Devine Scripture

Matthew 23:29

What does Matthew 23:29 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 23:29 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 23:29 means

Jesus pronounces the seventh and final woe, condemning the scribes and Pharisees for building and adorning the tombs of the prophets and righteous men whom their ancestors had persecuted and killed. They outwardly honor these past figures, claiming they would never have participated in such evil. This action, however, is another form of hypocrisy, as their hearts remain unchanged and their actions demonstrate the same spirit of rejection towards God's current messengers, including Jesus Himself.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and garnish the tombs of the righteous,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and garnish the tombs of the righteous,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

A curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! because you put up buildings for housing the dead bodies of the prophets, and make fair the last resting-places of good men, and say,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and adorn the tombs of the righteous,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, that build the sepulchres of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the just,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets and adorn the tombs of the just,

Context

This verse introduces the seventh and climactic woe, which delves into the historical and generational guilt of the scribes and Pharisees. It connects their present hypocrisy to a pattern of rejecting God's messengers by pointing out their ironic act of honoring dead prophets while demonstrating the same murderous spirit. This detailed accusation regarding their ancestors sets the stage for Jesus to progressively unveil their complicity and impending judgment in the verses that follow.

v.28Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

v.29This passage

v.30and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

Cross references

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

  • Luke 11:47

    Woe unto you! for ye build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

  • Acts 2:29

    Brethren, I may say unto you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Matthew 23

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Matthew 23.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Matthew 23:29.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary