Matthew 21:23

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, 'By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

¶Καὶ ἐλθόντι αὐτῷ εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν, προσῆλθον αὐτῷ διδάσκοντι οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τοῦ λαοῦ, λέγοντες, Ἐν ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ ταῦτα ποιεῖς; καὶ τίς σοι ἔδωκεν τὴν ἐξουσίαν ταύτην;

Transliteration

And elthonti to him into the hieron, prosēlthon to him didaskonti the archiereis and the presbyteroi of the laou, legontes, In what exousia these things poieis? and who to you edōken the exousian this?

Grammar Details

• *elthonti*: aorist active participle, dative masculine singular - having come/when he came
• *hieron*: accusative neuter singular - temple
• *prosēlthon*: aorist active indicative, 3rd person plural - they came to
• *didaskonti*: present active participle, dative masculine singular - teaching
• *archiereis*: nominative masculine plural - chief priests
• *presbyteroi*: nominative masculine plural - elders
• *laou*: genitive masculine singular - people
• *legontes*: present active participle, nominative masculine plural - saying
• *exousia*: dative feminine singular - authority
• *poieis*: present active indicative, 2nd person singular - you do
• *edōken*: aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular - gave
• *exousian*: accusative feminine singular - authority

Word Meanings

• *elthonti*: having come/when he came/upon entering
• *hieron*: temple/sanctuary
• *prosēlthon*: came to/approached
• *didaskonti*: teaching/instructing
• *archiereis*: chief priests/high priests
• *presbyteroi*: elders/older men
• *laou*: people/nation/crowd
• *exousia*: authority/power/right
• *poieis*: do/perform/make
• *edōken*: gave/granted/bestowed

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And when he came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority?

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G2532} when{G2064} he{G846} was come{G2064} into{G1519} the temple,{G2411} the chief priests{G749} and{G2532} the elders{G4245} of the people{G2992} came{G4334} unto him{G846} as he was teaching,{G1321} and said,{G3004} By{G1722} what{G4169} authority{G1849} doest thou{G4160} these things?{G5023} and{G2532} who{G5101} gave{G1325} thee{G4671} this{G3778} authority?{G1849}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G2532} when he{G846} was come{G2064}{(G5631)} into{G1519} the temple{G2411}, the chief priests{G749} and{G2532} the elders{G4245} of the people{G2992} came{G4334}{(G5656)} unto him{G846} as he was teaching{G1321}{(G5723)}, and said{G3004}{(G5723)}, By{G1722} what{G4169} authority{G1849} doest thou{G4160}{(G5719)} these things{G5023}? and{G2532} who{G5101} gave{G1325}{(G5656)} thee{G4671} this{G5026} authority{G1849}?

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And when he was come into the teple the chefe prestes and the elders of the people came vnto him as he was teachinge and sayde: by what auctorite doest thou these thinges? and who gave the this power?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And when he was come in to the teple, the chefe prestes and the elders of the people came vnto him (as he was teachinge) & sayde: By what auctorite doest thou these thinges? and who gaue the this auctorite?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And whe he was come into the Temple, the chiefe Priestes, and the Elders of the people came vnto him, as he was teaching, and saide, By what authoritie doest thou these things? And who gaue thee this authoritie?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And when he was come into the temple, the chiefe priestes, & the elders of the people, came vnto hym teaching, and saye: By what aucthoritie doest thou these thynges? and who gaue thee this power?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  When he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?"

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And he having come to the temple, there came to him when teaching the chief priests and the elders of the people, saying, `By what authority dost thou do these things? and who gave thee this authority?'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And when he had come into the Temple, the chief priests and those in authority over the people came to him while he was teaching, and said, By what authority do you do these things? and who gave you this authority?

• World English Bible (2000)

  When he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?"

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The Authority of Jesus Now after Jesus entered the temple courts, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching and said,“By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”

Referenced Verses

• Acts 4:7 : 7 They brought them before them and asked, 'By what power or in whose name have you done this?'
• Acts 7:27 : 27 But the man who was wronging his neighbor pushed Moses away and said, 'Who made you ruler and judge over us?'
• Exod 2:14 : 14 The man replied, 'Who made you a ruler and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?' Moses was afraid and thought, 'Surely this matter is known.'
• 1 Chr 24:1-9 : 1 The divisions of the sons of Aaron were as follows: The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests. 3 David, along with Zadok from the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech from the sons of Ithamar, organized them according to their duties in their service. 4 There were more leaders among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar. They divided them: sixteen heads of ancestral families from the sons of Eleazar, and eight from the sons of Ithamar. 5 They divided them by casting lots, the same for both groups, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among both the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar. 6 Shemaiah, son of Nethanel, the scribe, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the heads of the families of the priests and of the Levites. One family was drawn for Eleazar and another for Ithamar. 7 The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, 8 the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, 9 the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, 10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, 11 the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, 12 the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, 13 the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, 14 the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, 15 the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez, 16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel, 17 the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul, 18 the twenty-third to Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah. 19 These were their assigned duties for their service when they came into the house of the Lord, as prescribed by their father Aaron, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
• Matt 26:55 : 55 At that time, Jesus said to the crowd, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as if I were a robber? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me.
• Luke 19:47-20:8 : 47 Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people were seeking to destroy him. 48 But they could not find a way to do it, because all the people were clinging to him, listening to what he said. 1 One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, came up to him. 2 They said to him, 'Tell us, by what authority you do these things? Or who gave you this authority?' 3 But he answered them, 'I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: 4 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?' 5 They discussed it among themselves, saying, 'If we say, "From heaven," he will say, "Why did you not believe him?" 6 But if we say, "From men," all the people will stone us, since they are convinced that John was a prophet.' 7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8 And Jesus said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.'
• Mark 11:27-33 : 27 They came again to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, scribes, and elders came to him. 28 They asked him, 'By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you the authority to do this?' 29 Jesus said to them, 'I will ask you one question. If you answer me, then I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.' 30 'Was John's baptism from heaven or from men? Answer me.' 31 They reasoned among themselves, saying, 'If we say, From heaven, he will ask, Then why didn’t you believe him?' 32 But if we say, 'From men,' they were afraid of the crowd, for everyone regarded John as truly a prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, 'We don't know.' And Jesus said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.'