κοινωνός
← κοινωνός

MAT 4:1-11

The Temptation of Jesus

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.

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.

See the receipts

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.