Matthew 12 · Verse 38

Matthew 12:38

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
Matthew 12:38, King James Version

Matthew 12:38 in other translations

BSBThen some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
WEBThen certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
ASVThen certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee.
YLTThen answered certain of the scribes and Pharisees, saying, ‘Teacher, we will to see a sign from thee.'
DARBYThen answered him some of the scribes and Pharisees, saying, Teacher, we desire to see a sign from thee.
BBEThen some of the scribes and Pharisees, hearing this, said to him, Master, we are looking for a sign from you.
WebsterThen certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

What does Matthew 12:38 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
38. Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master--"Teacher," equivalent to "Rabbi." we would see a sign from thee--"a sign from heaven" (Lu 11:16); something of an immediate and decisive nature, to show, not that His miracles were real--that they seemed willing to concede--but that they were from above, not from beneath. These were not the same class with those who charged Him with being in league with Satan (as we see from Lu 11:15, 16); but as the spirit of both was similar, the tone of severe rebuke is continued.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verses 38-42. We would see a sign from thee. See Lk 11:16, 29-32. A sign commonly signifies a miracle; that is, a sign that God was with the person, or had sent him. Comp. Is 7:11. Luke adds that this was done tempting him trying him, doubting if he had the power to do it. If these persons had been present with him for any considerable time, they had already seen sufficient proofs that he was what he pretended. They might have been, however, those who had recently come; and then the emphasis must be laid on "we." We, as well as the others, would see a proof that thou art the Christ. In either case it was a temptation. If they had not seen him work a miracle, yet they should have believed it by testimony. Comp. Jn 20:29. Perhaps the emphasis is to be laid on the words from heaven. They might profess not to doubt that his miracles were real, but they were not quite satisfactory. They were desirous of seeing something, therefore, that should clear up their doubts, where there could be no opportunity for dispute. A comet, or lightning, or thunder, or sudden darkness, or the gift of food raining upon them, they supposed would be decisive. Perhaps they referred in this to Moses. He had been with God amidst thunders and lightnings; and he had given them manna--bread from heaven-- to eat. They wished Jesus to show some miracle equally undoubted.

(k) "sign from thee" Mt 16:1, 1Cor 1:22

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 38 We would see a sign from thee - That is, we wish now to see thee work a miracle. Pride, vain curiosity, and incredulity, have never proof sufficient of the truth: for they will not be satisfied.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 12:38-45
Though Christ is always ready to hear and answer holy desires and prayers, yet those who ask amiss, ask and have not. Signs were granted to those who desired them to confirm their faith, as Abraham and Gideon; but denied to those who demanded them to excuse their unbelief. The resurrection of Christ from the dead by his own power, called here the sign of the prophet Jonah, was the great proof of Christ's being the Messiah. As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale, and then came out again alive, thus Christ would be so long in the grave, and then rise again. The Ninevites would shame the Jews for not repenting; the queen of Sheba, for not believing in Christ. And we have no such cares to hinder us, we come not to Christ upon such uncertainties. This parable represents the case of the Jewish church and nation. It is also applicable to all those who hear the word of God, and are in part reformed, but not truly converted. The unclean spirit leaves for a time, but when he returns, he finds Christ is not there to shut him out; the heart is swept by outward reformation, but garnished by preparation to comply with evil suggestions, and the man becomes a more decided enemy of the truth. Every heart is the residence of unclean spirits, except those which are temples of the Holy Ghost, by faith in Christ.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Matthew 12:38 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
ἀπεκρίθησανapekrithēsanansweredG611
τινεςtinessomeG5100
τῶνtōnof theG3588
γραμματέωνgrammateōnscribesG1122
καὶkaiandG2532
ΦαρισαίωνPharisaiōnPhariseesG5330
λέγοντες·legontessaying;G3004
διδάσκαλε,didaskaleTeacher,G1320
θέλομενthelomenwe wishG2309
ἀπὸapofromG575
σοῦsouYouG4771
σημεῖονsēmeiona signG4592
ἰδεῖν.¶ideinto see.G1492

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

Cross references for Matthew 12:38

  • 1 Corinthians 1:22

    For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

  • Mark 8:11-12

    And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

  • Luke 11:29

    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.

  • John 2:18

    Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

  • Luke 11:16

    And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.

  • Matthew 16:1-4

    The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

  • John 4:48

    Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

  • John 6:30

    They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Master.
16:1-4; Mr 8:11,12; Lu 11:16,29; Joh 2:18; 4:48; 1Co 1:22

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

Context

  • Matthew 12:37

    For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

  • Matthew 12:38

    Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

  • Matthew 12:39

    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:

Read all of Matthew 12

Matthew 12:38 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces respondieron algunos de los escribas y de los Fariseos, diciendo: Maestro, deseamos ver de ti señal.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Alors quelques-uns des scribes et des pharisiens lui répondirent, disant: Maître, nous désirons voir un signe de ta part.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Dann antworteten ihm etliche der Schriftgelehrten und Pharisäer und sprachen: Lehrer, wir möchten ein Zeichen von dir sehen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tunc responderunt ei quidam de scribis et pharisæis, dicentes: Magister, volumus a te signum videre.