Matthew 16 · Verse 17

Matthew 16:17

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar–jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 16:17, King James Version

Matthew 16:17 in other translations

BSBJesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.
WEBJesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
ASVAnd Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
YLTAnd Jesus answering said to him, ‘Happy art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, because flesh and blood did not reveal it to thee, but my Father who is in the heavens.
DARBYAnd Jesus answering said to him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona, for flesh and blood has not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in the heavens.
BBEAnd Jesus made answer and said to him, A blessing on you, Simon Bar-jonah: because this knowledge has not come to you from flesh and blood, but from my Father in heaven.
WebsterAnd Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed art thou, Simon-Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.

What does Matthew 16:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou--Though it is not to be doubted that Peter, in this noble testimony to Christ, only expressed the conviction of all the Twelve, yet since he alone seems to have had clear enough apprehensions to put that conviction in proper and suitable words, and courage enough to speak them out, and readiness enough to do this at the right time--so he only, of all the Twelve, seems to have met the present want, and communicated to the saddened soul of the Redeemer at the critical moment that balm which was needed to cheer and refresh it. Nor is Jesus above giving indication of the deep satisfaction which this speech yielded Him, and hastening to respond to it by a signal acknowledgment of Peter in return. Simon Bar-jona--or, "son of Jona" (Joh 1:42), or "Jonas" (Joh 21:15). This name, denoting his humble fleshly extraction, seems to have been purposely here mentioned, to contrast the more vividly with the spiritual elevation to which divine illumination had raised him. for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee--"This is not the fruit of human teaching." but my Father which is in heaven--In speaking of God, Jesus, it is to be observed, never calls Him, "our Father" (see on Joh 20:17), but either "your Father"--when He would encourage His timid believing ones with the assurance that He was theirs, and teach themselves to call Him so--or, as here, "My Father," to signify some peculiar action or aspect of Him as "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 17. And Jesus answered--Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona is the same as Simon son of Jona. Bar is a Syriac word, signifying son. The father of Peter, therefore, was Jona, or Jonas, Jn 1:42, 21:16,17.

Blessed. That is, happy, honoured, evincing a proper spirit, and entitled to the approbation of God.

For flesh and blood. This phrase commonly signifies man, (see Gal 1:16, Eph 6:12; and it has been commonly supposed that he meant to say that man had not revealed it. But Jesus seems rather to have referred to himself.
"This truth you have not learned from my lowly appearance,
from my human nature, from my apparent rank and standing
in the world. You, Jews, were expecting to know the Messiah
by his external splendour, his pomp and power as a man. But
you have not learned me in this manner. I have shown no
such indication of my Messiahship. Flesh and blood have
not shown it. In spite of my appearance--my lowly state--
my want of resemblance to what you have expected--you have
learned it, taught by God."
This they had been taught by his miracles, his instructions, and the direct teachings of God on their minds. To reveal is to make known, or communicate something that was unknown, or secret.

(o) "flesh and blood" 1Cor 2:10, Gal 1:16, Eph 2:8 (p) "but my Father" 1Jn 4:15, 5:20

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona - Or Simon, son of Jonah; so Bar-jonah should be translated, and so it is rendered by our Lord, Joh 1:42. Flesh and blood - i.e. Man; - no human being hath revealed this; and though the text is literal enough, yet every body should know that this is a Hebrew periphrasis for man; and the literal translation of it here, and in Gal 1:16, has misled thousands, who suppose that flesh and blood signify carnal reason, as it is termed, or the unregenerate principle in man. Is it not evident, from our Lord's observation, that it requires an express revelation of God in a man's soul, to give him a saving acquaintance with Jesus Christ; and that not even the miracles of our Lord, wrought before the eyes, will effect this? The darkness must be removed from the heart by the Holy Spirit, before a man can become wise unto salvation.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 16:13-20

Peter, for himself and his brethren, said that they were assured of our Lord's being the promised Messiah, the Son of the living God. This showed that they believed Jesus to be more than man. Our Lord declared Peter to be blessed, as the teaching of God made him differ from his unbelieving countrymen. Christ added that he had named him Peter, in allusion to his stability or firmness in professing the truth. The word…

Read the full comment on Matthew 16:13-20 →

Matthew 16:17 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.

ἈποκριθεὶςApokritheisAnsweringG611
ὁho<the>G3588
ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424
εἶπενeipensaidG2036
αὐτῷ·autōto him;G846
μακάριοςmakariosBlessedG3107
εἶ,eiare you,G1510
ΣίμωνSimōnSimonG4613
Βαριωνᾶ,BariōnaBarjona!G920
ὅτιhotiForG3754
σὰρξsarxfleshG4561
καὶkaiandG2532
αἷμαhaimabloodG129
οὐκouknotG3756
ἀπεκάλυψένapekalupsenrevealed [it]G601
σοιsoito youG4771
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
ὁhotheG3588
πατήρpatērFatherG3962
μουmouof MineG3165
ὁhowho [is]G3588
ἐνeninG1722
τοῖςtoistheG3588
οὐρανοῖς.ouranoisheavens.G3772

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

Cross references for Matthew 16:17

  • John 6:45

    It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

  • Ephesians 1:17-18

    That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

  • Matthew 11:25-27

    At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

  • Galatians 1:16

    To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

  • 1 John 5:20

    And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:50

    Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

  • Matthew 13:16-17

    But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 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.

  • Luke 10:21-24

    In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: 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.

  • Galatians 1:11-12

    But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:9-12

    But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

  • Isaiah 54:13

    And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

  • Ephesians 3:5

    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;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Blessed.
5:3-11; 13:16,17; Lu 10:23,24; 22:32; 1Pe 1:3-5; 5:1
Simon.
Joh 1:42; 21:15-17
for.
Ga 1:11,12,16
but.
11:25-27; Isa 54:13; Lu 10:21,22; Joh 6:45; 17:6-8; 1Co 2:9-12
Ga 1:16; Eph 1:17,18; 2:8; 3:5,18,19; Col 1:26,27; 1Jo 4:15; 5:20

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

Context

  • Matthew 16:16

    And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

  • Matthew 16:17

    And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar–jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

  • Matthew 16:18

    And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Read all of Matthew 16

Matthew 16:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces, respondiendo Jesús, le dijo: Bienaventurado eres, Simón, hijo de Jonás; porque no te lo reveló carne ni sangre, mas mi Padre que está en los cielos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Jésus, répondant, lui dit: Tu es bienheureux, Simon Barjonas, car la chair et le sang ne t’ont pas révélé cela, mais mon Père qui est dans les cieux.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Jesus antwortete und sprach zu ihm: Glückselig bist du, Simon, Bar Jona; denn Fleisch und Blut haben es dir nicht geoffenbart, sondern mein Vater, der in den Himmeln ist.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Respondens autem Jesus, dixit ei: Beatus es Simon Bar Jona: quia caro et sanguis non revelavit tibi, sed Pater meus, qui in cælis est.