They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.
Parallel translations
- WEB and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their clothes on them; and he sat on them.
- KJV And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
- BSB They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.
- NASB and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their cloaks on them; and He sat on the cloaks.
- NLT They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.
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
The disciples bring the animals, lay their garments on them, and Jesus sits on them to enter. The cloaks form a makeshift royal saddle for the humble King.
Overview
Laying garments on the donkey and colt was an act of honor befitting a king. Matthew mentions both animals in keeping with the Zechariah prophecy, while Jesus rides the colt. The scene presents Jesus as royalty, yet his mount of choice keeps the emphasis on humility and the peaceful nature of his Kingdom.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- 2 Kgs 9:13Then they hurried, and each man took his cloak, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew the trumpet, saying, “Jehu is king.”
- Mark 11:4–8They went away, and found a young donkey tied at the door outside in the open street, and they untied him.
- Luke 19:32–35Those who were sent went away, and found things just as he had told them.
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 21:7 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
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