Matthew 12:42

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon– and now, something greater than Solomon is here!

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Βασίλισσα νότου ἐγερθήσεται ἐν τῇ κρίσει μετὰ τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης, καὶ κατακρινεῖ αὐτήν: ὅτι ἦλθεν ἐκ τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς ἀκοῦσαι τὴν σοφίαν Σολομῶνος· καὶ, ἰδού, πλεῖον Σολομῶνος ὧδε.

Transliteration

Basilissa notou egerthēsetai in the krisei with the geneas this, and katakrinei it: because ēlthen from the peratōn of the gēs akousai the sophian of Solomōnos; and, idou, greater than Solomōnos here.

Grammar Details

• *Basilissa*: nominative, feminine, singular - queen
• *notou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of south
• *egerthēsetai*: future, passive, indicative, 3rd singular - will rise up
• *krisei*: dative, feminine, singular - judgment
• *geneas*: genitive, feminine, singular - of generation
• *katakrinei*: future, active, indicative, 3rd singular - will condemn
• *ēlthen*: aorist, active, indicative, 3rd singular - came/went
• *peratōn*: genitive, neuter, plural - of the ends/extremities
• *gēs*: genitive, feminine, singular - of the earth
• *akousai*: aorist, active, infinitive - to hear
• *sophian*: accusative, feminine, singular - wisdom
• *Solomōnos*: genitive, masculine, singular - of Solomon
• *idou*: aorist, middle, imperative, 2nd singular - behold/look

Word Meanings

• *Basilissa*: queen/female ruler
• *notou*: south/southern region/South Wind
• *egerthēsetai*: will rise up/will be raised up
• *krisei*: judgment/trial/evaluation
• *geneas*: generation/race/age
• *katakrinei*: will condemn/will pronounce judgment against
• *ēlthen*: came/went/journeyed
• *peratōn*: ends/extremities/limits
• *gēs*: earth/land/world
• *akousai*: to hear/to listen to
• *sophian*: wisdom/knowledge/insight
• *idou*: behold/look/see

Referenced Verses

• Heb 1:2-4 : 2 in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world. 3 The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4 Thus he became so far better than the angels as he has inherited a name superior to theirs.
• 1 Kgs 10:1-9 : 1 Solomon Entertains a Queen When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, she came to challenge him with difficult questions. 2 She arrived in Jerusalem with a great display of pomp, bringing with her camels carrying spices, a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems. She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything that was on her mind. 3 Solomon answered all her questions; there was no question too complex for the king. 4 When the queen of Sheba saw for herself Solomon’s extensive wisdom, the palace he had built, 5 the food in his banquet hall, his servants and attendants, their robes, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings which he presented in the LORD’s temple, she was amazed. 6 She said to the king,“The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight was true! 7 I did not believe these things until I came and saw them with my own eyes. Indeed, I didn’t hear even half the story! Your wisdom and wealth surpass what was reported to me. 8 Your attendants, who stand before you at all times and hear your wise sayings, are truly happy! 9 May the LORD your God be praised because he favored you by placing you on the throne of Israel! Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, he made you king so you could make just and right decisions.” 10 She gave the king 120 talents of gold, a very large quantity of spices, and precious gems. The quantity of spices the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon has never been matched. 11 (Hiram’s fleet, which carried gold from Ophir, also brought from Ophir a very large quantity of fine timber and precious gems. 12 With the timber the king made supports for the LORD’s temple and for the royal palace and stringed instruments for the musicians. No one has seen so much of this fine timber to this very day.) 13 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she requested, besides what he had freely offered her. Then she left and returned to her homeland with her attendants.
• 2 Chr 9:1-9 : 1 Solomon Entertains a Queen When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, she came to challenge him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a great display of pomp, bringing with her camels carrying spices, a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems. She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything that was on her mind. 2 Solomon answered all her questions; there was no question too complex for the king. 3 When the queen of Sheba saw for herself Solomon’s wisdom, the palace he had built, 4 the food in his banquet hall, his servants and attendants in their robes, his cupbearers in their robes, and his burnt sacrifices which he presented in the LORD’s temple, she was amazed. 5 She said to the king,“The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight was true! 6 I did not believe these things until I came and saw them with my own eyes. Indeed, I didn’t hear even half the story! Your wisdom surpasses what was reported to me. 7 Your attendants, who stand before you at all times and hear your wise sayings, are truly happy! 8 May the LORD your God be praised because he favored you by placing you on his throne as the one ruling on his behalf! Because of your God’s love for Israel and his lasting commitment to them, he made you king over them so you could make just and right decisions.” 9 She gave the king 120 talents of gold and a very large quantity of spices and precious gems. The quantity of spices the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon has never been matched. 10 (Huram’s servants, aided by Solomon’s servants, brought gold from Ophir, as well as fine timber and precious gems. 11 With the timber the king made steps for the LORD’s temple and royal palace as well as stringed instruments for the musicians. No one had seen anything like them in the land of Judah prior to that.) 12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she requested, more than what she had brought him. Then she left and returned to her homeland with her attendants.
• Isa 7:14 : 14 For this reason the Lord himself will give you a confirming sign. Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel.
• Isa 9:6-7 : 6 For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called: Amazing Adviser, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His dominion will be vast and he will bring immeasurable prosperity. He will rule on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom, establishing it and strengthening it by promoting justice and fairness, from this time forward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will accomplish this.
• Matt 3:17 : 17 And a voice from heaven said,“This is my one dear Son; in him I take great delight.”
• Matt 12:41 : 41 The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented when Jonah preached to them– and now, something greater than Jonah is here!
• Matt 17:5 : 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said,“This is my one dear Son, in whom I take great delight. Listen to him!”
• Luke 11:31-32 : 31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon– and now, something greater than Solomon is here! 32 The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented when Jonah preached to them– and now, something greater than Jonah is here!
• John 1:14 : 14 Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory– the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.
• John 1:18 : 18 No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.
• Acts 8:27-28 : 27 So he got up and went. There he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and was returning home, sitting in his chariot, reading the prophet Isaiah.
• Phil 2:6-7 : 6 who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.
• 1 Kgs 10:24 : 24 Everyone in the world wanted to visit Solomon to see him display his God-given wisdom.
• 1 Kgs 5:12 : 12 So the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he had promised him. And Hiram and Solomon were at peace and made a treaty.
• 1 Kgs 3:9 : 9 So give your servant a discerning mind so he can make judicial decisions for your people and distinguish right from wrong. Otherwise no one is able to make judicial decisions for this great nation of yours.”
• 1 Kgs 3:12 : 12 I grant your request, and give you a wise and discerning mind superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you.
• 1 Kgs 3:28 : 28 When all Israel heard about the judicial decision which the king had rendered, they respected the king, for they realized that he possessed divine wisdom to make judicial decisions.
• 1 Kgs 4:29 : 29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment; the breadth of his understanding was as infinite as the sand on the seashore.
• 1 Kgs 4:34 : 34 People from all nations came to hear Solomon’s display of wisdom; they came from all the kings of the earth who heard about his wisdom.