Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

Matthew 12:39

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
- 39 In reply he said to them: “A wicked and adulterous* generation keeps on seeking a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Joʹnah the prophet.+

Matthew 12:39

The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
- 39 ὁ The (one) δὲ but ἀποκριθεὶς having answered εἶπεν said αὐτοῖς to them Γενεὰ Generation πονηρὰ wicked καὶ and μοιχαλὶς adulterous σημεῖον sign ἐπιζητεῖ, is seeking upon, καὶ and σημεῖον sign οὐ not δοθήσεται will be given αὐτῇ to it εἰ if μὴ not τὸ the σημεῖον sign Ἰωνᾶ of Jonah τοῦ the προφήτου. prophet.

Matthew 12:39

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
- 39 In reply he said to them: “A wicked and adulterous+ generation keeps on seeking for a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Joʹnah the prophet.+

Matthew 12:39

The Bible in Living English
- 39 But he answered them “A wicked and adulterous generation is in quest of a token, and will be given none but the token of the prophet Jonah.

Matthew 12:39

American Standard Version
- 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet:

Matthew 12:39

The Emphasized Bible
- 39 But he answering said unto them, A wicked and adulterous generation a sign doth seek, And a sign will not be given it Save the sign of Jonah the prophet.

Matthew 12:39

King James Version
- 39 But 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:

Matthew Study Notes—Chapter 12

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
- 12:39
  
  adulterous: Refers to spiritual adultery, or unfaithfulness to God.—See study note on Mr 8:38.
  
  sign of Jonah: Jonah compared his deliverance from the belly of the fish after about three days to being raised from the Grave. (Jon 1:17–2:2) Jesus’ resurrection from the literal grave was to be just as real as Jonah’s deliverance from the belly of the fish. However, even when Jesus was resurrected after being dead for parts of three days, his hard-hearted critics did not exercise faith in him.