Matthew 16:28
Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Original Language Analysis
ἀμὴν
Verily
G281
ἀμὴν
Verily
Strong's:
G281
Word #:
1 of 25
properly, firm, i.e., (figuratively) trustworthy; adverbially, surely (often as interjection, so be it)
λέγω
I say
G3004
λέγω
I say
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
2 of 25
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἑστηκότων,
standing
G2476
ἑστηκότων,
standing
Strong's:
G2476
Word #:
8 of 25
to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively)
οἵτινες
which
G3748
οἵτινες
which
Strong's:
G3748
Word #:
9 of 25
which some, i.e., any that; also (definite) which same
οὐ
G3756
μὴ
G3361
μὴ
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
11 of 25
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
γεύσωνται
shall
G1089
γεύσωνται
shall
Strong's:
G1089
Word #:
12 of 25
to taste; by implication, to eat; figuratively, to experience (good or ill)
θανάτου
of death
G2288
θανάτου
of death
Strong's:
G2288
Word #:
13 of 25
(properly, an adjective used as a noun) death (literally or figuratively)
ἕως
G2193
ἕως
Strong's:
G2193
Word #:
14 of 25
a conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place)
ἴδωσιν
they see
G1492
ἴδωσιν
they see
Strong's:
G1492
Word #:
16 of 25
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
17 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
υἱὸν
the Son
G5207
υἱὸν
the Son
Strong's:
G5207
Word #:
18 of 25
a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐρχόμενον
coming
G2064
ἐρχόμενον
coming
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
21 of 25
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
23 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Mark 9:1And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.Luke 9:27But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.John 8:52Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.Matthew 26:64Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.Matthew 10:23But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.Mark 13:26And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.Luke 2:26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.Hebrews 2:9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Historical Context
Jesus spoke this around AD 29-30, roughly six days before the Transfiguration. The promise that 'some' (not all) would see this indicates select disciples would witness it—Peter, James, and John became the inner circle privileged to witness Jesus's glory (17:1), raising of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37), and Gethsemane agony (26:37). These three would indeed not taste death before seeing Christ's glory manifested.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the Transfiguration as a preview of Christ's kingdom glory strengthen your hope in His promised return?
- What does Jesus selecting only three disciples teach about God's sovereign distribution of revelation and privilege?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death (ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι εἰσίν τινες τῶν ὧδε ἑστώτων οἵτινες οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου)—The solemn ἀμήν (truly, verily) introduces weighty truth. The phrase οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου ('will never taste death') uses the strongest Greek negative, guaranteeing some present will survive until seeing the Son of man coming in his kingdom (ἕως ἂν ἴδωσιν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐρχόμενον ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ). This controversial verse is best understood as fulfilled in the Transfiguration (17:1-8, occurring six days later), where Peter, James, and John saw Christ's glory, Moses and Elijah (representing Law and Prophets), and heard the Father's voice—a preview of kingdom glory.
Alternatively, some see fulfillment in Pentecost (Acts 2) when the Spirit inaugurated Christ's kingdom reign, or in AD 70's Jerusalem destruction demonstrating Christ's judgment authority. The immediate context (following discussion of Christ's return, 16:27) and the transitional 'And after six days' (17:1) strongly link this to the Transfiguration—a proleptic glimpse of Christ's eschatological glory.