and the content of what is said, rather than just a written statement.
MAT 4:10
- do go away:The phrase translated 'do go away' is a strong command, often implying a subordinate going away from a superior, or a forceful dismissal.