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Matthew 12:40

JesusJonah
The resurrectionJesus Christ

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

39 Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

41 The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.

42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
KJV
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
WEB
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
ASV
for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
DARBY
For even as Jonas was in the belly of the great fish three days and three nights, thus shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
BLB
For just as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
ÅB
For slik som Jona var tre dager og tre netter i fiskens buk, slik skal Menneskesønnen være tre dager og tre netter i jordens hjerte.
OTB
For slik som Jonas var tre dager og tre netter i buken på en stor fisk, slik skal Menneskesønnen være tre dager og tre netter i jordens hjerte.
B1930
For likesom Jonas var tre dager og tre netter i fiskens buk, således skal Menneskesønnen være tre dager og tre netter i jordens skjød.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Jonah 1:17

    Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish.

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  • Matthew 27:63–64

    “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’

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  • John 2:19

    Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.”

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  • Matthew 17:23

    They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised to life.” And the disciples were deeply grieved.

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  • Matthew 16:21

    From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

    Read in context

  • Matthew 27:40

    and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”

    Read in context

  • Jonah 2:2–6

    saying: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice.

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  • Psalms 63:9

    But those who seek my life to destroy it will go into the depths of the earth.

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