And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
Parallel translations
- WEB A very great multitude spread their clothes on the road. Others cut branches from the trees, and spread them on the road.
- BSB A massive crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
- NKJV And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
- NASB Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.
- NLT Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
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
A huge crowd spreads their cloaks and palm branches on the road before Jesus. They give him a royal welcome fit for a king.
Overview
Spreading garments and branches on the road was a gesture reserved for honoring royalty (cf. 2 Kings 9:13). The crowds thus acclaim Jesus as their king as he enters Jerusalem. Yet the same crowds' fickleness will soon appear, reminding us that outward acclaim is not the same as true, persevering faith.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- 2 Kgs 9:13Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king.
- John 12:13Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
- Lev 23:40And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.
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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 21:8 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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