Devine Scripture

Matthew 23:35

What does Matthew 23:35 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 23:35 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 23:35 means

Jesus declares that the cumulative guilt of all righteous blood shed on earth, from Abel to Zachariah, will fall upon "this generation" of scribes and Pharisees. This means they will be held responsible for the entire history of rejecting and murdering God's messengers. The mention of Zachariah, likely referring to the one killed between the temple and the altar, connects their current actions to a long lineage of defiance against God, signifying a complete and final culmination of guilt.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

So that on you may come all the blood of the upright on the earth, from the blood of upright Abel to the blood of Zachariah, son of Barachiah, whom you put to death between the Temple and the altar.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

that on you may come all the righteous blood being poured out on the earth from the blood of Abel the righteous, unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar:

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

That upon you may come all the just blood that hath been shed upon the earth, from the blood of Abel the just, even unto the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachias, whom you killed between the temple and the altar.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

so that all righteous blood shed upon the earth should come upon you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

Context

This verse clarifies *why* Jesus' prophecy of persecution matters, explaining that the ultimate consequence will be the accrual of all righteous blood upon 'this generation.' It links their current rejection and future persecution of His messengers to a historical pattern stretching from Abel to Zachariah. This heavy pronouncement sets the stage for the solemn declaration of impending judgment upon Jerusalem in the final verses, showing the culmination of their corporate guilt.

v.34Therefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: some of them shall ye kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city:

v.35This passage

v.36Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

Cross references

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

  • Numbers 35:33

    So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood, it polluteth the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

  • Zechariah 1:1

    In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of Jehovah unto Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying,

  • Revelation 18:24

    And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth.

  • Jeremiah 26:23

    and they fetched forth Uriah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king, who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.

  • 1 John 3:11

    For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another:

  • Hebrews 11:4

    By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh.

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