Devine Scripture

Matthew 11:21

What does Matthew 11:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 11:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 11:21 means

Jesus pronounced woes upon Chorazin and Bethsaida, two Galilean cities where he performed many miracles. He declared that if the same mighty works had been done in the notoriously wicked cities of Tyre and Sidon, those pagan cities would have repented long ago, expressing their sorrow in sackcloth and ashes. This vivid comparison highlights the extraordinary spiritual hardness of Chorazin and Bethsaida, who had greater light but remained unrepentant, making their guilt far heavier than even pagan cities known for their sin.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Unhappy are you, Chorazin! Unhappy are you, Beth-saida! For if the works of power which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have been turned from their sins in days gone by, clothing themselves in haircloth and putting dust on their heads.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`Woe to thee, Chorazin! woe to thee, Bethsaida! because, if in Tyre and Sidon had been done the mighty works that were done in you, long ago in sackcloth and ashes they had reformed;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Woe thee, Corozain, woe to thee, Bethsaida: for if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in you, they had long ago done penance in sackcloth and ashes.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Woe to thee, Chorazin! woe to thee Bethsaida! for if the works of power which have taken place in you, had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they had long ago repented in sackcloth and ashes.

Context

This verse provides the first specific examples of the unrepentant cities and their impending judgment. By comparing Chorazin and Bethsaida to the notoriously wicked Tyre and Sidon, Jesus dramatically illustrates the greater guilt of those who witnessed his miracles yet refused to repent. This sets a very high bar for accountability, leading directly into the declaration of a more tolerable judgment for the pagan cities.

v.20Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not.

v.21This passage

v.22But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 12:21

    these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

  • Luke 11:42

    But woe unto you Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and every herb, and pass over justice and the love of God: but these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

  • Matthew 12:41

    The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.

  • Jude 1:11

    Woe unto them! for they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah.

  • Matthew 11:22

    But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you.

  • Luke 9:10

    And the apostles, when they were returned, declared unto him what things they had done. And he took them, and withdrew apart to a city called Bethsaida.

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