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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
Mat C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24 C25 C26 C27 C28
Mat 12 V1 V3 V5 V7 V9 V11 V13 V15 V17 V19 V21 V23 V25 V27 V29 V31 V33 V35 V37 V39 V43 V45 V47 V49
OET (OET-LV) The_ Nineuitaʸs/(ones_from_Nīnəvēh) _men will_be_standing_up in the judgement with the this generation, and they_will_be_condemning it, because they_repented at the proclamation of_Yōnas, and see, ^one_greater than Yōnas is here.
OET (OET-RV) The inhabitants of Nineveh will stand up and condemn this generation on judgement day, because they turned from their sins when Yonah preached, and look, now there’s one here who’s greater than Yonah.
In this section, the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders increases. Jesus had already said several times that he was someone special. He said that he was greater than the temple (12:6). He said that he was Lord of the Sabbath (12:8). In this section, the religious leaders wanted to see a miraculous sign to confirm that he was really from God.
Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for asking for a sign, and he refused to give them an immediate sign. A sign would come later. It would be the sign of Jonah. By referring to the sign of Jonah, Jesus meant that he would be in the grave three days (12:40) before God resurrected him. He then told two stories and said that he was greater than Jonah and Solomon. Jesus warned them that if they did not recognize God’s work among them, they would be condemned.
Finally, Jesus told a story to warn the religious leaders of the spiritual dangers that faced them if they did not have the Holy Spirit in their lives.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
The religious leaders ask for a sign/miracle
The sign of Jonah
There is a parallel passage for 12:38–42 in Luke 11:29–32. There is a parallel passage for 12:43–45 in Luke 11:24–26.
The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment
On the day of judgment, the people of the city of Nineveh will stand up
On the day when God judges people, the Ninevites will give testimony
The men of Nineveh: This phrase refers to the people/inhabitants of the city of Nineveh.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
The people of the city of Nineveh
The Ninevites
will stand: There are two ways to interpret the Greek verb that the BSB translates as will stand:
It means will stand up, or will appear. According to this interpretation, this verb refers to court proceedings when a person or people stand to give testimony. For example:
the people of Nineveh will stand up (GNT) (BSB, NIV, GNT, NET, GW, CEV, NLT, JBP, NLT, REB, NJB, NASB)
It means will rise from the dead, or will live again. This view is supported by some commentators.
The ESV, RSV, and KJV translate the verb literally as “rise” or “arise,” which can be understood either way. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and the majority of English versions.
When translating this verb, you should use a verb that is appropriate for appearing in court to condemn someone. It may not be the verb rise or stand. For example:
The men of Nineveh will appear in court when this generation is on trial (REB)
The people of Nineveh will give testimony
at the judgment: This phrase refers to the day when God judges everyone.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
On the Judgment Day (GNT)
On the day of judgment (CEV)
on the day when God judges people
with this generation and condemn it;
together with the people of today and will accuse them of sinning,
against you people living today and will show that you are guilty.
with this generation: This phrase means “together with the people who are living now (that is, at Jesus’ time).” This means that the people of Nineveh will be standing at the same time as these people. It does not mean that they will stand in support of them. In fact, the people of Nineveh will stand to condemn them. To make this clear, the NLT says:
against this generation (NLT)
and condemn it: In this context the Greek word that the BSB translates as condemn means “say that someone is guilty of sin.”
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
testify against it
show that you are guilty (NCV)
accuse you of sin
it: This pronoun refers to “this generation” (12:41b).
Here are some other ways to translate this:
them
that generation
for they repented at the preaching of Jonah,
because the people of Nineveh repented when they heard Jonah preach God’s message,
They will show that you are guilty because they turned from their sins when Jonah preached God’s message to them,
for: Verse 12:41c is the reason that the people of Nineveh will condemn this generation. The Greek introduces this reason with a conjunction that the BSB translates as for.
Here are some other ways to introduce this reason:
because
They will accuse them because
they repented at the preaching of Jonah: This clause means that the people of Nineveh changed their minds about sin when they heard Jonah preach to them. They felt sorry for their sins and turned to God.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
the people of Nineveh repented when Jonah preached
they turned from their sins when they heard Jonah preach (GNT)
When Jonah preached to them, they were sorry and changed their lives. (NCV)
and now One greater than Jonah is here.
and someone greater than Jonah is here, but this generation did not repent.
but you did not turn from your sins even though someone more important than Jonah is here.
There is some important, implied information in this part of the verse. Jesus implied here “but you did not repent.” Jonah preached, and the people of Nineveh repented. Jesus is greater than Jonah. But when Jesus preached, the people did not repent.
Here are some other ways to include this implied information:
Put it after 12:41d. For example:
and something greater than Jonah is here, but you did not repent when he preached.
Put it before 12:41d. For example:
But you did not repent even though something greater than Jonah is here.
and: Verse 12:41d is also part of the reason for the people of Nineveh to condemn this generation (12:41b).
There is a contrast here. The contrast is between the reaction of the people of Nineveh and the implied reaction of the people of this generation. In some languages, it may be natural to introduce this contrast with a conjunction. For example:
But (GW)
now: The Greek word that the BSB translates as now literally means “look” or “see.” It focuses attention on what follows and indicates that it is important, unexpected, or amazing. Here this word indicates that the words that follow are important and amazing: something greater than Jonah is here.
Here are some other ways to show that the words that follow are important:
look (GW)
I tell you (NLT)
Listen to what I am about to say
One greater than Jonah is here: The Greek word that the BSB literally translates as One probably refers to Jesus. In some languages, it is possible for Jesus to refer to himself as One. In other languages, it will be more natural to say:
someone more important than Jonah is here
A similar expression (“something greater than the temple is here”) occurs in 12:6.
greater: In this context, the word greater refers to higher in status and not to bigger in size. Jesus was more important than Jonah.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
more important
more valuable
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result
ἄνδρες Νινευεῖται ἀναστήσονται ἐν τῇ κρίσει μετὰ τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης, καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτήν; ὅτι μετενόησαν εἰς τὸ κήρυγμα Ἰωνᾶ; καὶ ἰδοὺ, πλεῖον Ἰωνᾶ ὧδε
˓the˒_men (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἄνδρες Νινευῖται ἀναστήσονται ἐν τῇ κρίσει μετά τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης καί κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτήν ὅτι μετενόησαν εἰς τό κήρυγμα Ἰωνᾶ καί ἰδού πλεῖον Ἰωνᾶ ὧδε)
If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these clauses, since the second half of the verse gives the reason for the result that the first half of the verse describes. Alternate translation: [The men of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. So, they will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations
ἄνδρες
˓the˒_men
Although the term men is masculine, Jesus is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: [The inhabitants] or [The men and women]
Note 3 topic: translate-symaction
ἀναστήσονται ἐν τῇ κρίσει μετὰ τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης
˓will_be˒_standing_up in the judgment (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἄνδρες Νινευῖται ἀναστήσονται ἐν τῇ κρίσει μετά τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης καί κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτήν ὅτι μετενόησαν εἰς τό κήρυγμα Ἰωνᾶ καί ἰδού πλεῖον Ἰωνᾶ ὧδε)
Here, the phrase rise up could mean: (1) to stand up. In this culture, people would stand up to give testimony in a legal proceeding. Alternate translation: [will stand up at the judgment to give testimony before God against this generation] (2) to resurrect. Alternate translation: [will be resurrected with this generation at the judgment]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
ἀναστήσονται ἐν τῇ κρίσει
˓will_be˒_standing_up in the judgment
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of judgment, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [will, when people are judged, rise up]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης & αὐτήν
the generation this & it
Translate the phrase this generation as you did in [12:39](../12/39.md). Alternate translation: [today’s people … them] or [the people of this generation … them]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ἰδοὺ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἄνδρες Νινευῖται ἀναστήσονται ἐν τῇ κρίσει μετά τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης καί κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτήν ὅτι μετενόησαν εἰς τό κήρυγμα Ἰωνᾶ καί ἰδού πλεῖον Ἰωνᾶ ὧδε)
The word behold draws the attention of the audience and asks them to listen carefully. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express Behold with a word or phrase that asks the audience to listen, or you could draw the audience’s attention in another way. Alternate translation: [see] or [listen carefully]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
πλεῖον Ἰωνᾶ ὧδε
˓one˒_greater_‹than› Jonah_‹is› here
Here Jesus implies that the people of this generation have not repented, unlike the men of Nineveh. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [something greater than Jonah is here, but you have not repented]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / extrainfo
πλεῖον
˓one˒_greater_‹than›
Here, the phrase something greater is a very general term. It could refer to the kingdom of God, Jesus himself, the ministry that Jesus begins, what Jesus calls his disciples to do, or many other things. If possible, you should use a general term that could refer to many or all of these things. See how you translated the similar phrase in [12:6](../12/06.md). Alternate translation: [an entity greater than] or [a new thing greater than]
OET (OET-LV) The_ Nineuitaʸs/(ones_from_Nīnəvēh) _men will_be_standing_up in the judgement with the this generation, and they_will_be_condemning it, because they_repented at the proclamation of_Yōnas, and see, ^one_greater than Yōnas is here.
OET (OET-RV) The inhabitants of Nineveh will stand up and condemn this generation on judgement day, because they turned from their sins when Yonah preached, and look, now there’s one here who’s greater than Yonah.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.
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