Matthew 21:32
Greek (Tischendorf 8th ed.) Matthew 21:32 appears in the Greek New Testament. The text above is from the Tischendorf 8th edition. Each word links to its Strong’s number and a concise gloss. Click any word for its full Thayer’s Greek Lexicon entry.For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn't even repent afterward, that you might believe him.
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Compare translations 3
The same verse in 3 English versions, stacked beneath the original-language interlinear above. Click any original word for its lexicon entry.
Each is an independent rendering of the whole verse — the interlinear is not word-aligned to these translations.
Highlighted words mark where these versions differ — a whole-verse word diff, not a word-by-word alignment.
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World English Bible Public Domain
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn't even repent afterward, that you might believe him.
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King James Version Public Domain
For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
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unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, but you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. But you, having seen this, did not change your minds afterward to believe in him.
unfoldingWord Literal Text — © unfoldingWord, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Word-aligned USFM3 via Door43 (git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ult).
Show all 19 translations
Every available English version of this verse, each an independent rendering of the whole verse.
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World English Bible Public Domain
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn't even repent afterward, that you might believe him.
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Berean Standard Bible Public Domain
For John came to you in a righteous way and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
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Majority Standard Bible Public Domain
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
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King James Version Public Domain
For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
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American Standard Version (1901) Public Domain
For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye might believe him.
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Revised Version (1885) Public Domain
For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye might believe him.
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Geneva Bible (1599) Public Domain
For Iohn came vnto you in the way of righteousnes, and yee beleeued him not: but the Publicanes, and the harlots beleeued him, and ye, though ye sawe it, were not mooued with repentance afterward, that ye might beleeue him.
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Douay-Rheims (1899) Public Domain
For John came to you in the way of justice, and you did not believe him. But the publicans and the harlots believed him: but you, seeing it, did not even afterwards repent, that you might believe him.
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Young's Literal Translation Public Domain
for John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye did not believe him, and the tax-gatherers and the harlots did believe him, and ye, having seen, repented not at last -- to believe him.
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Literal Standard Version CC BY-SA 4.0
for John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, and the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him, and you, having seen, did not regret at last—to believe him.
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Unlocked Literal Bible CC BY-SA 4.0
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, but you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. But you, even when you saw this, you did not repent afterward and believe him.
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unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, but you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. But you, having seen this, did not change your minds afterward to believe in him.
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Darby Bible Public Domain
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the tax-gatherers and the harlots believed him; but *ye* when ye saw [it] repented not yourselves afterwards to believe him.
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World Messianic Bible Public Domain
For Yochanan came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him; but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn’t even repent afterward, that you might believe him.
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Webster's Bible Public Domain
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
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Free Bible Version CC BY-SA 4.0
“John came to show you the way to live right with God, and you didn't believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him. Later, when you saw what happened, you still didn't repent and believe him.
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Bible in Basic English Public Domain
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you had no faith in him, but the tax-farmers and the loose women had faith in him: and you, when you saw it, did not even have regret for your sins, so as to have faith in him.
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Text-Critical English NT CC BY 4.0
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. Yet even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
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Tyndale New Testament (1534) Public Domain
For Iohn came vnto you in the waye of rightewesnes and ye beleved hym not. But the publicans and the harlotes beleved him. And yet ye (though ye sawe it) were not yet moved with repentaunce that ye myght afterwarde have beleved hym.
Literal Standard Version (2020), Covenant Press — licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API (eBible.org). Unlocked Literal Bible (unfoldingWord) — licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API (eBible.org). unfoldingWord Literal Text — © unfoldingWord, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Word-aligned USFM3 via Door43 (git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ult). Free Bible Version, Dr. Jonathan Gallagher — licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API (eBible.org).
Word by word
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- Appears 6× in the Greek New Testament
- First appears at Matthew 21:29
- Part of Speech
- Verb
- Tense
- Aorist
- Voice
- Passive deponent
- Mood
- Indicative
- Person
- 2nd person
- Number
- Plural
Full Thayer's Definition
- ἦλθεν érchomai G2064 “to come” Verb, Aorist, Active, Indicative, 3rd person, Singular
- γὰρ gár G1063 “for” Conjunction
- Ἰωάννης Iōánnēs G2491 “John” Noun, Nominative, Singular, Masculine
- πρὸς prós G4314 “to” Preposition
- ὑμᾶς hymeîs G5210 “you” Personal pronoun, 2nd person, Accusative, Plural
- ἐν en G1722 “in” Preposition
- ὁδῷ hodós G3598 “way” Noun, Dative, Singular, Feminine
- δικαιοσύνης dikaiosýnē G1343 “righteousness” Noun, Genitive, Singular, Feminine
- καὶ kaí G2532 “and” Conjunction
- οὐκ ou G3756 “not” Particle, Negative
- ἐπιστεύσατε pisteúō G4100 “to believe” Verb, Aorist, Active, Indicative, 2nd person, Plural
- αὐτῷ autós G846 “he” Personal pronoun, Dative, Singular, Masculine
- οἱ ho G3588 “the” Article, Nominative, Plural, Masculine
- δὲ dé G1161 “but” Conjunction
- τελῶναι telṓnēs G5057 “tax collector” Noun, Nominative, Plural, Masculine
- καὶ kaí G2532 “and” Conjunction
- αἱ ho G3588 “the” Article, Nominative, Plural, Feminine
- πόρναι pórnē G4204 “prostitute” Noun, Nominative, Plural, Feminine
- ἐπίστευσαν pisteúō G4100 “to believe” Verb, Aorist, Active, Indicative, 3rd person, Plural
- αὐτῷ autós G846 “he” Personal pronoun, Dative, Singular, Masculine
- ὑμεῖς hymeîs G5210 “you” Personal pronoun, 2nd person, Nominative, Plural
- δὲ dé G1161 “but” Conjunction
- ἰδόντες horáō G3708 “to see” Verb, Aorist, Active, Participle, Nominative, Plural, Masculine
- οὐ ou G3756 “not” Particle, Negative
- μετεμελήθητε metaméllomai G3338 “it is a care” Verb, Aorist, Passive deponent, Indicative, 2nd person, Plural
- ὕστερον hýsteron G5305 “later” Adverb, Comparative
- τοῦ ho G3588 “the” Article, Genitive, Singular, Neuter
- πιστεῦσαι pisteúō G4100 “to believe” Verb, Aorist, Active, Infinitive
- αὐτῷ autós G846 “he” Personal pronoun, Dative, Singular, Masculine
About this verse
These counts appear in no published source. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged text and Lemma’s own curated glosses. What Lemma adds →
- 29
- words
- 19
- distinct lemmas
- Gospels
- section
Cross-references
16Topical passages linked to Matthew 21:32 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — connected by theme and wording, ordered by reader-vote popularity; previews shown in the World English Bible.
- Luke 7:37–50 Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of ointment.
- Zechariah 7:11–12 But they refused to listen, and turned their backs, and stopped their ears, that they might not hear.
- Matthew 21:25 The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?" They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
- Luke 7:29–30 When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John's baptism.
- Acts 13:25–29 As John was fulfilling his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one comes after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'
- 2 Peter 2:21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
- Psalms 81:11–12 But my people didn't listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.
- Isaiah 35:8 A highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but is shall be for for him who walks in the Way. Wicked fools will not go there.
- Jeremiah 6:16 Thus says Yahweh, Stand you in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls: but they said, We will not walk [therein].
- Matthew 3:1–12 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
- Matthew 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'
- John 5:33–40 You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.
- 2 Timothy 2:25 in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth,
- Hebrews 3:12 Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God;
- Hebrews 6:6–8 and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.
- Revelation 2:21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
Cross-references courtesy of OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).
Lesson kit
Teaching starters — assembled from the data on this page, not authored interpretation. Every prompt links to the verse data it draws on. Edit before teaching.
Matthew, in the Gospels, opens this verse with 29 words (19 distinct Greek lemmas). Its most distinctive word is metaméllomai (“it is a care”). A historical commentator’s framing appears above. Read the whole chapter for the surrounding context.
Discussion questions
- How does “it is a care” (metaméllomai) shape what this verse is saying?
- Matthew 21:29 shares the word «it is a care» with this verse. How do the two illuminate each other?
- “to believe” occurs 3× in this one verse. What is the effect of the repetition?
- These translations render this verse differently; the difference is in the English rendering, not the original. What questions does that raise?
- Reading how Tyndale Open Study Notes and Bengel's Gnomon read this verse, where do the two commentators agree and where do they part?
Things to notice
- These translations choose different wording for 18 words in this verse.
- “to believe” occurs 3× in this single verse.
- 19 distinct Greek lemmas span 29 words in this verse.
Commentary
Notes on Matthew 21:32 from classic Christian and Jewish commentators (each source and its license shown beneath its notes). The classic Christian expositions comment on the surrounding passage and are grouped to its opening verse, so a note may address several verses; the Jewish commentaries on the Tanakh (Rashi and others) are per-verse, so they appear only where the commentator wrote on this verse.
Lemma curates 59 commentaries, every one of them public domain or Creative Commons licensed, each selected and text-cleaned for this edition rather than reprinted as found. About our sources →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale Open Resources
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Bengel's Gnomon
Johann Albrecht Bengel
Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Expositor's Greek Testament
ed. W. Robertson Nicoll
The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Geneva Bible translators
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill's Exposition
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Trapp's Complete Commentary
John Trapp
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Whedon's Commentary on the Bible
Daniel D. Whedon
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Scofield Reference Notes
C. I. Scofield
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The People's New Testament
B. W. Johnson
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges
Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Alford’s Greek Testament
Henry Alford
Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
International Critical Commentary
International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.