Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. New Living Translation As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, “This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah. English Standard Version When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. Berean Standard Bible 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. Berean Literal Bible And of the crowds being pressed around together, He began to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it, except the sign of Jonah. King James Bible 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. New King James Version And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. New American Standard Bible Now as the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it demands a sign, and so no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. NASB 1995 As the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. NASB 1977 And as the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah. Legacy Standard Bible Now as the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. Amplified Bible Now as the crowds were increasing [in number], He began to say, “This [present] generation is a wicked generation; it seeks a sign (attesting miracle), but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah [the prophet]. Christian Standard Bible As the crowds were increasing, he began saying, “This generation is an evil generation. It demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. Holman Christian Standard Bible As the crowds were increasing, He began saying: “This generation is an evil generation. It demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. American Standard Version And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, he began to say, This generation is an evil generation: it seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of Jonah. Contemporary English Version As crowds were gathering around Jesus, he said: You people of today are evil! You keep looking for a sign from God. But what happened to Jonah is the only sign you will be given. English Revised Version And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, he began to say, This generation is an evil generation: it seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of Jonah. GOD'S WORD® Translation As the people were gathering around him, Jesus said, "The people living today are evil. They look for a miraculous sign. But the only sign they will get is the sign of Jonah. Good News Translation As the people crowded around Jesus, he went on to say, "How evil are the people of this day! They ask for a miracle, but none will be given them except the miracle of Jonah. International Standard Version Now as the crowds continued to throng around Jesus, he went on to say, "This people living today are an evil generation. It craves a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah, Majority Standard Bible As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, ?This is a wicked generation. It seeks a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. NET Bible As the crowds were increasing, Jesus began to say, "This generation is a wicked generation; it looks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. New Heart English Bible When the crowds were gathering together to him, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation. It seeks after a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. Webster's Bible Translation And when the people were assembled in crowds, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet. Weymouth New Testament Now when the crowds came thronging upon Him, He proceeded to say, "The present generation is a wicked generation: it requires some sign, but no sign shall be given to it except that of Jonah. World English Bible When the multitudes were gathering together to him, he began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks after a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the multitudes crowding together on Him, He began to say, “This generation is evil, it seeks after a sign, and a sign will not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet, Berean Literal Bible And of the crowds being pressed around together, He began to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it, except the sign of Jonah. Young's Literal Translation And the multitudes crowding together upon him, he began to say, 'This generation is evil, a sign it doth seek after, and a sign shall not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet, Smith's Literal Translation And crowds being collected, he began to say, This is an evil generation: it seeks a sign; and no sign shall be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the multitudes running together, he began to say: This generation is a wicked generation: it asketh a sign, and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. Catholic Public Domain Version Then, as the crowds were quickly gathering, he began to say: “This generation is a wicked generation: it seeks a sign. But no sign will be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah. New American Bible While still more people gathered in the crowd, he said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. New Revised Standard Version When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd when the people were gathering, he began to say, This evil generation wants a sign; and no sign will be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Aramaic Bible in Plain English And when the crowds were assembling he began to say, “This wicked generation seeks for a sign and a sign will not be given to it except the sign of Jonah the Prophet.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd when the multitudes were crowded together, he began to say: This is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, and no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet. Godbey New Testament And the multitudes being assembled, He began to say, Haweis New Testament Then the multitudes thronging around him, he began to say, This is a wicked generation: it seeketh a sign, and no sign shall be given it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet. Mace New Testament and as the crowd grew more numerous, he thus began, this is a degenerate race of men: they demand a miracle: but no miracle shall be exhibited, but such as happen'd in the person of Jonas the prophet. Weymouth New Testament Now when the crowds came thronging upon Him, He proceeded to say, "The present generation is a wicked generation: it requires some sign, but no sign shall be given to it except that of Jonah. Worrell New Testament And as the multitudes were gathering together to Him, He began to say, Worsley New Testament And when the multitudes were gathering thick together He began to say, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Sign of Jonah28But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” 29As 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. 30For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.… Cross References Matthew 12:38-42 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” / Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. / 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. ... Jonah 1:17 Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish. Jonah 3:4-10 On the first day of his journey, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!” / And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. / When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. ... Matthew 16:1-4 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven. / But He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be fair, for the sky is red,’ / and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times. ... Mark 8:11-12 Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, testing Him by demanding from Him a sign from heaven. / Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 1 Kings 10:1-10 Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions. / She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. And she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was on her mind. / And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain. ... 2 Chronicles 9:1-9 Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon, she came to test him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. And she came to Solomon and spoke with him about all that was on her mind. / And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for him to explain. / When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, the palace he had built, ... John 2:18-22 On account of this, the Jews demanded, “What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do these things?” / Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” / “This temple took forty-six years to build,” the Jews replied, “and You are going to raise it up in three days?” ... John 6:30-31 So they asked Him, “What sign then will You perform, so that we may see it and believe You? What will You do? / Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Romans 1:4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Acts 2:22-24 Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. / He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. / But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep Him in its grip. 1 Corinthians 1:22-24 Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom, / but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, / but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Hebrews 2:3-4 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, / and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will. Isaiah 7:11-14 “Ask for a sign from the LORD your God, whether from the depths of Sheol or the heights of heaven.” / But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask; I will not test the LORD.” / Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God as well? ... Isaiah 53:1-3 Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? / He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him. / He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Treasury of Scripture 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. when. Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Luke 14:25,26 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, … This is. Luke 11:50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; Luke 9:41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither. Isaiah 57:3,4 But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore… they. Matthew 12:38,39 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee… Matthew 16:1-4 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven… Mark 8:11,12 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him… Jump to Previous Assembled Crowds Evil Except Gathered Gathering Generation Great Increased Jesus Jonah Jonas Miraculous Multitudes Present Proceeded Prophet Requires Seek Seeketh Seeks Sign Thick Thronging Together WickedJump to Next Assembled Crowds Evil Except Gathered Gathering Generation Great Increased Jesus Jonah Jonas Miraculous Multitudes Present Proceeded Prophet Requires Seek Seeketh Seeks Sign Thick Thronging Together WickedLuke 11 1. Jesus teaches us to pray, and that instantly;11. assuring us that God will give all good things to those who ask him. 14. He, casting out a demon, rebukes the blasphemous Pharisees; 27. and shows who are blessed; 29. preaches to the people; 37. and reprimands the outward show of holiness. As the crowds were increasing The growing crowds around Jesus indicate His rising popularity and the widespread interest in His teachings and miracles. This setting reflects the heightened anticipation and curiosity among the people, many of whom were seeking physical signs and wonders. The increasing crowds also suggest a diverse audience, including both genuine seekers and skeptics. Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe central figure in this passage, Jesus is addressing the crowd and responding to their demand for a sign. He is the Son of God, the Messiah, and the ultimate revelation of God's will. 2. The Crowds These are the people gathered around Jesus, seeking a sign from Him. They represent a generation that is skeptical and demanding proof of Jesus' divine authority. 3. The Sign of Jonah Jesus refers to the prophet Jonah as a sign to the Ninevites, drawing a parallel to His own mission and the sign He will provide through His death and resurrection. Teaching Points The Danger of Seeking SignsJesus warns against a faith that relies solely on miraculous signs. True faith trusts in God's word and promises, even when evidence is not immediately visible. The Sign of Jonah as a Call to Repentance Just as Jonah's message led the Ninevites to repentance, Jesus' life, death, and resurrection call us to turn from sin and embrace the gospel. Recognizing Jesus as the Ultimate Revelation Jesus is the ultimate sign from God. His life and works fulfill the prophecies and reveal God's plan of salvation. Believers are called to recognize and respond to this truth. Faith Beyond Sight Believers are encouraged to cultivate a faith that does not depend on physical signs but trusts in the spiritual truths revealed in Scripture.(29-32) This is an evil generation: they seek a sign.--See Notes on Matthew 12:38-42. The words here spoken are clearly an answer to the demand for a sign in Luke 11:16. In St. Matthew the demand and the answer appear in close sequence. The variations in St. Luke are (1) the omission of the explanation of the manner in which the sign of the prophet Jonah was to be fulfilled by the three days and three nights in the heart of the earth; (2) the position of the reference to the queen of the south, as coming between the sign of Jonah and the rising of the men of Nineveh. In other respects the agreement is more than usually complete. Verses 29, 30. - 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. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. Jesus now proceeds - the crowd was, we read, become denser - to reply to the unbelieving suggestion that he should show by a sign from heaven that it was not by the help of Satan and the powers of hell that he was enabled to exercise so mighty a power over the spirits of evil. No sign of the startling nature demanded would be given to the Jews of his day. Evidence in support of his high claims and lofty assertions was then in process of being supplied. What were their eyes beholding day by day, and their ears hearing? Evidence still more complete would vet be given them, but it would avail nothing! Lo, the solemn sign of the Prophet Jonas, who preached to wicked Nineveh after his strange resurrection - that would be given them. It is clear that St. Luke's account of our Lord's words is abbreviated. To make the symbolism of the resurrection-sign complete, we must compare St. Matthew's report (Matthew 12:39, 40), where in plain terms the Lord's death, and the resting in the tomb, and subsequent resurrection is foretold, and compared to the well-known story of the entombment of Jonah at sea for three days. This simile of the Master's was no doubt one repeated on several occasions. It is likely enough that it was so well-known a comparison when St. Luke wrote his memoir of the life that the evangelist felt it was not needful to go into all the details of the comparison; to mention the simile was enough; no Christian individual, household, or congregation but could at once fill up the details originally spoken by the Lord here. In the catacombs the Jonah-story is, owing to its use by our Lord, an oft-repeated and very favourite representation on those long galleries of tombs of Christian men and women of the first three centuries.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Asδὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. the Τῶν (Tōn) Article - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. crowds ὄχλων (ochlōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 3793: From a derivative of echo; a throng; by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot. were increasing, ἐπαθροιζομένων (epathroizomenōn) Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 1865: To gather together, pass: I crowd upon (some one), press around. From epi and athroizo; to accumulate. [Jesus] said, λέγειν (legein) Verb - Present Infinitive Active Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. “This αὕτη (hautē) Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it. is ἐστιν (estin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. a wicked πονηρά (ponēra) Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 4190: Evil, bad, wicked, malicious, slothful. generation. γενεὰ (genea) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 1074: From genos; a generation; by implication, an age. It demands ζητεῖ (zētei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2212: To seek, search for, desire, require, demand. Of uncertain affinity; to seek; specially, to worship, or to plot. a sign, σημεῖον (sēmeion) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 4592: Neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of semaino; an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally. but καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. none οὐ (ou) Adverb Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. will be given δοθήσεται (dothēsetai) Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give. it αὐτῇ (autē) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Feminine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. except εἰ (ei) Conjunction Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc. the τὸ (to) Article - Nominative Neuter Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. sign σημεῖον (sēmeion) Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular Strong's 4592: Neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of semaino; an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally. of Jonah. Ἰωνᾶ (Iōna) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 2495: (Hebrew), Jonah, the Hebrew prophet. Of Hebrew origin; Jonas, the name of two Israelites. Links Luke 11:29 NIVLuke 11:29 NLT Luke 11:29 ESV Luke 11:29 NASB Luke 11:29 KJV Luke 11:29 BibleApps.com Luke 11:29 Biblia Paralela Luke 11:29 Chinese Bible Luke 11:29 French Bible Luke 11:29 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: Luke 11:29 When the multitudes were gathering together (Luke Lu Lk) |
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