Matthew 12:38-39

The Sign of Jonah

12:38 Then some of the experts in the law along with some Pharisees answered him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” 12:39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.


tn Or “Then some of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

tn Grk “and Pharisees.” The word “some” before “Pharisees” has been supplied for clarification.

tn Grk “answered him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant, but the syntax of the sentence was changed to conform to English style.

sn What exactly this sign would have been, given what Jesus was already doing, is not clear. But here is where the fence-sitters reside, refusing to commit to him.

tn Grk “But answering, he said to them.” This construction is somewhat redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation.