Matthew 4 · Verse 17

Matthew 4:17

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:17, King James Version

Matthew 4:17 in other translations

BSBFrom that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
WEBFrom that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
ASVFrom that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
YLTFrom that time began Jesus to proclaim and to say, ‘Reform ye, for come nigh hath the reign of the heavens.'
DARBYFrom that time began Jesus to preach and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh.
BBEFrom that time Jesus went about preaching and saying, Let your hearts be turned from sin, for the kingdom of heaven is near.
WebsterFrom that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

What does Matthew 4:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand--Thus did our Lord not only take up the strain, but give forth the identical summons of His honored forerunner. Our Lord sometimes speaks of the new kingdom as already come--in His own Person and ministry; but the economy of it was only "at hand" until the blood of the cross was shed, and the Spirit on the day of Pentecost opened the fountain for sin and for uncleanness to the world at large. Calling of Peter and Andrew James and John (Mt 4:18-22).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 17. See Mt 3:2

(m) "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" Mt 3:2, 10:7

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent - See on Mat 3:1, Mat 3:2 (note). Every preacher commissioned by God to proclaim salvation to a lost world, begins his work with preaching the doctrine of repentance. This was the case with all the prophets, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, all the apostles, and all their genuine successors in the Christian ministry. The reasons are evident in the notes already referred to; and for the explanation of the word κηρυσσειν, preaching or proclaiming as a herald, see at the end of chap. 3 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 4:12-17

It is just with God to take the gospel and the means of grace, from those that slight them and thrust them away. Christ will not stay long where he is not welcome. Those who are without Christ, are in the dark. They were sitting in this condition, a contented posture; they chose it rather than light; they were willingly ignorant. When the gospel comes, light comes; when it comes to any place, when it comes to any…

Read the full comment on Matthew 4:12-17 →

Matthew 4:17 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.

ἈπὸApoFromG575
τότεtotethat timeG5119
ἤρξατοērxatobeganG757
ὁho<the>G3588
ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424
κηρύσσεινkērusseinto proclaimG2784
καὶkaiandG2532
λέγειν·legeinto say;G3004
μετανοεῖτε·metanoeitedo repent;G3340
ἤγγικενēngikenhas drawn nearG1448
γὰρgarforG1063
ἡhētheG3588
βασιλείαbasileiakingdomG932
τῶνtōnof theG3588
οὐρανῶν.¶ouranōnheavens.G3772

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

Cross references for Matthew 4:17

  • Matthew 3:2

    And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

  • Acts 2:38

    Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

  • Mark 1:14-15

    Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

  • Luke 5:32

    I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

  • Luke 24:47

    And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

  • Acts 17:30

    And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

  • Acts 26:20

    But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

  • Matthew 9:13

    But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

  • Luke 15:7

    I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

  • 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.

  • Luke 15:10

    Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

  • Acts 3:19

    Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that.
Mr 1:14
Repent.
3:2; 9:13; 10:7; Mr 1:15; Lu 5:32; 9:2; 10:11-14; 15:7,10; 24:47
Ac 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20; 2Ti 2:25,26; Heb 6:1
kingdom.
11:12; 13:9,11,24,47; 25:1

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

Context

  • Matthew 4:16

    The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

  • Matthew 4:17

    From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

  • Matthew 4:18

    And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

Read all of Matthew 4

Matthew 4:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Desde entonces comenzó Jesús á predicar, y á decir: Arrepentíos, que el reino de los cielos se ha acercado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Dès lors Jésus commença à prêcher et à dire: Repentez-vous, car le royaume des cieux s’est approché.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Von da an begann Jesus zu predigen und zu sagen: Tut Buße, denn das Reich der Himmel ist nahe gekommen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Exinde cœpit Jesus prædicare, et dicere: Pœnitentiam agite: appropinquavit enim regnum cælorum.