Matthew 23 · Verse 2

Matthew 23:2

Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
Matthew 23:2, King James Version

Matthew 23:2 in other translations

BSB“The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
WEBsaying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat.
ASVsaying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat:
YLTsaying, ‘On the seat of Moses sat down the scribes and the Pharisees;
DARBYsaying, The scribes and the Pharisees have set themselves down in Moses' seat:
BBEThe scribes and the Pharisees have the authority of Moses;
WebsterSaying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses's seat.

What does Matthew 23:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit--The Jewish teachers stood to read, but sat to expound the Scriptures, as will be seen by comparing Lu 4:16 with Lu 4:20. in Moses' seat--that is, as interpreters of the law given by Moses.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 2. Scribes and Pharisees. Mt 3:7.

Moses' seat, Moses was a legislator of the Jews. By him the law was given; and the office of explaining that law devolved on the scribes and Pharisees. In the synagogues they sat while expounding the law, and rose when they read it. By sitting in the seat of Moses we are to understand authority to teach the law. Or, as he taught the nation by giving the law, so they taught it by explaining it.

(r) "The Scribes" Mal 2:7

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat - Εκαθισαν. - They sat there formerly by Divine appointment: they sit there now by Divine permission. What our Lord says here refers to their expounding the Scriptures, for it was the custom of the Jewish doctors to sit while they expounded the law and prophets, (Mat 5:1; Luk 4:20-22), and to stand up when they read them. By the seat of Moses, we are to understand authority to teach the law. Moses was the great teacher of the Jewish people; and the scribes, etc., are here represented as his successors.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 23:1-12

The scribes and Pharisees explained the law of Moses, and enforced obedience to it. They are charged with hypocrisy in religion. We can only judge according to outward appearance; but God searches the heart. They made phylacteries. These were scrolls of paper or parchment, wherein were written four paragraphs of the law, to be worn on their foreheads and left arms, Ex 13:2-10; 13:11-16; De 6:4-9; 11:13-21. They made…

Read the full comment on Matthew 23:1-12 →

Matthew 23:2 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.

λέγων·legōnsaying;G3004
ἐπὶepiOnG1909
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
ΜωϋσέωςMōuseōsMoses’G3475
καθέδραςkathedrasseatG2515
ἐκάθισανekathisansat downG2523
οἱhoitheG3588
γραμματεῖςgrammateisscribesG1122
καὶkaiandG2532
οἱhoitheG3588
Φαρισαῖοι·PharisaioiPharisees;G5330

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

Cross references for Matthew 23:2

  • Luke 20:46

    Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;

  • Mark 12:38

    And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

  • Malachi 2:7

    For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

  • Ezra 7:6

    This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.

  • Ezra 7:25

    And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.

  • Nehemiah 8:4-8

    And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ne 8:4-8; Mal 2:7; Mr 12:38; Lu 20:46

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

Context

  • Matthew 23:1

    Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

  • Matthew 23:2

    Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:

  • Matthew 23:3

    All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Read all of Matthew 23

Matthew 23:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Diciendo: Sobre la cátedra de Moisés se sentaron los escribas y los Fariseos:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		disant: Les scribes et les pharisiens se sont assis dans la chaire de Moïse.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und sprach: Die Schriftgelehrten und die Pharisäer haben sich auf Moses Stuhl gesetzt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		dicens: Super cathedram Moysi sederunt scribæ et pharisæi.