Matthew 12:38

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

¶Τότε ἀπεκρίθησάν τινες τῶν γραμματέων καὶ Φαρισαίων, λέγοντες, Διδάσκαλε, θέλομεν ἀπὸ σοῦ σημεῖον ἰδεῖν.

Transliteration

Then apekrithēsan some of the grammateōn and Pharisaiōn, legontes, Didaskale, we thelomen from you sēmeion idein.

Grammar Details

*apekrithēsan*: aorist, passive, indicative, 3rd plural - they answered
*grammateōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - of scribes
*Pharisaiōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - of Pharisees
*legontes*: present participle, nominative, masculine, plural - saying
*Didaskale*: vocative, masculine, singular - Teacher
*thelomen*: present, active, indicative, 1st plural - we wish/want
*sēmeion*: accusative, neuter, singular - sign
*idein*: aorist, active, infinitive - to see

Word Meanings

*apekrithēsan*: answered/replied/responded
*grammateōn*: scribes/experts in the law/legal experts
*Pharisaiōn*: Pharisees (Jewish religious sect)
*legontes*: saying/speaking
*Didaskale*: Teacher/Master/Instructor
*thelomen*: we wish/we want/we desire
*sēmeion*: sign/miracle/wonder
*idein*: to see/to observe/to witness

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

🔄 Compare with

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

1 Cor 1:22 : 22 Seeing {G2532} that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom:
Mark 8:11-12 : 11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, trying him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
John 2:18 : 18 The Jews therefore answered and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
Luke 11:16 : 16 And others, trying [him], sought of him a sign from heaven.
Luke 11:29 : 29 And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, he began to say, This generation is an evil generation: it seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of Jonah.
John 4:48 : 48 Jesus therefore said unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will in no wise believe.
John 6:30 : 30 They said therefore unto him, What then doest thou for a sign, that we may see, and believe thee? what workest thou?
Matt 16:1-4 : 1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and trying him asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 But he answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, [It will be] fair weather: for the heaven is red. 3 And in the morning, [It will be] foul weather to-day: for the heaven is red and lowering. Ye know how to discern the face of the heaven; but ye cannot [discern] the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left them, and departed.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Matt 12:39
79%
39But 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:
Mark 8:11-12
2 verses
78%
11And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, trying him.
12And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
Matt 16:1-2
2 verses
78%
1And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and trying him asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
2But he answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, [It will be] fair weather: for the heaven is red.
John 2:18
75%
18The Jews therefore answered and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
John 6:30
74%
30They said therefore unto him, What then doest thou for a sign, that we may see, and believe thee? what workest thou?
Luke 19:39
74%
39And some of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, Teacher, rebuke thy disciples.
John 12:21
74%
21these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
Luke 11:16
73%
16And others, trying [him], sought of him a sign from heaven.
Matt 15:1
73%
1Then there come to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying,
John 9:40
72%
40Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said unto him, Are we also blind?
Luke 20:39
72%
39And certain of the scribes answering said, Teacher, thou hast well said.
Matt 16:4
72%
4An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left them, and departed.
Mark 10:35-36
2 verses
72%
35And there come near unto him James and John, the sons of Zebedee, saying unto him, Teacher, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall ask of thee.
36And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
Matt 22:41
71%
41Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,
Matt 12:2
70%
2But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do upon the sabbath.
Luke 11:29
70%
29And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, he began to say, This generation is an evil generation: it seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of Jonah.
John 11:47
70%
47The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many signs.
Matt 8:19
70%
19And there came a scribe, and said unto him, Teacher, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Mark 12:13-15
3 verses
70%
13And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, that they might catch him in talk.
14And when they were come, they say unto him, Teacher, we know that thou art true, and {G3756} carest not for any one; for thou regardest not {G1519} the person of men, but of a truth teachest the way of God: Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
15Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why make ye trial of me? bring me a denarius, that I may see it.
Matt 9:3
70%
3And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
Mark 2:24
69%
24And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?
Mark 9:16
69%
16And he asked them, What question ye with them?
Matt 15:12
69%
12Then came the disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?
Luke 20:2-3
2 verses
69%
2and they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
3And he answered and said unto them, I also will ask you a question; and tell me:
Luke 6:2
69%
2But certain of the Pharisees said, Why do ye that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath day?
Luke 21:7
69%
7And they asked him, saying, Teacher, when therefore shall these things be? and what [shall] [be] the sign when these things are about to come to pass?
Matt 9:11
69%
11And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Teacher with the publicans and sinners?
Luke 11:53
69%
53And when he {G3004} was come out from thence, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press upon [him] vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things;
Mark 11:28-29
2 verses
69%
28and they said unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? or who gave thee this authority to do these things?
29And Jesus said unto them, I will {G2504} ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
Matt 22:35
69%
35And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, trying him:
John 1:38
69%
38And Jesus turned, and beheld them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? And they said unto him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), where abideth thou?
Mark 12:38
69%
38And in his teaching he said, Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and [to have] salutations in the marketplaces,
Luke 11:45
69%
45And one of the lawyers answering saith unto him, Teacher, in saying this thou reproachest us also.
John 4:48
69%
48Jesus therefore said unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will in no wise believe.
Luke 7:40
69%
40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Teacher, say on.
Luke 20:22
68%
22Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
John 12:19
68%
19The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Behold how ye prevail nothing: lo, the world is gone after him.
Matt 9:14
68%
14Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
Matt 22:16
68%
16And they send to him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, and carest not for any one: for thou regardest not the person of men.
Matt 22:18
68%
18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why make ye trial of me, ye hypocrites?
Mark 10:3
68%
3And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
Matt 15:15
68%
15And Peter answered and said unto him, Declare unto us the parable.
Mark 9:14
68%
14And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great multitude about them, and scribes questioning with them.