Matthew 21:5

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

'Say to the daughter of Zion: See, your King is coming to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Εἴπατε τῇ θυγατρὶ Σιών, Ἰδού, ὁ Βασιλεύς σου ἔρχεταί σοι, πραῢς, καὶ ἐπιβεβηκὼς ἐπὶ ὄνον, καὶ πῶλον υἱὸν ὑποζυγίου.

Transliteration

Eipate to the thygatri Siōn, Idou, the Basileus of you erchetai to you, praÿs, and epibebēkōs upon onon, and pōlon huion of hypozygiou.

Grammar Details

• *Eipate*: aorist active imperative, 2nd plural - say/tell
• *thygatri*: dative, feminine, singular - to daughter
• *Siōn*: genitive, feminine, singular - of Zion
• *Idou*: aorist middle imperative - behold/look/see
• *Basileus*: nominative, masculine, singular - King
• *erchetai*: present middle indicative, 3rd singular - comes/is coming
• *praÿs*: nominative, masculine, singular - gentle/meek
• *epibebēkōs*: perfect active participle, nominative, masculine, singular - having mounted/sitting on
• *onon*: accusative, feminine, singular - donkey/ass
• *pōlon*: accusative, masculine, singular - colt/young donkey
• *huion*: accusative, masculine, singular - son
• *hypozygiou*: genitive, neuter, singular - of beast of burden

Word Meanings

• *Idou*: behold/look/see
• *Basileus*: King/Ruler/Sovereign
• *praÿs*: gentle/meek/humble
• *hypozygiou*: beast of burden/pack animal/donkey

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King comes to you, gentle, and sitting on a donkey, and a colt, the foal of a donkey.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Tell ye{G2036} the daughter{G2364} of Zion,{G4622} Behold,{G2400} thy{G4675} King{G935} cometh{G2064} unto thee,{G4671} Meek,{G4239} and{G2532} riding{G1910} upon{G1909} an ass,{G3688} And{G2532} upon a colt{G4454} the foal{G5207} of an ass.{G5268}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Tell ye{G2036}{(G5628)} the daughter{G2364} of Sion{G4622}, Behold{G2400}{(G5628)}, thy{G4675} King{G935} cometh{G2064}{(G5736)} unto thee{G4671}, meek{G4239}, and{G2532} sitting{G1910}{(G5761)} upon{G1909} an ass{G3688}, and{G2532} a colt{G4454} the foal{G5207} of an ass{G5268}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Tell ye the doughter of Sion: beholde thy kynge cometh vnto the meke and sittinge vpon an asse and a colte the fole of an asse vsed to the yooke.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Tell the doughter of Sion: beholde, thy kynge commeth vnto ye meke, syttinge vpon an Asse and a foale of ye Asse vsed to the yocke.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Beholde, thy King commeth vnto thee, meeke and sitting vpon an asse, and a colte, the foale of an asse vsed to the yoke.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Tell ye the daughter of Sion: behold, thy kyng commeth vnto thee meke, and syttyng vpon an Asse, & a colt, the foale of the Asse vsed to the yoke.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  "Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King comes to you, Humble, and riding on a donkey, On a colt, the foal of a donkey."

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Lo, thy king doth come to thee, meek, and mounted on an ass, and a colt, a foal of a beast of burden.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Say to the daughter of Zion, See, your King comes to you, gentle and seated on an ass, and on a young ass.

• World English Bible (2000)

  "Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your King comes to you, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  “Tell the people of Zion,‘Look, your king is coming to you, unassuming and seated on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

Referenced Verses

• Zech 9:9-9 : 9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout aloud, Daughter Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem. The battle bow will be broken, and he will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
• Isa 62:11 : 11 Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the ends of the earth: 'Say to the daughter of Zion, “Behold, your salvation is coming! Behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense goes before Him.”'
• Matt 11:29 : 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
• Gen 49:10 : 10 'The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come, and the obedience of the peoples shall be his.'
• Num 24:19 : 19 A ruler will come out of Jacob and will destroy the survivors of the city.
• Deut 17:16 : 16 The king must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more horses, for the LORD has told you, 'You are not to go back that way again.'
• Judg 5:10 : 10 You who ride on white donkeys, sitting on rich carpets, and you who walk along the road, think about this:
• Judg 12:14 : 14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He judged Israel for eight years.
• 2 Sam 16:2 : 2 The king asked Ziba, "Why have you brought these?" Ziba answered, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those who become weary in the wilderness to drink."
• 1 Kgs 1:33 : 33 the king said to them, "Take my servants with you, have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and escort him down to Gihon.
• 1 Kgs 10:26 : 26 Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, which he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.
• Ps 2:6-9 : 6 I have installed My King on Zion, My holy mountain. 7 I will proclaim the decree of the Lord: He said to me, 'You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.' 8 Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession. 9 You will break them with an iron rod; You will shatter them like a potter's vessel. 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your way, for His wrath can flare up quickly. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
• Ps 9:14 : 14 Be gracious to me, LORD; see my affliction from those who hate me, you who lift me up from the gates of death.
• Ps 45:1-9 : 1 To the director on lilies, a maskil of the sons of Korah, a song of love. 2 My heart overflows with a good theme; I speak my composition to the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer. 3 You are the most beautiful of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. 4 Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and your majesty. 5 In your majesty ride forth victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness; let your right hand perform awesome deeds. 6 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; the nations fall beneath your feet. 7 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of righteousness. 8 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy above your companions. 9 All your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia; from ivory palaces, stringed instruments bring you joy. 10 Daughters of kings are among your noble women; at your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir. 11 Listen, daughter, consider and incline your ear; forget your people and your father's house. 12 The king will desire your beauty; bow down to him, for he is your lord. 13 The daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; the wealthy among the people will seek your favor. 14 The royal daughter is glorious within; her clothing is interwoven with gold. 15 In embroidered garments she is brought to the king; her virgin companions follow behind her and are led to you. 16 They are led with joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king. 17 In place of your fathers will be your sons; you will make them princes throughout the earth.
• Ps 72:1-9 : 1 God, grant your judgments to the king and your righteousness to the king's son. 2 He will judge your people with righteousness and your afflicted ones with justice. 3 The mountains will bring peace to the people, and the hills will bring it in righteousness. 4 He will judge the poor of the people, save the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor. 5 They will fear you as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. 6 He will come down like rain upon cut grass, like showers that water the earth. 7 In his days, the righteous one will flourish, and peace will abound as long as the moon endures. 8 He will have dominion from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. 9 Those who dwell in the desert will bow before him, and his enemies will lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and distant shores will bring tribute; the kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts. 11 All kings will bow down to him, and all nations will serve him. 12 For he will deliver the needy who cry for help, the poor who have no helper. 13 He will have compassion on the weak and the needy and will save the lives of the needy. 14 He will redeem their lives from oppression and violence, and their blood will be precious in his sight. 15 May he live, and may gold from Sheba be given to him. May people pray for him continually and bless him all day long. 16 May there be an abundance of grain in the land, flourishing on the tops of the mountains. May its fruit wave like Lebanon, and may people flourish in the cities like the grass of the earth. 17 May his name endure forever; as long as the sun shines, may his name be continued. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed. 18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. 19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. 20 The prayers of David, son of Jesse, are ended.
• Ps 110:1-4 : 1 The Lord said to my lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." 2 The Lord will send out the scepter of your strength from Zion, saying, "Rule in the midst of your enemies." 3 Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day of your power; in holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, your youth are like the dew. 4 The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."
• Isa 9:6-7 : 6 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. 7 The Lord has sent a word against Jacob, and it will fall upon Israel.
• Isa 12:6 : 6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great among you is the Holy One of Israel.
• Isa 40:9 : 9 You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, 'Here is your God!'
• Matt 12:19-20 : 19 He will not quarrel or cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, until He leads justice to victory.
• Mark 11:4-9 : 4 They went away and found the colt tied at the door outside on the street, and they untied it. 5 Some of those standing there said to them, 'What are you doing, untying the colt?' 6 They answered them just as Jesus had commanded, and they let them go. 7 They brought the colt to Jesus, threw their garments on it, and he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their garments on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heavens! 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. After looking around at everything, since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
• John 1:49 : 49 Nathanael responded, 'Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel!'
• John 19:15-22 : 15 But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." 16 So then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led him away. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place called The Place of the Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side, with Jesus in the middle. 19 Pilate also had a sign written and put on the cross; it read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man said, 'I am the King of the Jews.'" 22 Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."
• 2 Cor 10:1 : 1 Now I, Paul, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who is humble when present among you but bold when absent.
• Phil 2:3-5 : 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have the same mindset in yourselves that was also in Christ Jesus:
• Matt 2:2 : 2 They asked, 'Where is the newborn King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.'
• Matt 2:6 : 6 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you will come a ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.'
• Jer 23:5-6 : 5 Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch. He will reign as king, act wisely, and execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.
• Ezek 34:24 : 24 I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David will be a prince among them. I, the LORD, have spoken.
• Ezek 37:24 : 24 My servant David will be king over them, and there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow My laws and carefully obey My decrees.
• Dan 2:44-45 : 44 In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will stand forever. 45 This is because you saw a stone cut out from a mountain without human hands, and it crushed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God has made known to the king what will happen in the future. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is trustworthy.
• Dan 7:13-14 : 13 I continued watching in the visions of the night, and behold, with the clouds of heaven came one like a son of man. He approached the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. 14 He was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom, so that all peoples, nations, and languages would serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
• Hos 1:7 : 7 But I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD their God. I will not save them by bow or sword, by war, by horses, or by horsemen.
• Mic 5:2 : 2 Therefore, he will give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth, and the rest of his brothers will return to join the children of Israel.
• Mic 5:10-11 : 10 I will demolish the cities of your land and tear down all your fortresses. 11 I will remove sorceries from your hand, and you will have no more soothsayers.
• Zeph 3:14-15 : 14 Sing aloud, Daughter Zion; shout, Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has taken away your judgments; He has turned aside your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you will never again fear disaster.
• Zech 6:12-13 : 12 Tell him: This is what the LORD of Hosts says: "Here is a man whose name is Branch; He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD. 13 Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the LORD, and He will bear majesty; He will sit and rule on His throne. And He will be a priest on His throne, and there will be a peaceful council between the two of them."