Matthew 12:40

For as Jonas was in the womb of a whale three days and three nights (or For as Jonah was in the belly of a whale for three days and three nights), so man’s Son shall be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

Wycliffe Modern Spelling

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

39Which answered, and said to them, An evil kindred and a spouse-breaker seeketh a token [or An evil generation and adulterous seeketh a token], and a token shall not be given to it, [no] but the token of Jonas, the prophet. (And he answered, and said to them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh a sign, and no sign shall be given to it, except for the sign of the prophet Jonah.)

41Men of Nineveh shall rise in (the) doom with this generation, and shall condemn it; for they did penance in the preaching of Jonas, and lo! here [is] a greater (man) than Jonas. (Men of Nineveh shall rise at the Judgement with this generation, and they shall condemn it; for they repented after the preaching of Jonah, and behold! here (is) something greater than Jonah.)

Read all of Matthew 12

Cross References

Psalms 63:9Forsooth they sought in vain my life, they shall enter into the lower things of earth; (And they, who seek to take my life, shall enter into the lower things of the earth, that is, into Sheol;)

Jonah 2:2and said, I cried to God of my tribulation, and he heard me, (or and he said, I cried out to God in my tribulation, and he heard me); from the womb (or the belly) of hell I cried, and thou heardest my voice.

Matthew 16:21From that time Jesus began to show to his disciples, that it behooved him to go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things, of the elder men [or of the elders], and of the scribes, and of (the) princes of (the) priests, (or and suffer many things, from the elders, and from the scribes, and from the high priests); and be slain, and the third day to rise again.

Matthew 27:40and saying, Vath [or Fie] to thee, that destroyest the temple of God, and in the third day buildest it again; save thou thyself; if thou art the Son of God, come down of the cross, [or come down off the cross], (or come down from the cross).

John 2:19Jesus answered, and said to them, Undo ye this temple (or Destroy this temple), and in three days I shall raise it (up again).

Matthew Henry on Matthew 12:39-46

The Pharisees Ask a Sign. 38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 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. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Matthew 12:40