When they sought to seize him, they feared the multitudes, because they considered him to be a prophet.
Parallel translations
- KJV But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
- BSB Although they wanted to arrest Him, they were afraid of the crowds, because the people regarded Him as a prophet.
- NKJV But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.
- NASB And although they sought to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, since they considered Him to be a prophet.
- NLT They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.
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
They want to arrest Jesus but fear the crowd who regard Him as a prophet. Fear of the people, not conscience, restrains them for now.
Overview
The leaders' desire to seize Jesus is checked only by the popular esteem in which He is held. Their restraint is purely pragmatic, not repentant, echoing their earlier calculation over John the Baptist. This tension between their murderous intent and the crowd's regard builds toward the climactic events of the passion.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 21:11The multitudes said, “This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
- Matt 21:26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.”
- 2 Sam 12:7–13Nathan said to David, “You are the man. This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.
- John 7:7The world can’t hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil.
- Luke 7:16Fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!”
- Isa 29:1Woe to Ariel! Ariel, the city where David encamped! Add year to year; let the feasts come around;
- John 7:40–41Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, “This is truly the prophet.”
- Prov 9:7–9He who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
- Acts 2:22“Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know,
- Luke 7:39Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.”
- Prov 15:12A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 21:46 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.