Matthew 21:5
3 If anyone questions you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
“Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.
7 They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.
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
- “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
- KJV
- Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
- WEB
- “Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your King comes to you, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
- ASV
- Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass.
- DARBY
- Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold thy King cometh to thee, meek, and mounted upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
- BLB
- “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King comes to you, gentle and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
- ÅB
- «Si til Sions datter:
‘Se kongen din kommer til deg;
ydmyk, ridende på et esel – slavedyrets fole’». - OTB
- “Si til Sions datter: ‘Se, din konge kommer til deg, saktmodig og ridende på et esel, ja, på en fole, en eselfoles unge.’”
- B1930
- Si til Sions datter: Se, din konge kommer til dig, saktmodig og ridende på et asen, på trældyrets fole.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Zechariah 9:9–10
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Read in contextIsaiah 62:11
Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the ends of the earth, “Say to Daughter Zion: See, your Savior comes! Look, His reward is with Him, and His recompense goes before Him.”
Read in contextIsaiah 9:6–7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Read in contextIsaiah 12:6
Cry out and sing, O citizen of Zion, for great among you is the Holy One of Israel.”
Read in contextGenesis 49:10
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.
Read in contextHosea 1:7
Yet I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will save them—not by bow or sword or war, not by horses and cavalry, but by the LORD their God.”
Read in contextZephaniah 3:14–15
Sing for joy, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!
Read in contextIsaiah 40:9
Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news. Raise your voice loudly, O Jerusalem, herald of good news. Lift it up, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”
Read in context