Matthew 11 · Verse 20

Matthew 11:20

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
Matthew 11:20, King James Version

Matthew 11:20 in other translations

BSBThen Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.
WEBThen he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn’t repent.
ASVThen began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not.
YLTThen began he to reproach the cities in which were done most of his mighty works, because they did not reform.
DARBYThen began he to reproach the cities in which most of his works of power had taken place, because they had not repented.
BBEThen he went on to say hard things to the towns where most of his works of power were done, because they had not been turned from their sins.
WebsterThen he began to upbraid the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they repented not.

What does Matthew 11:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 20. Then began he to upbraid, etc. That is, to reprove, rebuke, or denounce heavy judgment.

(t) "Then began" Lk 10:13

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 Then began he to upbraid the cities - The more God has done to draw men unto himself, the less excusable are they if they continue in iniquity. If our blessed Lord had not done every thing that was necessary for the salvation of these people, he could not have reproached them for their impenitence.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 11:16-24

Christ reflects on the scribes and Pharisees, who had a proud conceit of themselves. He likens their behaviour to children's play, who being out of temper without reason, quarrel with all the attempts of their fellows to please them, or to get them to join in the plays for which they used to assemble. The cavils of worldly men are often very trifling and show great malice. Something they have to urge against every…

Read the full comment on Matthew 11:16-24 →

Matthew 11:20 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΤότεToteThenG5119
ἤρξατοērxatoHe beganG757
ὀνειδίζεινoneidizeinto denounceG3679
τὰςtastheG3588
πόλειςpoleiscitiesG4172
ἐνeninG1722
αἷςhaiswhichG3739
ἐγένοντοegenontohad taken placeG1096
αἱhaitheG3588
πλεῖσταιpleistaimostG4118
δυνάμειςdunameismiraclesG1411
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
ὅτιhotibecauseG3754
οὐounotG3756
μετενόησαν·¶metenoēsanthey repented;G3340

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 11:20

  • Luke 10:13-15

    Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

  • 2 Timothy 2:25-26

    In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

  • Jeremiah 8:6

    I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.

  • Isaiah 1:2-5

    Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

  • Revelation 9:20-21

    And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

  • Revelation 2:21

    And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

  • Matthew 21:28-32

    But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. …

  • Psalms 81:11-13

    But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

  • Mark 16:14

    Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

  • James 1:5

    If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

  • Revelation 16:11

    And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

  • Revelation 16:9

    And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
began.
Lu 10:13-15
upbraid.
Ps 81:11-13; Isa 1:2-5; Mic 6:1-5; Mr 9:19; 16:14; Jas 1:5
because.
12:41; 21:28-32; Jer 8:6; Ac 17:20; 2Ti 2:25,26; Re 2:21; 9:20,21
Re 16:9,11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 11:19

    The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

  • Matthew 11:20

    Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

  • Matthew 11:21

    Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Read all of Matthew 11

Matthew 11:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces comenzó á reconvenir á las ciudades en las cuales habían sido hechas muy muchas de sus maravillas, porque no se habían arrepentido, diciendo:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Alors il commença à adresser des reproches aux villes dans lesquelles le plus grand nombre de ses miracles avaient été faits, parce qu’elles ne s’étaient pas repenties:
German
Elberfelder 1871		Dann fing er an, die Städte zu schelten, in welchen seine meisten Wunderwerke geschehen waren, weil sie nicht Buße getan hatten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tunc cœpit exprobrare civitatibus, in quibus factæ sunt plurimæ virtutes ejus, quia non egissent pœnitentiam: