Matthew 17:23

Authorized King James Version

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And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Original Language Analysis

καὶ And G2532
καὶ And
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 1 of 11
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἀποκτενοῦσιν they shall kill G615
ἀποκτενοῦσιν they shall kill
Strong's: G615
Word #: 2 of 11
to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy
αὐτόν, him G846
αὐτόν, him
Strong's: G846
Word #: 3 of 11
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καὶ And G2532
καὶ And
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 4 of 11
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τῇ G3588
τῇ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 5 of 11
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τρίτῃ the third G5154
τρίτῃ the third
Strong's: G5154
Word #: 6 of 11
third; neuter (as noun) a third part, or (as adverb) a (or the) third time, thirdly
ἡμέρᾳ day G2250
ἡμέρᾳ day
Strong's: G2250
Word #: 7 of 11
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
ἐγερθήσεται he shall be raised again G1453
ἐγερθήσεται he shall be raised again
Strong's: G1453
Word #: 8 of 11
to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e., rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from
καὶ And G2532
καὶ And
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 9 of 11
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐλυπήθησαν sorry G3076
ἐλυπήθησαν sorry
Strong's: G3076
Word #: 10 of 11
to distress; reflexively or passively, to be sad
σφόδρα they were exceeding G4970
σφόδρα they were exceeding
Strong's: G4970
Word #: 11 of 11
of uncertain derivation) as adverb; vehemently, i.e., in a high degree, much

Analysis & Commentary

And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again (καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτόν, καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐγερθήσεται)—The future ἀποκτενοῦσιν ('they will kill') specifies death by human agency, yet the passive ἐγερθήσεται ('He will be raised') indicates divine agency—the Father will raise the Son (Acts 2:24, 32; Romans 8:11). The phrase τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ('on the third day') fulfills Hosea 6:2 and Jonah's three-day sign (Matthew 12:40). This specific timeframe proves Jesus's prophetic authority—He predicted not only His death but the exact timing of His resurrection.

And they were exceeding sorry (καὶ ἐλυπήθησαν σφόδρα)—The verb λυπέω (lypeō, 'to grieve, to be sorrowful') intensified by σφόδρα ('exceedingly, greatly') shows their emotional devastation. Yet their sorrow focused on the death, not the resurrection. They heard 'killed' but didn't process 'raised'—selective hearing based on preconceptions. They expected a conquering Messiah, not a suffering servant. Their grief reveals they didn't yet understand that Christ's death was necessary for redemption, not defeat of God's purposes.

Historical Context

Jewish messianic expectations focused on a conquering Davidic king who would overthrow Rome and restore Israel's kingdom (Acts 1:6). The concept of a suffering, dying Messiah contradicted these hopes, despite clear Old Testament prophecies (Isaiah 53; Psalm 22). Only after the resurrection did disciples grasp how Scripture predicted Messiah's suffering and glory (Luke 24:25-27, 44-46). Their 'exceeding sorrow' shows how deeply entrenched wrong theology prevented receiving truth.

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