Devine Scripture

Matthew 12:23

What does Matthew 12:23 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 12:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 12:23 means

The multitudes are amazed and ask, Can this be the son of David? That phrase is a messianic title, indicating recognition that Jesus might be the promised descendant of David, the Messiah. Their amazement reflects that Jesus’ works align with messianic expectation. Yet the question is tentative—open to affirmation or denial. The crowd’s wonder contrasts with religious leaders’ hostility, showing that popular reception and official rejection diverge.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Can this be the son of David?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Can this be the son of David?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And all the people were surprised and said, Is not this the Son of David?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, `Is this the Son of David?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And all the multitudes were amazed, and said: Is not this the son of David?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And all the crowds were amazed and said, Is this [man] the Son of David?

Context

Their reaction immediately follows the healing, showing the crowds connecting miracles with messianic hope. This sets up a sharp contrast: while the masses lean toward belief, the Pharisees refuse to accept the implications, leading them to slander Jesus as demonic rather than messianic in the following verse.

v.22Then was brought unto him one possessed with a demon, blind and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the dumb man spake and saw.

v.23This passage

v.24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons.

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 9:27

    And as Jesus passed by from thence, two blind men followed him, crying out, and saying, Have mercy on us, thou son of David.

  • John 4:29

    Come, see a man, who told me all things that ever I did: can this be the Christ?

  • Matthew 22:42

    saying, What think ye of the Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.

  • Matthew 21:9

    And the multitudes that went before him, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

  • Matthew 15:30

    And there came unto him great multitudes, having with them the lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and they cast them down at his feet; and he healed them:

  • Matthew 9:33

    And when the demon was cast out, the dumb man spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Matthew 12

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Matthew 12.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Matthew 12:23.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary