Matthew 12:42
What does Matthew 12:42 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 12:42 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 12:42 means
Jesus says the queen of the south (the Queen of Sheba) will stand in judgment and condemn this generation because she sought Solomon’s wisdom, while his hearers reject greater wisdom present in Jesus. He emphasizes that outsiders recognized what Israel missed. The contrast intensifies the indictment: those who had far less revelation nonetheless acted rightly; Jesus’ listeners, with the fuller revelation, are responsible for a greater judgment if they remain unresponsive.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The queen of the South will come up in the day of judging and give her decision against this generation: for she came from the ends of the earth to give ear to the wisdom of Solomon; and now a greater than Solomon is here.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`A queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and lo, a greater than Solomon here!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The queen of the south shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold a greater than Solomon here.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890A queen of [the] south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, more than Solomon [is] here.
Context
This follows the Nineveh comparison and doubles the indictment by citing admiring Gentile responses to Scripture and wisdom. The sequence presses the theme that greater revelation brings greater responsibility, leading into warnings about spiritual emptiness and the return of unclean spirits.
v.41The 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.
v.42This passage
v.43But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- 1 Kings 10:24
And all the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
- John 1:14
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.
- Acts 8:27
And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship;
- Luke 11:31
The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and shall condemn them: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
- Matthew 3:17
and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
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