Bible Strands
Matthew 11:21
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus pronounces judgment on Chorazin and Bethsaida immediately after denouncing them for refusing to repent despite witnessing his miracles. He delivers this warning at the moment he contrasts their spiritual hardness with the hypothetical response of pagan cities.
The words — The Greek Οὐαί (Ouai) and σοι (soi) literally render “Woe to you,” functioning as a formal declaration of impending divine judgment rather than a casual curse. The conjunction εἰ (ei) introduces a hypothetical condition that underscores the certainty of their guilt.
The thread — The imagery of repentance in sackcloth and ashes echoes Job 42:6, where dust and ashes symbolize profound contrition before God. Jesus’ reference to Tyre and Sidon recalls his later journey to that district in Matthew 15:21, establishing a geographic and theological counterpoint throughout his ministry.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that spiritual privilege without repentance intensifies accountability. It requires the reader to examine whether exposure to divine action produces genuine change or merely hardens indifference.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 3:6 not to the many peoples of unfamiliar speech and difficult language whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.
- Job 42:6 Therefore I despise myself, and I repent in dust and ashes.”
- Matthew 15:21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.
- Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.
- Luke 9:10 Then the apostles returned and reported to Jesus all that they had done. Taking them away privately, He withdrew to a town called Bethsaida.
- John 12:21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
- Acts 12:20 Now Herod was in a furious dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the king’s country for food.
- Matthew 11:22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
- Matthew 18:7 Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
- Mark 3:8 Jerusalem, Idumea, the region beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to Him when they heard what great things He was doing.