This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
Parallel translations
- WEB All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying,
- KJV All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
- NKJV All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
- NASB Now this took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled:
- NLT This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,
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
All this happened to fulfill what the prophet had spoken. Jesus' entry deliberately fulfills Old Testament prophecy.
Overview
Matthew pauses to note that the manner of Jesus' entry fulfills Scripture, specifically Zechariah 9:9. This shows that Jesus' coming as King was foretold and intentional, not improvised. The fulfillment underscores that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, acting in conscious obedience to God's revealed plan.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Zech 9:9Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
- John 12:15“Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey.”
- Matt 1:22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
- Matt 26:56But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.
- John 19:36–37Now these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of His bones will be broken.”
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 21:4 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.