But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
Parallel translations
- WEB When they sought to seize him, they feared the multitudes, because they considered him to be 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 21:11And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
- Matt 21:26But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
- 2 Sam 12:7–13And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
- John 7:7The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
- Luke 7:16And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
- Isa 29:1Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices.
- John 7:40–41Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
- Prov 9:7–9He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
- Acts 2:22Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
- Luke 7:39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
- Prov 15:12A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.