Matthew 13 · Verse 17

Matthew 13:17

For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Matthew 13:17, King James Version

Matthew 13:17 in other translations

BSB	For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
WEB	For most certainly I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them; and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.
ASV	For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not.
YLT	for verily I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men did desire to see that which ye look on, and they did not see, and to hear that which ye hear, and they did not hear.
DARBY	for verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things which ye behold and did not see them, and to hear the things which ye hear and did not hear them.
BBE	For truly, I say to you that prophets and upright men had a desire to see the things which you see, and saw them not; and to have knowledge of the words which have come to your ears, and they had it not.
Webster	For verily I say to you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

What does Matthew 13:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

17. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired--rather, "coveted." to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them--Not only were the disciples blessed above the blinded just spoken of, but favored above the most honored and the best that lived under the old economy, who had but glimpses of the things of the new kingdom, just sufficient to kindle in them desires not to be fulfilled to any in their day. In Lu 10:23, 24, where the same saying is repeated on the return of the Seventy--the words, instead of "many prophets and righteous men," are "many prophets and kings"; for several of the Old Testament saints were kings. Second and Seventh Parables or First Pair: The Wheat and the Tares, and The Good and Bad Fish (Mt 13:24-30, 36-43, 47-50). The subject of both these parables--which teach the same truth, with a slight diversity of aspect--is: The MIXED CHARACTER OF THE Kingdom in Its Present State, and the FINAL ABSOLUTE SEPARATION OF THE Two Classes. The Tares and the Wheat (Mt 13:24-30, 36-43). 24, 36-38. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field--Happily for us, these exquisite parables are, with like charming simplicity and clearness, expounded to us by the Great Preacher Himself. Accordingly, we pass to: Mt 13:36-38. See on Mt 13:36; Mt 13:38 25, 38, 39. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way--(See on Mt 13:38, 39).

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 17. Many prophets and righteous men, etc. They wished to see the times of the Messiah. They looked to it as a time when the hopes of the world would be fulfilled, and the just be happy. See Jn 8:5,6, "Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad." See also 1Pet 1:10-12, Heb 11:13. So Isaiah and the prophets looked forward to the coming of the Messiah as the consummation of their wishes, and the end of the prophecies, Rev 19:10. The object always dearest to the hearts of all righteous men is, to witness the coming and advancement of the kingdom of Christ.

(g) "that many" Eph 3:5,6, Heb 11:13, 1Pet 1:10,11

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 17 Many prophets and righteous men - These lived by and died in the faith of the promised Messiah: the fullness of the time was not then come for his manifestation in the flesh. See also on Mat 13:11 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 13:1-23

The parable of the tares. (24-30; 36-43) The parables of the mustard-seed and the leaven. (31-35) The parables of the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, the net cast into the sea, and the householder. (44-52) Jesus is again rejected at Nazareth. (53-58) Verses 1-23 Jesus entered into a boat that he might be the less pressed, and be the better heard by the people. By this he teaches us in the outward…

Read the full comment on Matthew 13:1-23 →

Matthew 13:17 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.

ἈμὴνAmēnAmenG281

γὰρgarforG1063

λέγωlegōI sayG3004

ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771

ὅτιhotithatG3754

πολλοὶpolloimanyG4183

προφῆταιprophētaiprophetsG4396

καὶkaiandG2532

δίκαιοιdikaioirighteous [men]G1342

ἐπεθύμησανepethumēsanlongedG1937

ἰδεῖνideinto seeG1492

ἃhawhatG3739

βλέπετε,blepeteyou see,G991

καὶkaiandG2532

οὐκouknotG3756

εἶδαν,eidansaw,G1492

καὶkaiandG2532

ἀκοῦσαιakousaito hearG191

ἃhawhatG3739

ἀκούετε,akoueteyou hear,G191

καὶkaiandG2532

οὐκouknotG3756

ἤκουσαν.¶ēkousanheard.G191

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

Cross references for Matthew 13:17

John 8:56
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Hebrews 11:13
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
1 Peter 1:10-12
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Luke 10:24
For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Hebrews 11:39-40
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Ephesians 3:5-6
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

That many.
Lu 10:24; Joh 8:56; Eph 3:5,6; Heb 11:13,39,40; 1Pe 1:10-12

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

Context

Matthew 13:16
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Matthew 13:17
For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Matthew 13:18
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

Read all of Matthew 13

Matthew 13:17 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Porque de cierto os digo, que muchos profetas y justos desearon ver lo que veis, y no lo vieron: y oir lo que oís, y no lo oyeron.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	car en vérité, je vous dis, que plusieurs prophètes et plusieurs justes ont désiré de voir les choses que vous voyez, et ils ne les ont pas vues, et d’entendre les choses que vous entendez, et ils ne les ont pas entendues.
German Elberfelder 1871	denn wahrlich, ich sage euch: Viele Propheten und Gerechte haben begehrt zu sehen, was ihr anschauet, und haben es nicht gesehen; und zu hören, was ihr höret, und haben es nicht gehört.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Amen quippe dico vobis, quia multi prophetæ et justi cupierunt videre quæ videtis, et non viderunt: et audire quæ auditis, et non audierunt.