Chapters About this edition The Gospel according to Matthew
Matthew 16 Who, what, why, when, where, and how — read the book introduction
English · Español · Kiswahili Enable JavaScript to use word study. How to use Greek word study You do not need to read Greek to begin. Tap an underlined word in either the Greek line or the Romanized Greek line: both open the same entry. Where reliable data is available, you will see the dictionary form, grammar, Strong’s number and a definition. Choose “More meaning and grammar” to explore further, then “Close” to return to the passage. Drag the top bar to move the panel and scroll inside it to see more; the Close button stays visible.
A dashed underline marks unavailable parsing; a double underline marks an unavailable dictionary entry. We do not fill these gaps with guesses. Dictionary definitions offer possible meanings; context determines the meaning in the passage. Our Greek text and its Romanization remain unchanged.
Learn about the sources and coverage →
Chapter Matthew 1 Matthew 2 Matthew 3 Matthew 4 Matthew 5 Matthew 6 Matthew 7 Matthew 8 Matthew 9 Matthew 10 Matthew 11 Matthew 12 Matthew 13 Matthew 14 Matthew 15 Matthew 16 Matthew 17 Matthew 18 Matthew 19 Matthew 20 Matthew 21 Matthew 22 Matthew 23 Matthew 24 Matthew 25 Matthew 26 Matthew 27 Matthew 28 Find in chapter
MATTHEW 16:1 TWMC
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus together, testing Him by asking Him to show them a miraculous sign from heaven.
KJV
The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
Greek
Καὶ προσελθόντες οἱ Φαρισαῖοι καὶ Σαδδουκαῖοι πειράζοντες ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτὸν σημεῖον ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἐπιδεῖξαι αὐτοῖς.
Romanized Greek
Kai proselthontes hoi Pharisaioi kai Saddoukaioi peirazontes epērōtēsan auton sēmeion ek tou ouranou epideixai autois.
MATTHEW 16:2 TWMC
Jesus answered, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be good because the sky is red.’
KJV
He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
Greek
Ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Ὀψίας γενομένης λέγετε, Εὐδία∙ πυρράζει γὰρ ὁ οὐρανός.
Romanized Greek
Ho de apokritheis eipen autois, Opsias genomenēs legete, Eudia; pyrrazei gar ho ouranos.
MATTHEW 16:3 TWMC
And in the morning you say, ‘It will be stormy today because the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot recognize the signs of the times.
KJV
And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
Greek
Καὶ πρωΐ, Σήμερον χειμών∙ πυρράζει γὰρ στυγνάζων ὁ οὐρανός. Ὑποκριταί, τὸ μὲν πρόσωπον τοῦ οὐρανοῦ γινώσκετε διακρίνειν, τὰ δὲ σημεῖα τῶν καιρῶν οὐ δύνασθε;
Romanized Greek
Kai prōi, Sēmeron cheimōn; pyrrazei gar stygnazōn ho ouranos. Hypokritai, to men prosōpon tou ouranou ginōskete diakrinein, ta de sēmeia tōn kairōn ou dynasthe?
MATTHEW 16:4 TWMC
An evil and spiritually unfaithful generation keeps demanding a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.”
Then He left them and went away.
KJV
A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
Greek
Γενεὰ πονηρὰ καὶ μοιχαλὶς σημεῖον ἐπιζητεῖ∙ καὶ σημεῖον οὐ δοθήσεται αὐτῇ, εἰ μὴ τὸ σημεῖον Ἰωνᾶ τοῦ προφήτου. Καὶ καταλιπὼν αὐτούς, ἀπῆλθεν.
Romanized Greek
Genea ponēra kai moichalis sēmeion epizētei; kai sēmeion ou dothēsetai autē, ei mē to sēmeion Iōna tou prophētou. Kai katalipōn autous, apēlthen.
MATTHEW 16:5 TWMC
When His disciples crossed to the other side of the sea, they realized they had forgotten to bring bread.
KJV
And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
Greek
Καὶ ἐλθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ πέραν ἐπελάθοντο ἄρτους λαβεῖν.
Romanized Greek
Kai elthontes hoi mathētai autou eis to peran epelathonto artous labein.
MATTHEW 16:6 TWMC
Jesus told them, “Watch carefully and guard yourselves against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
KJV
¶ Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Greek
Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Ὁρᾶτε καὶ προσέχετε ἀπὸ τῆς ζύμης τῶν Φαρισαίων καὶ Σαδδουκαίων.
Romanized Greek
Ho de Iēsous eipen autois, Horate kai prosechete apo tēs zymēs tōn Pharisaiōn kai Saddoukaiōn.
MATTHEW 16:7 TWMC
The disciples began discussing this among themselves.
“He must be saying that because we did not bring any bread.”
KJV
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
Greek
Οἱ δὲ διελογίζοντο ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, λέγοντες ὅτι Ἄρτους οὐκ ἐλάβομεν.
Romanized Greek
Hoi de dielogizonto en heautois, legontes hoti Artous ouk elabomen.
MATTHEW 16:8 TWMC
Jesus knew what they were saying and asked them, “Why are you discussing among yourselves that you have no bread, you of little faith?
KJV
Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
Greek
Γνοὺς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Τί διαλογίζεσθε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, ὀλιγόπιστοι, ὅτι ἄρτους οὐκ ἐλάβετε;
Romanized Greek
Gnous de ho Iēsous eipen autois, Ti dialogizesthe en heautois, oligopistoi, hoti artous ouk elabete?
MATTHEW 16:9 TWMC
Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many baskets you collected afterward?
KJV
Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
Greek
Οὔπω νοεῖτε, οὐδὲ μνημονεύετε τοὺς πέντε ἄρτους τῶν πεντακισχιλίων, καὶ πόσους κοφίνους ἐλάβετε;
Romanized Greek
Oupō noeite, oude mnēmoneuete tous pente artous tōn pentakischiliōn, kai posous kophinous elabete?
MATTHEW 16:10 TWMC
Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many large baskets you collected?
KJV
Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
Greek
Οὐδὲ τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἄρτους τῶν τετρακισχιλίων, καὶ πόσας σπυρίδας ἐλάβετε;
Romanized Greek
Oude tous hepta artous tōn tetrakischiliōn, kai posas spyridas elabete?
MATTHEW 16:11 TWMC
How can you not understand that I was not talking to you about bread? I was telling you to guard yourselves against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
KJV
How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
Greek
Πῶς οὐ νοεῖτε, ὅτι οὐ περὶ ἄρτου εἶπον ὑμῖν προσέχειν ἀπὸ τῆς ζύμης τῶν Φαρισαίων καὶ Σαδδουκαίων;
Romanized Greek
Pōs ou noeite, hoti ou peri artou eipon hymin prosechein apo tēs zymēs tōn Pharisaiōn kai Saddoukaiōn?
MATTHEW 16:12 TWMC
Then they understood that He was not warning them about yeast used in bread, but about the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
KJV
Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Greek
Τότε συνῆκαν ὅτι οὐκ εἶπεν προσέχειν ἀπὸ τῆς ζύμης τοῦ ἄρτου, ἀλλὰ ἀπὸ τῆς διδαχῆς τῶν Φαρισαίων καὶ Σαδδουκαίων.
Romanized Greek
Tote synēkan hoti ouk eipen prosechein apo tēs zymēs tou artou, alla apo tēs didachēs tōn Pharisaiōn kai Saddoukaiōn.
MATTHEW 16:13 TWMC
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
KJV
¶ When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Greek
Ἐλθὼν δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς τὰ μέρη Καισαρείας τῆς Φιλίππου ἠρώτα τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ, λέγων, Τίνα με λέγουσιν οἱ ἄνθρωποι εἶναι, τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου;
Romanized Greek
Elthōn de ho Iēsous eis ta merē Kaisareias tēs Philippou ērōta tous mathētas autou, legōn, Tina me legousin hoi anthrōpoi einai, ton huion tou anthrōpou?
MATTHEW 16:14 TWMC
They answered, “Some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. Others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
KJV
And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Greek
Οἱ δὲ εἶπον, Οἱ μὲν Ἰωάννην τὸν βαπτιστήν∙ ἄλλοι δὲ Ἠλίαν∙ ἕτεροι δὲ Ἰερεμίαν, ἢ ἕνα τῶν προφητῶν.
Romanized Greek
Hoi de eipon, Hoi men Iōannēn ton baptistēn; alloi de Ēlian; heteroi de Ieremian, ē hena tōn prophētōn.
MATTHEW 16:15 TWMC
Jesus asked them, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?”
KJV
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Greek
Λέγει αὐτοῖς, Ὑμεῖς δὲ τίνα με λέγετε εἶναι;
Romanized Greek
Legei autois, Hymeis de tina me legete einai?
MATTHEW 16:16 TWMC
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
KJV
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Greek
Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος εἶπεν, Σὺ εἶ ὁ χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ζῶντος.
Romanized Greek
Apokritheis de Simōn Petros eipen, Sy ei ho christos ho huios tou theou tou zōntos.
MATTHEW 16:17 TWMC
Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you. My Father in heaven revealed it.
KJV
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Greek
Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Μακάριος εἶ, Σίμων Βαριωνᾶ, ὅτι σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψέν σοι, ἀλλ’ ὁ πατήρ μου ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.
Romanized Greek
Kai apokritheis ho Iēsous eipen autō, Makarios ei, Simōn Bariōna, hoti sarx kai haima ouk apekalypsen soi, all’ ho patēr mou ho en tois ouranois.
MATTHEW 16:18 TWMC
And I tell you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church. The gates of Hades will not overcome it.
KJV
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Greek
Κἀγὼ δέ σοι λέγω, ὅτι σὺ εἶ Πέτρος, καὶ ἐπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρᾳ οἰκοδομήσω μου τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, καὶ πύλαι ᾍδου οὐ κατισχύσουσιν αὐτῆς.
Romanized Greek
Kagō de soi legō, hoti sy ei Petros, kai epi tautē tē petra oikodomēsō mou tēn ekklēsian, kai pylai Hadou ou katischysousin autēs.
MATTHEW 16:19 TWMC
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.”
KJV
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Greek
Καὶ δώσω σοὶ τὰς κλεῖς τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν∙ καὶ ὃ ἐὰν δήσῃς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ἔσται δεδεμένον ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς∙ καὶ ὃ ἐὰν λύσῃς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ἔσται λελυμένον ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.
Romanized Greek
Kai dōsō soi tas kleis tēs basileias tōn ouranōn; kai ho ean dēsēs epi tēs gēs, estai dedemenon en tois ouranois; kai ho ean lysēs epi tēs gēs, estai lelymenon en tois ouranois.
MATTHEW 16:20 TWMC
Then Jesus strictly instructed His disciples not to tell anyone that He was Jesus the Christ.
KJV
Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
Greek
Τότε διεστείλατο τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ ἵνα μηδενὶ εἴπωσιν ὅτι αὐτός ἐστιν Ἰησοῦς ὁ χριστός.
Romanized Greek
Tote diesteilato tois mathētais autou hina mēdeni eipōsin hoti autos estin Iēsous ho christos.
MATTHEW 16:21 TWMC
From that time on, Jesus began explaining to His disciples that He had to go to Jerusalem, suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised on the third day.
KJV
¶ From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Greek
Ἀπὸ τότε ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς δεικνύειν τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ ὅτι δεῖ αὐτὸν ἀπελθεῖν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, καὶ πολλὰ παθεῖν ἀπὸ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων καὶ ἀρχιερέων καὶ γραμματέων, καὶ ἀποκτανθῆναι, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἐγερθῆναι.
Romanized Greek
Apo tote ērxato ho Iēsous deiknyein tois mathētais autou hoti dei auton apelthein eis Hierosolyma, kai polla pathein apo tōn presbyterōn kai archiereōn kai grammateōn, kai apoktanthēnai, kai tē tritē hēmera egerthēnai.
MATTHEW 16:22 TWMC
Peter took Jesus aside and began strongly objecting.
“Far be it from You, Lord! This must never happen to You!”
KJV
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Greek
Καὶ προσλαβόμενος αὐτὸν ὁ Πέτρος ἤρξατο ἐπιτιμᾷν αὐτῷ λέγων, Ἵλεώς σοι, κύριε∙ οὐ μὴ ἔσται σοι τοῦτο.
Romanized Greek
Kai proslabomenos auton ho Petros ērxato epitiman autō legōn, Hileōs soi, kyrie; ou mē estai soi touto.
MATTHEW 16:23 TWMC
But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me, because your mind is not set on the things of God but on human concerns.”
KJV
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Greek
Ὁ δὲ στραφεὶς εἶπεν τῷ Πέτρῳ, Ὕπαγε ὀπίσω μου, Σατανᾶ, σκάνδαλόν μου εἶ∙ ὅτι οὐ φρονεῖς τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, ἀλλὰ τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
Romanized Greek
Ho de strapheis eipen tō Petrō, Hypage opisō mou, Satana, skandalon mou ei; hoti ou phroneis ta tou theou, alla ta tōn anthrōpōn.
MATTHEW 16:24 TWMC
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.
KJV
¶ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Greek
Τότε ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ, Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτόν, καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι.
Romanized Greek
Tote ho Iēsous eipen tois mathētais autou, Ei tis thelei opisō mou elthein, aparnēsasthō heauton, kai aratō ton stauron autou, kai akoloutheitō moi.
MATTHEW 16:25 TWMC
Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it.
KJV
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Greek
Ὃς γὰρ ἂν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν∙ ὃς δ’ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ εὑρήσει αὐτήν∙
Romanized Greek
Hos gar an thelē tēn psychēn autou sōsai, apolesei autēn; hos d’ an apolesē tēn psychēn autou heneken emou heurēsei autēn;
MATTHEW 16:26 TWMC
What good would it do someone to gain the entire world but lose his own soul? What could anyone possibly give in exchange for his soul?
KJV
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Greek
τί γὰρ ὠφελεῖται ἄνθρωπος ἐὰν τὸν κόσμον ὅλον κερδήσῃ, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ζημιωθῇ; Ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ;
Romanized Greek
ti gar ōpheleitai anthrōpos ean ton kosmon holon kerdēsē, tēn de psychēn autou zēmiōthē? Ē ti dōsei anthrōpos antallagma tēs psychēs autou?
MATTHEW 16:27 TWMC
The Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will repay each person according to what he has done.
KJV
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Greek
Μέλλει γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἔρχεσθαι ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων αὐτοῦ, καὶ τότε ἀποδώσει ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὴν πρᾶξιν αὐτοῦ.
Romanized Greek
Mellei gar ho huios tou anthrōpou erchesthai en tē doxē tou patros autou meta tōn angelōn autou, kai tote apodōsei hekastō kata tēn praxin autou.
MATTHEW 16:28 TWMC
I tell you the truth: some who are standing here will certainly not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
KJV
Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Greek
Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, εἰσίν τινες ὧδε ἑστῶτες, οἵτινες οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου, ἕως ἂν ἴδωσιν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐρχόμενον ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ.
Romanized Greek
Amēn legō hymin, eisin tines hōde hestōtes, hoitines ou mē geusōntai thanatou, heōs an idōsin ton huion tou anthrōpou erchomenon en tē basileia autou.