Bible Strands
Matthew 4:3
The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The tempter approaches Jesus immediately after a forty-day fast and demands He prove His divine identity by converting stones into bread.
The words — The Greek πειράζων (peirazōn) literally means "tempting" or "testing," identifying the adversary's active role. The conditional εἰ (ei) introduces the phrase "If You are the Son of God," framing the challenge as a test of identity.
The thread — This encounter parallels Genesis 3:1, where the serpent tests humanity through doubt, and anticipates the spiritual warfare described in 1 Thessalonians 3:5 regarding the tempter's ongoing efforts. It also contrasts with the Israelites' food-driven rebellion in Numbers 11:4, which prioritized physical craving over divine provision.
Why it lands — The verse requires a reader to examine whether they trust God's timing over immediate physical relief or self-validated proofs. It demands a choice between acting on hunger and relying on divine authority.
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 when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Cross-references
- Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”
- 1 Thessalonians 3:5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and that our labor might have been in vain.
- Numbers 11:4 Meanwhile, the rabble among them had a strong craving for other food, and again the Israelites wept and said, “Who will feed us meat?
- Luke 22:31 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you like wheat.
- Revelation 2:10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- Psalms 78:17 But they continued to sin against Him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High.
- Genesis 25:29 One day, while Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the field and was famished.
- Job 1:9 Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
- Job 2:4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give up all he owns in exchange for his life.
- Matthew 3:17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”