Bible Strands
Matthew 12:17
This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Matthew writes this transitional line after Jesus heals and issues a warning not to reveal his identity, positioning the narrative before the formal declaration in the following verse. The author addresses his readers at a moment where Jesus' public ministry shifts toward hiddenness and prophetic alignment.
The words — ἵνα πληρωθῇ (hina plērōthē) translates literally as "so that it may be fulfilled." This formulaic Greek construction directly introduces a quotation that Matthew attributes to the prophet Isaiah.
The thread — Matthew explicitly ties this moment to Isaiah 42:1, where God identifies His upheld Servant and Spirit-anointed one. The passage also resonates with Isaiah 42:9's announcement of declared new things and Isaiah 41:22's challenge regarding prophetic foreknowledge.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize that Jesus' actions are governed by a written prophetic standard rather than independent initiative. It demands that the audience verify the narrative against the cited scripture before drawing conclusions about his identity or mission.
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
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
Cross-references
- Isaiah 42:1 “Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.
- Isaiah 42:9 Behold, the former things have happened, and now I declare new things. Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”
- Isaiah 41:22 “Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell the former things, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome. Or announce to us what is coming.
- Isaiah 44:26 who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, and I will restore their ruins,’
- Matthew 13:35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”
- Matthew 21:4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
- John 12:38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
- Matthew 8:17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”
- Luke 21:22 For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.
- Luke 24:44 Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”