Bible Strands
Matthew 21:17
Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — After answering the religious leaders in the temple courts, Jesus departs Jerusalem and travels to Bethany to rest overnight.
The words — καταλιπὼν (katalipōn) translates literally as "having left," and ἐξῆλθεν ἔξω τῆς πόλεως (exēlthen exō tēs poleōs) means "He went out of the city."
The thread — This departure mirrors John 11:18, which locates Bethany just outside Jerusalem, and points forward to Luke 24:50, where Jesus again leads His followers out of the city for a final blessing.
Why it lands — The narrative records a physical withdrawal that forces the religious authorities to confront their own rejection without Jesus present, requiring the reader to recognize that divine action often proceeds through deliberate withdrawal before renewed intervention.
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
And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.
Cross-references
- John 11:18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, a little less than two miles away,
- Mark 11:11 Then Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
- Luke 24:50 When Jesus had led them out as far as Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
- John 11:1 At this time a man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
- Matthew 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.
- Mark 11:19 And when evening came, Jesus and His disciples went out of the city.
- Matthew 26:6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,
- Mark 3:7 So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from Galilee, Judea,
- Mark 11:1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples
- Luke 8:37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to depart from them, because great fear had taken hold of them. So He got into the boat and started back.