And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste of 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.
- BSB Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
- NKJV “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
- NASB “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus says some standing there will not die before seeing the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. It matters because it promises a near display of his royal glory.
Overview
Jesus assures his hearers that some will witness the Son of Man's kingly power before death. Faithful interpreters understand this variously—as the Transfiguration that immediately follows, the resurrection, Pentecost, or the kingdom's powerful advance—rather than the final return. The immediately following Transfiguration gives a strong, natural fulfillment of seeing his glory. The saying assures the disciples that Christ's kingdom would soon be unmistakably revealed.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Luke 9:27But I tell you the truth: There are some of those who stand here, who will in no way taste of death, until they see God’s Kingdom.”
- Mark 9:1He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until they see God’s Kingdom come with power.”
- John 8:52Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’
- Matt 26:64Jesus said to him, “You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.”
- Matt 10:23But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man has come.
- Luke 21:27–28Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
- Mark 13:26Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
- Luke 2:26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
- Heb 2:9But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.
- Matt 24:3As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?”
- Matt 24:42Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes.
- 1 Th 1:10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.
- Matt 24:27–31For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
- Luke 18:8I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 16:28 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.