Devine Scripture

Matthew 11:22

What does Matthew 11:22 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 11:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 11:22 means

Jesus affirmed that, despite their wickedness, it would be "more tolerable" for Tyre and Sidon on the Day of Judgment than for Chorazin and Bethsaida. This stark declaration emphasizes the principle that greater spiritual privilege and exposure to God's truth brings greater accountability. The privilege of witnessing Christ's mighty works in person meant a heavier burden of responsibility for repentance, making their willful rejection far more culpable than the historical sins of pagan cities.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But I say to you, It will be better for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judging, than for you.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

but I say to you, to Tyre and Sidon it shall be more tolerable in a day of judgment than for you.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

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

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But I say to you, that it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in judgment-day than for you.

Context

This verse directly follows the woe pronounced upon Chorazin and Bethsaida and reinforces the gravity of their spiritual blindness. It explicitly states the principle of greater judgment for greater light, building on the comparison to Tyre and Sidon. This strong pronouncement prepares the reader for the even more severe condemnation of Capernaum that follows.

v.21Woe 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.

v.22This passage

v.23And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt go down unto Hades: for if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day.

Cross references

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

  • Zechariah 9:2

    and Hamath, also, which bordereth thereon; Tyre and Sidon, because they are very wise.

  • Ezekiel 29:18

    Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyre: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was worn; yet had he no wages, nor his army, from Tyre, for the service that he had served against it.

  • Ezekiel 26:1

    And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the firstdayof the month, that the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

  • Matthew 10:15

    Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.

  • 2 Peter 2:9

    the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment;

  • Jeremiah 25:22

    and all the kings of Tyre, and all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the isle which is beyond the sea;

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