Matthew 4:8

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The devil takes Jesus to a high mountain during the wilderness temptation sequence, immediately after Jesus rejects testing God. This moment occurs between the first two temptations, framing the third as a direct proposal of political power.

The words — παραλαμβάνει (paralambanei) literally means "takes" or "leads," showing the devil's active direction of Jesus. ὑψηλὸν (hupsēlon) translates as "high," specifying the mountain's elevation.

The thread — The text's vision of worldly kingdoms directly parallels 1 John 2:15's command against loving the world and Revelation 11:15's statement that the kingdom of the world will ultimately be established.

Why it lands — The passage records the devil's offer of global authority before any interpretation is applied, demanding that a reader weigh the temporary nature of earthly glory against permanent divine sovereignty.

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

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

Cross-references

1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”
Psalms 49:16 Do not be afraid when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases.
Matthew 16:26 What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Luke 4:5 Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
1 Peter 1:24 For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
Daniel 4:30 the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?”
Esther 5:11 Haman recounted to them his glorious wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored and promoted him over the other officials and servants.
Esther 1:4 And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.