Bible Strands
Matthew 16:13
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses His disciples in the district of Caesarea Philippi, immediately after they have understood the leaven warning (v. 12). He asks what the crowds are saying about the Son of Man.
The words — μέρη (merē), "district," is a plural used for a defined territory; it marks a specific geographic location rather than a generic "place," and the connective δὲ (de) ties this scene directly to the preceding exchange.
The thread — Mark 8:27 and Luke 9:18 give parallel accounts of the same question. The title "Son of Man" draws on Daniel 7:13, where the figure comes with the clouds of heaven and receives dominion.
Why it lands — Jesus does not state his identity; he asks what others are saying, forcing the disciples (and the reader) to confront whether they have been tracking the crowd's speculation or forming their own answer.
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
When Jesus came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Cross-references
- Luke 9:18 One day as Jesus was praying in private and the disciples were with Him, He questioned them: “Who do the crowds say I am?”
- Mark 8:27 Then Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say I am?”
- Daniel 7:13 In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence.
- Matthew 9:6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
- John 5:27 And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
- Hebrews 2:14 Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,
- Matthew 8:20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
- Matthew 12:8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
- Matthew 13:37 He replied, “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
- Matthew 12:32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.