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Matthew 16

Matt. 16:4 KJV (With Strong’s)

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4
A wicked
poneros (Greek #4190)
hurtful, i.e. evil (properly, in effect or influence, and thus differing from 2556, which refers rather to essential character, as well as from 4550, which indicates degeneracy from original virtue); figuratively, calamitous; also (passively) ill, i.e. diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, i.e. derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief, malice, or (plural) guilt; masculine (singular) the devil, or (plural) sinners
KJV usage: bad, evil, grievous, harm, lewd, malicious, wicked(-ness). See also 4191.
Pronounce: pon-ay-ros'
Origin: from a derivative of 4192
and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
adulterous
moichalis (Greek #3428)
an adulteress (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: adulteress(-ous, -y).
Pronounce: moy-khal-is'
Origin: a prolonged form of the feminine of 3432
generation
genea (Greek #1074)
a generation; by implication, an age (the period or the persons)
KJV usage: age, generation, nation, time.
Pronounce: ghen-eh-ah'
Origin: from (a presumed derivative of) 1085
seeketh after
epizeteo (Greek #1934)
to search (inquire) for; intensively, to demand, to crave
KJV usage: desire, enquire, seek (after, for).
Pronounce: ep-eed-zay-teh'-o
Origin: from 1909 and 2212
a sign
semeion (Greek #4592)
an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally
KJV usage: miracle, sign, token, wonder.
Pronounce: say-mi'-on
Origin: neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of 4591
; and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
there shall
didomi (Greek #1325)
to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)
KJV usage: adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.
Pronounce: did'-o-mee
Origin: a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses)
no
ou (Greek #3756)
the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not
KJV usage: + long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also 3364, 3372.
Pronounce: oo
Origin: οὐκ (ook), and (before an aspirate) οὐχ (ookh) a primary word
sign
semeion (Greek #4592)
an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally
KJV usage: miracle, sign, token, wonder.
Pronounce: say-mi'-on
Origin: neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of 4591
be given
didomi (Greek #1325)
to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)
KJV usage: adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.
Pronounce: did'-o-mee
Origin: a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses)
unto it
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
, but
ei (Greek #1487)
if, whether, that, etc.
KJV usage: forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether. Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in 1489, 1490, 1499, 1508, 1509, 1512, 1513, 1536, 1537. See also 1437.
Pronounce: i
Origin: a primary particle of conditionality
me (Greek #3361)
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
KJV usage: any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also 3362, 3363, 3364, 3372, 3373, 3375, 3378.
Pronounce: may
Origin: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial)
the sign
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
semeion (Greek #4592)
an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally
KJV usage: miracle, sign, token, wonder.
Pronounce: say-mi'-on
Origin: neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of 4591
of the prophet
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
prophetes (Greek #4396)
a foreteller ("prophet"); by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet
KJV usage: prophet.
Pronounce: prof-ay'-tace
Origin: from a compound of 4253 and 5346
Jonas
Ionas (Greek #2495)
Jonas (i.e. Jonah), the name of two Israelites
KJV usage: Jonas.
Pronounce: ee-o-nas'
Origin: of Hebrew origin (03124)
o. And
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
he left
kataleipo (Greek #2641)
to leave down, i.e. behind; by implication, to abandon, have remaining
KJV usage: forsake, leave, reserve.
Pronounce: kat-al-i'-po
Origin: from 2596 and 3007
them
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
, and departed
aperchomai (Greek #565)
to go off (i.e. depart), aside (i.e. apart) or behind (i.e. follow), literally or figuratively
KJV usage: come, depart, go (aside, away, back, out, ... ways), pass away, be past.
Pronounce: ap-erkh'-om-ahee
Origin: from 575 and 2064
.
o
Jonah 1:17• 17Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17)

More on:

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Generation,
Jonas; Jona,
Prophet,
Signs

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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wicked.
Matt. 12:39‑40• 39But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
 40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matt. 12:39‑40)
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Mark 8:12,38• 12And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
 38Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:12,38)
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Acts 2:40• 40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (Acts 2:40)
but.
Jonah 1:17• 17Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17)
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Luke 11:29‑30• 29And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
 30For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. (Luke 11:29‑30)
And he.
Matt. 15:14• 14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Matt. 15:14)
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Gen. 6:3• 3And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. (Gen. 6:3)
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Hos. 4:17• 17Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. (Hos. 4:17)
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Hos. 9:12• 12Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them! (Hos. 9:12)
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Mark 5:17‑18• 17And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
 18And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. (Mark 5:17‑18)
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Acts 18:6• 6And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. (Acts 18:6)
• Our Lord does not hesitate to touch the evil with unsparing hand. He was the perfect manifestation of love: but let men remember He is the one who said, "wicked and adulterous generation," "generation of vipers," etc."? It flows from true love — if men would but bow to the truth that convicts them. (“Remarks on Matthew 16:1-19” by W. Kelly)
• Had Jesus not been there, to ask for a sign would not have been so wicked; but His presence made it audacious unbelief and frightful hypocrisy. And what was this sign? The sign of one that disappeared from the earth; that, through the figure of death, passed away from the Jewish people, and after a while was given back to them. It was the symbol of death and resurrection, and our Lord immediately acted upon it. He "left them and departed." He would pass under the power of death; He would rise again, and the message which Israel had despised, He would carry to the Gentiles. (“Remarks on Matthew 16:1-19” by W. Kelly)

J. N. Darby Translation

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4
A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and a sign shall not be given to it save the sign of Jonas. And he leftc them and went away.

JND Translation Notes

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c
To leave absolutely, as ch. 21.17; John 8.9; Heb. 11.27.

W. Kelly Translation

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4
A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and a sign shall not be given to it save the sign of Jonas. And he left them and went away.

WK Verse Note

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(Note: Words in italics have been inserted from the J. N. Darby translation where the W. Kelly translation doesn’t exist.)