Matthew 16:4 kjva — A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the…

King James Version with Apocrypha

"A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed."

— Matthew 16:4, King James Version with Apocrypha

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Matthew 16:4 in Other Translations

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Matthew 16 — Context

1

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

2

He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

3

And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

4

A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

5

And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

6

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

7

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

Matthew 16:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Matthew 16:4 say?
Matthew 16:4 in the King James Version with Apocrypha reads: “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.”
Where is Matthew 16:4 in the Bible?
Matthew 16:4 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Matthew, chapter 16, verse 4.
Who wrote Matthew?
Matthew is traditionally attributed to Matthew (Levi), tax-collector turned apostle. It was written c. AD 50–70.
What is the book of Matthew about?
Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah — son of David, son of Abraham, fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Structured around five great teaching blocks including the Sermon on the Mount, it ends with the risen King commissioning his disciples to make disciples of all nations.
What are the major themes of Matthew?
Matthew explores themes including Kingdom of Heaven, Messiah, Fulfillment, Discipleship, Great Commission. These themes shape the meaning and context of Matthew 16:4.
What translation should I read Matthew 16:4 in?
Matthew 16:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Matthew 16:4?
Matthew 16:4 reads (KJVA): “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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