Matthew 16:4
 
Matthew 16:4
(KJV) 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.
(1611 KJV) A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a signe, and there shall no signe be giuen vnto it, but the signe of the Prophet Ionas. And hee left them, and departed.
(1587 Geneva Bible) The wicked generation, and adulterous seeketh a signe, but there shall no signe be giuen it, but that signe of the Prophet Ionas: so hee left them, and departed.
(1526 Tyndale) The frowarde nacion and advoutrous seketh a signe and there shall non other signe be geven vnto them but the signe of the prophet Ionas. So lefte he them and departed.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(CSB) An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away.
(NIV) A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away.
(NASV) An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah." And He left them and went away.
(THE MESSAGE) An evil and wanton generation is always wanting signs and wonders. The only sign you'll get is the Jonah sign." Then he turned on his heel and walked away.
(AMP) A wicked and morally unfaithful generation craves a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Then He left them and went away.
(ESV) An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed.
(CEV) You want a sign because you are evil and won't believe! But the only sign you will be given is what happened to Jonah. Then Jesus left.
(NCV) Evil and sinful people ask for a miracle as a sign, but they will not be given any sign, except the sign of Jonah." Then Jesus left them and went away.
(1901 ASV) An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left them, and departed.
(HCSB) An evil and adulterous generation wants a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." Then He left them and went away.
(RSV) An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed.
(NAB-Roman Catholic) An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Then he left them and went away.
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witness) A wicked and adulterous generation keeps on seeking for a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jo´nah.” With that he went away, leaving them behind.
 
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
genea ponhra kai moicaliV shmeion epizhtei kai shmeion ou doqhsetai auth ei mh to shmeion iwna tou projhtou kai katalipwn autouV aphlqen
 
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
genea ponhra kai moicaliV shmeion epizhtei kai shmeion ou doqhsetai auth ei mh to shmeion iwna kai katalipwn autouV aphlqen
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
D 05 - Bezae Cantabrigiensis - Fifth century
L 019 - Seventh century
 
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century
K 017 - Ninth century
M 021 - Ninth century
Theta 038 - Ninth century
 
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omit “the prophet” before Jonas
Lachmann, Karl - 1842
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
 
Affected Teaching
The Pharisees and Sadducees were once again heckling Jesus and this time they wanted another sign that He was who He said He was. Jesus told them that they would not be given a special sign but one that is already familiar to them. They would be given the sign of the prophet Jonah. Jesus is confirming the fact that Jonah was indeed a prophet of God and that his writings are Scripture and therefore worthy to be quoted. The modern versions omit the phrase “the prophet” thus reducing the ministry of Jonah from Prophet to Preacher. Jesus quoted Jonah because his words were Scripture and given under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, giving credence to the Old Testament. The modern versions, by omitting this fact, omit the fact that Jonah was a prophet. It makes Jesus quoting a preacher instead of one of the prophets thus reducing the impact of His declaration to the Pharisees.

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