Bible Strands
Matthew 12:41
The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses his contemporaries, repeatedly labeled "this generation," during a dispute over his authority and miraculous signs. He places his audience in a future eschatological scenario where past figures will confront them.
The words — ἀναστὴσονται (anastēsontai) literally means "will stand up," paired with κρίσει (krisei), meaning "judgment," to depict a courtroom scene where past figures rise to confront the present generation.
The thread — This courtroom imagery runs parallel to the Queen of the South in Matthew 12:42, while Hebrews 11:7 and Jeremiah 3:11 both use historical judgment to illustrate divine accountability.
Why it lands — The text demands a response to the present revelation before facing condemnation, requiring readers to recognize that greater authority has arrived and must be answered now.
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
The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
Cross-references
- Matthew 12:42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
- Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
- Jeremiah 3:11 And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than unfaithful Judah.
- Jonah 1:2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.”
- Matthew 12:6 But I tell you that One greater than the temple is here.
- Luke 11:32 The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.
- John 3:31 The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all.
- Romans 2:27 The one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
- Hebrews 3:5 Now Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be spoken later.
- Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.